Congratulations to artist Carrie Frietchen, our latest Instagram winner! Carrie is a self-taught, mixed media artist based in the greater Seattle area of WA state, In between her mom duties, Carrie creates colorful, layered, resin paintings using acrylic paint, alcohol ink, glitter and gold leaf. "I love using bright, saturated color palettes and adding holographic or metallic elements. The more saturated, the better."
Describe the type of art you create.
"I really love to create abstract pieces that are focused on physical or visual texture. I’d have to say my favorite style I create are my layered epoxy-resin paintings, where I sandwich layers of acrylic paint, glitter, and gold leaf between thick pours of resin to create a dimensional finished result. I also love adding a flood coat of resin to my alcohol ink paintings, which then allows me to incorporate physical texture by adding crushed glass embellishments and crystals to the surface."
Does where you’re from or where you currently live influence your work?
"I’d say yes, but not in the traditional sense. Washington often has overcast skies for the better half of the year, which I find quite gloomy. I try to combat this feeling by getting my ‘color fix’ through creating art."
Why do you want to make art? What motivates you to create?
"It’s a sanity saver. I’ve always been into art and considered myself an artistic person but I’ve never dived in as deeply as I have since becoming a mom. I think any mother out there will know exactly what I mean— having something to invest your time in for just yourself is so valuable and therapeutic."
Can you provide a brief rundown of your process:
"I use alcohol inks and 91% isopropyl alcohol on a synthetic paper called YUPO. Because it is made of plastic, this paper is completely non porous which allows the inks to flow freely across the surface without being absorbed. As the ink evaporates it leaves intricate patterns and textures behind, which can be manipulated with a paintbrush during its entire drying process to achieve different results. I then mount it to a wood canvas, pour some sparkly resin on top and add my embellishments. "
What do you love about the mediums that you use?
"For resin it would definitely be the glass-like shine and ability to create an unmatched depth in my artwork. For alcohol inks it would be the meditative journey that they take you on. The way they move and interact with each other as they collide and mix is truly a free form of therapy. Resin and alcohol inks are both unlike any other medium I’ve ever worked with, and are an unbeatable match when used together."
When did you discover resin?
"Probably 2018 – about a year into my alcohol ink journey. I first used it as a top coat for my paintings and sprinkled crystals and crushed glass onto strategic parts of the surface for added texture. Since then I’ve been hooked and have moved on to mostly using it as a layering technique for my paintings."
How has resin impacted your artwork?
"Resin has been the best discovery in my art journey, without a doubt. It beats any varnish and is so versatile in what you can create with it."
What do you hope someone sees or feels when they look at your art?
"I hope they’re initially wow’ed at all the colors and texture to take in. I hope it brings them back to their younger days as a kid when color was cool and makes them feel a sort of childlike happiness."
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
"Yes, it gives me an outlet to prevent me from feeling that domestic-life burnout and driving off the nearest cliff."
How do you define success as an artist? What does success look and feel like for you?
"For me success sounds like the idea of my art being looked at and appreciated in someone else’s home. Any purchase is a success, not only because it allows me to keep creating by freeing more space to store more art (and purchase more supplies) but because the idea that somebody likes what I’ve created enough to want to stare at it everyday in their own space, is a special kind of feeling that is hard to explain. It’s truly a flattering experience that I don’t think I’ll ever get used to. I love it so much."
Where do you sell your work?
Exclusively online through Etsy, marketed mostly through Instagram.
To see more of Carrie's work:
Visit her Etsy page: www.etsy.com/shop/CARRIEAFShop
Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/carrieaf_
Congratulations on your win, Carrie!
To celebrate all of our amazing artists, every month we will be sending out a 32 oz kit to a couple of artists who have tagged us on Instagram—and we'll share their work with the world!
Don't forget, tag YOUR ArtResin work with @art_resin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next winner!!
ArtResin: Made For Artists, By Artists.
