Congratulations to artist Carli Clinkscale, our latest ArtResin winner! A mixed media artist based in Winter Park, FL, Carli makes "a variety of pieces from Lazy Susans, coasters, ornaments, trinket trays and wall art. I enjoy hand making my wooden frames and using epoxy resin, acrylic paints, polymer clay, sand, seashells, and natural accents."
Describe the type of art you create.
I create Florida wildlife and marine animal habitat scenes and often also do coastal shoreline landscapes and resin waves. I enjoy designing scenes that immerse people into these animals' worlds, in hopes it will spark conservation efforts.
Does where you're from or where you currently live influence your work?
Being a Florida native, the love of our wildlife and marine animals has always been a part of my life. I find inspiration in our ecosystems and natural landscapes of our beautiful state.
What's your art background? Are you self-taught or did you study art?
I've created art my entire life and am self taught. Many, many hours of playing and experimenting with different mediums and tools!
Are you a full-time artist or do you create around work hours?
I am a full-time Operating Room nurse in Orlando, FL. I find time to create between working hours, whenever I can!
What do you love about the mediums that you use in your work?
I love that with polymer clay, I can mold it to create animals that seem natural in their environment, whether that is coastal or a deep ocean scene or on land near water. I can play with sand and seashells and resin waters!
How did you discover resin?
I discovered resin after falling in love with pouring acrylic paints. I realized it could do more, add more depth, create translucent colors that layer, etc. After seeing others do resin ocean waves, I knew I also needed to figure out how to do that!
How has resin impacted your artwork?
Resin is usually the last step in my creative process. I create my whole scene around how the resin will contribute to a piece, often adding layers of different colors and pigments. I love adding details between the layers, such as a frog swimming in the middle of the water. This gives depth and a 3-dimensional aspect to my art that takes it to another level!
Can you provide a brief rundown of your process?
When I am inspired to make a scene for a specific animal, I begin by researching the landscape or habitat they live in. I start designing a scene that is 3-dimensional, with details and depth. Depending on the animal, I often build up their scene with a compound, then add sand and seashells and create the animals with polymer clay. Layers of resin are added, often adding details between the layers such as additional lily pads or smaller animals.
Why do you want to make art? What motivates you to create?
Making art is certainly my therapy and my creative outlet! After years of experimenting, I feel I have found my niche in art style. I am driven by my passion for conservation efforts for these animals that I spend so much time creating, so a portion of all sales profits are donated to either Blue Spring State Park, FL or the New England Aquarium Sea Turtle Conservation program. Making art that educates me and others about the animals and their habitats makes me feel closer to them and hopefully contributes to helping them.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Besides being a therapeutic creative outlet for myself, doing art has led me into communities that I didn't know existed. I'm thankful that online platforms have connected me with other artists and conservation communities that have been really fulfilling for me.
What do you hope someone sees or feels when they look at your art?
I hope that my art can immerse someone into a world that is not often visited, bringing beauty into their space or as a special gift for someone else. I hope that it sparks a love for our earth and a desire to conserve it, learn about it, and protect it.
How do you define success as an artist? What does that look and feel like for you?
Success for me is accomplishing a skill I wanted to learn, selling to someone who really connected with a piece and brings them joy, and getting into stores that I believe in. I'm really thankful for where I am in my growth process!
What's your favorite resin tip you'd like to share with our readers?
First, make sure you are set up for success and safety! Have an air purifier, N95 mask and nitrile gloves. Rubbing alcohol has been the best cleanup tool for areas I didn't mean to get resin on. I always have a barrier on my table, stirring sticks and cups that I can reuse. Keep your room on the warmer side and play, play, play! There are so many creative ways to use resin. Mica powders and alcohol inks give me the best results for vibrant colors, depth and shimmer. My next trick to learn is creating ripples on the top of the resin during the curing process!
Where do you sell your work?
I sell directly from my Shopify store, at Blue Spring State Park in Florida, and at Wild Oats and Billy Goats on Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Congratulations on your win, Carli!
To see more of Carli's work:
Visit her online store: Carli Danae Collection
Follow her on Instagram: @carlidanaecollection
Every month, to celebrate our community of artists, ArtResin will send out a 32 oz kit to two lucky people who have shared the work they've created with ArtResin.
ArtResin: The Original Epoxy for Resin Art.
