Kelly Herring is Our ArtResin Winner!

Congratulations to artist Kelly Herring, our latest ArtResin winner!  Based in Gainesville, Florida, Kelly a collage artist who integrates hand-painted papers and
metallic accents on birch panels, all under a beautiful ArtResin finish: 

My pieces are nature-inspired collages made by combining hand-textured paper with metallic paints in curved, organic shapes. The ArtResin is the transformative element to all of my pieces; it doesn't just protect the work—it eliminates the sense of seams, while allowing any textures I added to the paper to create shadows under or between the resin layers.

Does where you're from or where you currently live influence your work?

Absolutely. My work is a bridge between my childhood in Hawaii and my current
life in Florida. I’m constantly inspired by the lush, year-round greenery and
tropical sunshine. You can see this in my focus on palms, plumeria, and flowing
shapes. I believe that an artist’s environment—and the feelings and sensations it
provides—are physically infused into the piece, and I want the recipient to feel
that warmth.

What's your art background?  

Since 2020, I've enjoyed a mix of hands-on exploration and learning from other
artists. I began with alcohol inks for color and flow, dove deep into cyanotypes
(sun prints) for composition, drawing ink to learn about spacing and patterns,
then acrylics for lessons in color theory. Through all phases, ArtResin was a
versatile finishing touch. I owe a lot of gratitude to the multiple artists I have
watched online.

 Are you a full-time artist or do you create around work hours?

I work full time as a university program director. Aside from family time, I give
nearly all my personal time making art. Every single day, I do something art
related.

What do you love about the mediums that you use in your work?

The sensory aspects are the best! Mixing the creamy acrylic paints, rolling them
across the gel press, then pulling back the paper to see the result. I enjoy the
physical sensation of cutting curved shapes of collage paper with scissors. It is
fantastic to spread the wet resin and see the colors and metallics underneath
brighten.

How did you discover resin?

I learned about resin, particularly ArtResin, from the first online artist I followed
when I decided to commit to making art. They were using it as a topcoat, and I
fell in love with how it enhanced my art without needing glass or framing. It’s
solidifying qualities give it a feeling of longevity. The extra weight given to the
piece is also an enhancement.

How has resin impacted your artwork?

ArtResin has moved my work from 2D to 3D. It’s no longer just a topcoat; it’s a
medium for suspension. I place elements like patinated copper, alcohol ink and
embossing powders between the layers of resin to create physical depth. It also
allows me to celebrate the organic nature of my gallery-depth wood panels by
letting the natural grain on the sides contrast with the high-gloss face.

Can you provide a brief rundown of your process? 

Sometimes I have a clear image or composition that I want to create, so I'll mix a
palette and use the gel press papers to build it. Other times, I start with a color
palette and the gel press, then decide what I want to create once I see the
papers. I mount the collages on gallery-depth birch panel and top with ArtResin.

Why do you want to make art? What motivates you to create?

I want to make art because I am an artist. Not every musician is famous or
makes a living with music, and they may even lack talent, but they are
themselves playing music. I am the purest form of myself when I am doing
something artistic. It motivates my day and I will give my full energy to it.

Does art help you in other areas of your life?

I think that having art on my mind helps with being content without being
entertained, because I like to pay attention to shadows, colors, and the textures
of my surroundings.

What do you hope someone sees or feels when they look at your art?

I believe in putting good feelings into my art, and I hope good feelings are what
comes out of the art for the owner. If I imagine a piece of art making a buyer or
their gift recipients joyful, it helps my art process go more smoothly. I aim for a
buyer to think the art will express love to the person they will be gifting it to, or
that it will make the buyer feel good to have it in their home.

How do you define success as an artist? What does that look and feel like for
you?

When art I have made surpasses my expectations, I feel successful. When
someone purchases my art, I feel pride.

What's your favorite resin tip you'd like to share with our readers?

This one I figured out on my own! Never fully uncover the wet art. Lift the cover just high enough to access what you need but do not pull it away. A removed cover, even for a second, opens your art up to falling specks. A perfect resin layer is a good feeling.

Where do you sell your work?

Since 2022, I have been selling at my city’s Artisan’s Guild Gallery. It was a brave
step for me to submit the gallery application, and it is a point of pride in my life to
have my art there.

ArtResin:  The Original Epoxy for Resin Art.