@artbydig Is Our April #ArtResin Winner!
Every month we like to spread the love by sending a 1 gallon kit to someone who has tagged us on Instagram ... and then we share their work with the world!
Congratulations to Digvi DeSevo ... our lucky winner for April!
Digvi is a contemporary artist based in Dallas, Texas. She paints abstract canvases and, using pour techniques, creates functional pieces of art such as coasters and wood trays.
We especially love Digvi's pieces featuring her geometric designs, which she draws onto resined flow art with acrylic paint marker.
Scroll through for detail shots!
Wondering how she does it?
First, Digvi creates flow art with an acrylic paint pour and once dried, coats her work in a layer of ArtResin. When the resin has cured, she transfers a line art design onto the surface using an X-acto knife, then paints in the etched lines with acrylic paint or acrylic paint marker. Finally, she coats the entire piece with another layer of ArtResin to protect her line work and to add dimension.
Watch her process in the video, below.
She applies this same technique to coasters and paintings.
Digvi also creates flow art lazy susans and wood trays, sometimes embellished with gold leaf and acrylic line work, making her art both beautiful and functional.
Digvi also paints small and large format pieces on traditional canvases. She uses a variety of techniques including flow art and gold leafing.
We love Digvi's tone-on-tone and ombre art, which is often textured or embedded with objects.
Congratulations on your win, Digvi!
To see more:
Check out Digvi's Etsy page: ArtByDig
Follow Digvi on Instagram: @artbydig
Don't forget ... tag YOUR ArtResin work with @art_resin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next monthly winner!!!
How Do I Know When Resin Is Fully Mixed And Ready To Use?
ArtResin comes in two parts ( a resin and a hardener ) and when those two parts are combined, its causes a chemical reaction to happen which will turn that liquid product into a solid.So how do you know when you’ve stirred enough?
Generally, we say 3 minutes is a good general rule, making sure you scrape the bottom and sides of your mixing container as you go to make sure that it's fully mixed. Improperly mixed resin will not be able to catalyze and will not cure properly.
So ...
put on your favourite song ..
put on a timer ...
do what you've got to do to make sure you get to that 3 minute mark!
💡TIP: When you’re pouring your resin mixture out, don’t scrape your mixing container! If any unmixed resin or hardener stuck to the sides gets scraped out onto your artwork, you'll end up with soft wet spots in your cured resin.
So remember ... scrape when you stir, not when you pour!
For more information on using ArtResin, read our blogs How To Measure And Mix Resin And Hardener and How To Pour And Spread Epoxy Resin.
ArtResin: Made For Artists, By Artists
Can Resin Art Be Hung Outside?
Once cured, ArtResin is weather resistant and waterproof, however we still don't recommend that you put it outside.
With its advanced UV and Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers, ArtResin is chemically engineered to offer the best protection against yellowing on the market. Even so, it doesn't make sense to deliberately put your artwork in an environment full of UV rays - it makes it much harder for ArtResin's UV stabilization to do its job.
Keep it inside and keep it clear!
ArtResin: Made For Artists By Artists
@blueberryglitter Is Our March #ArtResin Winner!
Every month we like to spread the love by sending a 1 gallon kit to someone who has used the #artresin hashtag on Instagram ... and then we share their work with the world!
Congratulations to Frances Katz ... our lucky winner for March!
Frances is a contemporary artist based in Ohio. She layers acrylic paint, watercolour, ink, and glitter to create dramatic, abstract paintings with a beautifully organic feel. Whether it's the bold and vibrant energy of a hot pink composition, or the calm tranquility of a rose and gold piece, the colour and pattern in her work creates instant atmosphere.
Because Frances' work is large scale, the resined surface will reflect a room's ambient light, allowing the artwork itself to become a source of illumination.
Frances layers paint and ink with glitter and gold leaf embellishments, coating it all in a thick top coat of ArtResin.
The glitter adds movement and dimension and brings the piece to life.
Gold leaf detail
Frances' diptychs make a dramatic statement ( because two is always better than one! )
Frances transforms baby EKGs into touching pieces of "heartbeat" artwork.
Future plans for Frances include wall sized prints to create removable murals ... stunning!
Congratulations on your win, Frances!
To see more:
Check out Frances' website: blueberryglitter.com
Follow Frances on Instagram: @blueberryglitter
Don't forget ... hashtag YOUR resin work with #artresin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next monthly winner!!!
The Best April Fool's Day Prank!
Don’t let the joke be on you this April Fool's Day!We all know there's nothing better than pulling off a successful prank ...
and with April 1st right around the corner, now is the time to start planning the perfect practical joke!
This year, instead of fooling your family and friends with the same boring old tricks, up your April Fool's game with these epic "fake spills" using ArtResin and ResinTint.
Whether it's a red wine spill on the carpet, a bowl of ice cream melting over an important pile of paperwork, a bottle of nail polish tipped out on the hardwood floor or a big ol' coffee stain on a piece of antique furniture, these fake spills are a fun and harmless way to unleash your inner prankster.
Red Wine:
- 3 parts ResinTint Original Red
- 3 parts ResinTint Neon Pink
- 1 part ResinTint Neon Blue
- 1 part ResinTint Original Purple
Coffee:
- 3 parts ResinTint Original Brown
- 3 parts ResinTint Neon Green
-
1 part ResinTint Neon Pink
Nail Polish:
- 3 parts ResinTint Neon Pink
- 2 parts ResinTint Neon Blue
- 1 part ResinTint Original Red
- glitter
Ice Cream:
Use this formula on its own, or mix with plain white resin for a rippled look.
- 1 parts ResinTint Original Red
- 1 parts ResinTint Neon Pink
Urine:
( For those who really want to up the ante! )
- 1 parts ResinTint Original Yellow
- 2 parts ResinTint Neon Yellow
It may take a little planning to pull off these April Fool's Day pranks, but the looks on the faces of your family, friends and co-workers will be worth every minute!
We hope you've found some April Fool's Day inspiration - don't forget to share your own fake spills using the hashtags #artresin and #aprilfools!
What is the Difference Between a Butane and Propane Torch?
In my opinion, if you are using a flame to help remove bubbles from ArtResin Epoxy Resin, then the best tool for the job is a propane torch head with a flame spreader clip attachment to turn the flame from a pointed cylinder to a flat, wide fan shape.
Using a butane or propane torch really comes down to a personal preference in the end.
Here is some information to help you decide:
Both butane and propane are ‘liquefied petroleum gas’.
They are very similar. Both burn at the exact same temperature.
Propane
• Most popular world-wide so tanks are easy to find.
• burns and stores better in the cold.
• Stored under higher pressure, allowing for larger size
• flames as it shoots out of the torch.
Butane
• a ‘cleaner fuel’ and produces a bit less Carbon Monoxide.
• torches are more compact and portable.
• harder to find aerosol can refills, but not that hard.
• doesn’t do that well to the cold.
• a bit cheaper than propane
• lower storage pressure means smaller flames
I started with a butane torch because they are generally smaller so they are less scary :). Now I prefer propane and have grown to realize that it’s not really all that scary after all!
In summary, my suggestion is that if you are new to playing with fire, start with butane.
When you become comfortable, invest in a propane torch head with a flame spreader.
If you are comfortable with the idea of fire in the studio, the best tool for the job is the propane torch head with flame spreader :)
It’s getting hot in here!
Will I See The Scratch Marks From Sanding Under A Second Coat Of Resin?
Any scratch marks that come from sanding your cured resined surface will completely disappear under a fresh coat of ArtResin and your piece will look crystal clear once again!Sanding a cured resin surface will not only remove an imperfection like a hair or a bubble, but it will also create some tooth for the fresh resin layer to adhere to, so it's very important that you sand the entire piece and use a coarse sandpaper, like 80 grit. After you've sanded, your piece will look scratched, but don't worry! When you pour on your fresh coat of ArtResin, it will fill in all of those scratch marks from sanding - you'll never know they were there!
Try it. It’s awesome.
ArtResin: Made For Artists, By Artists
What Is The Best Supportive Surface To Use With Resin?
When resining over a large stretched canvas, sometimes it may look as though something has repelled your resin and prevented it from adhering along the edges. In fact, what actually may have happened is that the canvas sagged under the weight of the resin and caused it to pool in the centre.
If you need to resin over a stretched canvas, it helps to reinforce the back of your canvas to provide some strength and support. Insert a piece of cardboard cut to size in the back of the stretched canvas, and you can even use some wood slats or shims to create a cross bar for additional support - this is particularly helpful for large canvases.
If you do have a large piece that you intend to resin, try using a large wooden panel instead. Remember, when working with resin, the sturdier the surface, the better!
ArtResin: Made For Artists, By Artists
Can I Resin Over A Curved Surface?
Yes! You can apply ArtResin to curved surfaces or surfaces that aren't perfectly level. Pour the ArtResin on and then spread it around with gloved hands. Since ArtResin has such a nice, thick viscosity, you may choose instead to brush it onto your surface with a disposable foam brush. With either method, you may need to work in multiple layers until you reach the thickness you desire.ArtResin: Made By Artists For Artists
How Can I Fix Soft, Sticky Spots In My Resin?
If, after a day of curing, you’ve noticed some soft sticky spots in your resin, it means either one of two things: either the delicate 1:1 balance of resin and hardener was off, or the material just wasn’t mixed thoroughly.Resin that hasn't cured will stay sticky until steps are taken to fix it. You'll need to scrape off any of the unmixed material and re-apply a fresh coat of resin, and your piece will look as good as new!
Why Did The Sticky Spots Occur?
It's super important to scrape the sides and bottom of your container as you mix your resin and hardener. If you don't, you may end up with unmixed resin and hardener stuck to the sides of your container that could cause sticky spots.
So remember: always scrape the sides and bottom as you stir to make sure that the resin is 100% mixed and, therefore, 100% catalyzed.
💡TIP: Scrape when you mix, but not when you pour! Although we recommend scraping the sides and bottom of your container when you're mixing, we DON'T recommend scraping when you pour your ArtResin onto your artwork ( like you might if you were scraping cake batter out of a mixing bowl and into a cake pan. ) If there was any unmixed resin or hardener stuck to the sides, scraping it out onto your artwork will definitely result in soft, sticky spots in your cured resin.
Can I Fix The Sticky Spots?
Although you can't harden sticky resin, not to worry ... resin is forgiving and this is an easy fix!
- First, you'll need to scrape away any wet material as best you can ( sticky is ok; liquidy and runny resin is not and needs to be scraped away. )
-
Next, sand down any of the dry, cured parts with 80 grit sandpaper to make sure that there is enough tooth to adhere that second layer on top.
- Last, prepare a fresh batch of carefully measured and thoroughly mixed ArtResin and apply on top of your piece. After 24 hours your piece will be as good as new!
ArtResin: Made By Artists For Artists
