@cococreates_ Is Our Instagram Winner For February!
Every month we like to spread the love by sending a 1 gallon kit to a couple of artists who have tagged us on Instagram ... and then we share their work with the world!
Congratulations to artist Colette Cseke ... our first lucky winner for February! Colette is a resin artist from Ottawa who makes stunning resin art using alcohol ink. Self-taught, Colette's love of creating art started in her childhood and was encouraged by her mother, an art educator. These days, Colette balances a full time career with her art business: "most evenings and weekends, you can find me listening to music while creating something new and exciting! It’s a hobby that I love."
A unique and special kind of magic occurs when alcohol inks are dropped into resin: beautiful, blooming shapes are formed resembling coral or an underwater world, forever suspended in the cured resin. Colette says: "My favourite part is taking a cured coaster out of its mold. You can never fully predict what each coaster will look like which makes it such an exciting part. Each one is a surprise!"
Colette became hooked on alcohol ink and resin about 2 years ago. Colette says: "the entire process is mesmerizing and there's so much room for experimentation." In fact, Colette says that much of her growth and learning has come from experimenting and the problem solving that results from making mistakes.
In Colette's words: "For me, creating art is therapeutic. It’s a way for me to clear my head and relax after a busy day. It is an outlet for me to explore my creative side, be innovative, and have fun! I hope my colourful creations sparks happiness in viewers and inspires them to explore their creative side as well! :) Most of my art, such as my alcohol ink coasters, serve a functional purpose. I like the idea of my art being useful, while bringing a pop of colour and fun into the homes and work spaces of others."
Colette uses acrylic paint marker to paint mandalas, flowers and other designs on her cured coasters. Once the paint has dried, she pours a final topcoat of resin to seal it:
Colette says: "I started off creating art solely because I enjoyed it. Over time, others started to reach out to me about bringing my pieces into their home or work space. I love that my art makes others happy. I hope that in the future I can continue to create and that others continue to love and support my art business. The support of others has really motivated me to continue to pursue what I love."
In addition to coasters, Colette uses the same alcohol ink techniques to create bookmarks, keychains, pop sockets and magnets:
Colette sells her work and takes custom orders and requests through Etsy and Instagram.
Congratulations on your win, Colette!
To see more of Colette's beautiful work:
follow her on Instagram: @cococreates_
visit her Etsy page: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/CocoCreatesCo
Don't forget ... tag YOUR ArtResin work with @art_resin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next monthly winner!!
How Can I Hang Heavy Resin Art?
Epoxy resin is heavy, so if your painting is large or you're using a lot of epoxy resin, normal picture frame wire is not going to be strong enough to support your artwork. Instead, try hanging heavy artwork with aircraft cable, a thin, flexible but exceptionally strong steel cable found at hardware stores.Another highly effective method for hanging heavy artwork is to use two blocks of wood that have complimentary 45 degree angles cut into them. One block of wood is installed securely on the wall, and the other block of wood is installed onto the back of the painting. When the painting is hung, the 45 degree angles lock together, securing your artwork in place.
ArtResin: Made For Artists, By Artists!
What's The Best Work Surface When Using Epoxy Resin?
When working with epoxy resin, the best material to line your work surface with is one that's water resistant, such as plastic. You don't need to spend a lot of money on a surface covering, but you do need to ensure you choose something non-absorbent in order to protect your table top. Examples of ideal materials to lay down underneath where you're working include:- a vinyl shower curtain
- a silicone mat or drawer liner
- a plastic drop sheet ( found in the painting department of the hardware store )
- a garbage bag that has been cut and spread out
- baker's parchment paper
A plastic lined work surface also allows for easy clean up: if any drips fall while you're resining, simply leave them and let them cure. The next day, once they've dried, they can be peeled away and your work surface covering can be used again and again and again.
ArtResin: Made For Artists, By Artists!
@featherfidler Is Our Instagram Winner For January!
Every month we like to spread the love by sending a 1 gallon kit to a couple of artists who have tagged us on Instagram ... and then we share their work with the world!
Congratulations to artist Heather Fidler ... our second lucky winner for January!
Heather is a contemporary artist based in Indianapolis, Indiana who hand draws the most beautiful, detailed mandalas. Heather works full time in healthcare and as soon as she gets home each day, she starts drawing: "Creating art can be very therapeutic but there is something about Mandalas that is even more so. When I’m drawing if feels like a meditation. I call it Productive Meditation. I hope that the calming energy I feel is implanted into my art. I hope it gives off that same energy."
Since she was first introduced to them simultaneously in high school art and geometry class, Heather has been fascinated with the mandala's perfect synergy of art, science and mathematical precision. She says: "Back then no one knew what they were. There was no internet so I would go to the library to learn more about the geometry, natural biological structures, microorganisms, and cultural uses of the mandala like Catholic rose windows, Buddhist Sand mandalas, Celtic knots, or Native American sand paintings."
Though Heather works in other mediums, she prefers to create her mandalas on paper with colored pencils and ink. First, she starts with an idea surrounding the shape of her mandala: she may choose to build on a hexagon or circular design or her inspiration could come from sacred geometry or the orbit of a planet.
Heather says: "I love that I get to learn about so many things that interest me and at the same time create something beautiful."
Whether her piece is planned or the design reveals itself in the process, Heather starts in the centre of the paper, building her way out.
Heather chooses her color palette based on the mood she wants to evoke in her piece.
Her pieces look so rich because of her meticulous attention to detail.
Once finished, Heather mounts the paper to an art board or wood panel and covers it with resin. She says: "most people do not think that you can pour resin on paper, but you can! It does change the color of the paper, so I practiced for a while before I got the look I wanted.
I had been struggling with a way to protect my art without glass: I wanted the more contemporaneity look of a finished edge canvas instead of framing paper. The resin amplified my details instead of hiding them like glass would. Since I was looking for a more modern look, resin did that for me. It’s so fun to work with - it has really pushed me to be more creative and push past just ink and pencil. I have added objects like beads to my work and incorporated layers! I’m currently working on a multiple layer mandala that’s painted between each layer of resin."
"My hope is that the viewer finds something in my work: maybe its peacefulness and they can use the art as a focal point for meditation. Maybe they will find beauty in a mathematical principal that they never thought could be beautiful. Maybe it makes them think about science in a whole new way, or maybe they just like the colors & shapes."
Heather shows her work in a gallery in Carmel, Indiana called Art on Main, Gallery & Gifts, as well as on her website and Instagram page ( links below ).
Congratulations on your win, Heather!
To see more of Heather's beautiful work:
visit her website: www.heatherfidler.com
follow her on Instagram: @featherfidler
Don't forget ... tag YOUR ArtResin work with @art_resin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next monthly winner!!
Tips To Prevent Resin Bubbles
Understanding what causes bubbles in epoxy resin can help prevent them from happening in the first place. There are 4 main reasons why resin bubbles occur:
- not following best practices when working with resin
- cold temperatures
- pouring too thick
- the piece you're resining is releasing trapped air
Bubbles are one of the biggest issues we hear about here at ArtResin: we have some great tips on how to prevent bubbles and how to fix them if they've already popped up!
Let's take a look ...
1) Best Practices When Using Resin:
Using a Torch:
When you mix your resin and hardener, you create a lot of bubbles as you stir: these bubbles need to be eliminated after you pour your resin or they'll cure right into your artwork. The best way to get rid of bubbles is with a torch: the flame heats the resin surface up instantly, thinning the resin out and allowing bubbles to escape. If you're intimidated by the idea of using a torch ... please don't be. Nothing is as effective as a flame for getting rid of bubbles and once you use one, you'll wonder what you ever did without it!
To help you, ArtResin has an easy to use handheld Artist's Torch, plus an Artist's Propane Torch Head for larger jobs. For more information on using a flame torch, see our blog How To Use A Torch On Epoxy Resin.
A Note On Heat Guns:
A heat gun can be useful in some resin applications such as flow art, where it can be used to create cells. To eliminate bubbles, however, a heat gun just doesn't get hot enough to do the job efficiently. It can blow resin around and can even can even blow dust all over your wet piece. We always recommend using a torch to get rid of resin bubbles. 
The only exception is when removing bubbles from a silicone mold: in this case, a flame may be too intense and if you over torch, it may even damage the mold. A heat gun is the best choice when working with silicone molds.
Whipping Your Resin:
Mixing resin is where the magic happens: as you stir, a chemical reaction begins between the resin and hardener that will eventually transform the mixture from a liquid into a solid. Though you need to mix the two parts thoroughly for at least 3 minutes, you want to ensure you don't whip your resin as if you're beating cream or egg whites. Whipping the resin induces more bubbles than necessary which could lead to issues such as over torching.
Don't whip your resin - instead, stir slowly and deliberately, scraping the sides and bottom of your mixing container as you go. You'll get some bubbles, of course, but nothing a quick pass or two with the torch can't handle.
Dumping Out Your Resin:
Just as whipping your resin can induce unnecessary bubbles, so too can dumping your resin out onto your artwork. Instead, position your mixing container close to the surface of your piece and pour your resin mixture out slowly.
2) Cold Temperatures:
Did you know that ArtResin epoxy resin loves warm temperatures?
It's true!
In fact, the ideal temperature for both your ArtResin and your workspace is slightly warmer than room temperature: 75-85F or 24-30C.
In these temperatures, ArtResin has a crystal clear appearance, a honey-like consistency and it pours and spreads with ease. On the other hand, cold resin is thick, difficult to work with and has a cloudy, milky appearance.
You'll know your resin is too cold when it has a taffy like consistency, making it difficult to pour and spread.
It also takes on a frothy, milky appearance due to thousands of microbubbles which are virtually impossible to torch out.
If your resin is cold, you need to bring it up to room temperature before you use it. You can do this by letting the resin bottles sit out to come up to room temperature or you can try a warm water bath.
Place your bottles of resin and hardener in a container of warm water: the water doesn't need to be very hot ... about what you'd use for a baby's bath is just fine.
Since heat accelerates curing, always warm the bottles BEFORE you measure and mix to avoid the mixture curing prematurely.
Leave the caps on to prevent any water from getting mixed into your resin or hardener: water that accidentally gets in your resin mixtures will cause a cloudy cure.
Don't submerge the bottles and dry them off thoroughly before you open them.
Resin that is room temperature or slightly warmer is smooth, clear and easy to pour and spread.
💡TIP: If you are using a water bath to warm your ArtResin, keep in mind that heat promotes a faster cure: this means that your 45 minute working time will be cut down by about 10 minutes. It also means that the resin may thicken and cure in the cup if you leave it sitting out on the work surface while you get your artwork ready. Get everything ready first, then measure and mix your resin and pour right away. Don't leave your warm resin sitting in the mixing cup!
3) Pouring Too Thick:
ArtResin was designed as a surface coating for artwork and was formulated to be poured in thin applications: this allows bubbles the chance to escape to the surface of the resin in order to be torched out. The maximum thickness we recommend pouring is 1/8". When ArtResin is poured thicker than 1/8", bubbles can get trapped and you may end up seeing them in your cured resin. 
If you want a thicker layer of ArtResin, we recommend pouring in layers, waiting 3-5 hours in between each layer. 
4) Releasing Trapped Air:
Porous, organic materials like wood, leaves, fabric and even paper can "breathe" air. When you cover these materials with resin, the air bubbles release into the resin in the form of bubbles, sometimes hours after you have poured and torched.
To help prevent air bubbles from releasing into your resin, pre-seal natural materials such as wood and paper with a brush on or spray sealant prior to resining.
Sealing creates a barrier and prevents trapped air from releasing and creating bubbles in the resin.
Poorly mounted prints can also be a source of unwanted air bubbles. Always ensure your prints are mounted evenly to the panel. Whether you choose a glue stick or a spray glue, avoid air pockets by applying an even amount of adhesive.
This is how we prefer mounting prints: use a spring clamp to secure the print and panel in place. Don't forget to place a clean piece of paper under the clamp to protect your print!
Apply an even amount of adhesive over one half of the panel, paying particular attention to the perimeter. We prefer using spray adhesive.
With a clean piece of paper in place to protect your print, gently roll a brayer over the surface to eliminate any air pockets and to ensure a tight bond between the print and the panel. Pay particular attention that the edges of your print are well adhered to the panel to prevent air from escaping and to stop resin from seeping in.
Turn the print around and repeat the process on the other half. Once the print is securely mounted, you're ready to resin!
💡TIP: Some paper is more porous than others and can allow the resin the soak in. We always advise testing on a scrap piece first so you know whether or not you need to seal your paper prior to resining: sealing creates a barrier, preventing the resin from absorbing into the paper.
How To Fix Bubbles In Cured Resin
If you come back the next day to check on your piece and find a bubble in your resin, don't worry! Thankfully, epoxy resin is very forgiving, meaning that many problems ( including bubbles ) can be fixed with a simple sanding and re-pour.
Here's what you need to do:
1) Sand
Sand down the entire surface of your piece, paying particular attention to sanding out the bubbles. The purpose of sanding is to 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! The ArtResin will fill in all of those scratch marks and your piece will look crystal clear again. 
2) Wipe
Use a damp paper towel to wipe off all the dust. Wipe as many times as necessary - your surface needs to be absolutely clear of any sanding residue before you pour your fresh layer of resin. Feel free to use a can of compressed air or brush your surface with a soft paintbrush to ensure there is no sanding residue left on your piece.
3) Pour
Mix a fresh batch of carefully measured and thoroughly mixed ArtResin as directed, and re-apply a fresh coat of resin over your sanded and wiped piece. Spread as desired, torch out any bubbles, cover and wait 24 hrs for a touch-dry cure, and 72 hrs for a full cure. 
See?
Once your fresh resin layer cures, you won't see any sanding marks - just a gorgeously glossy, crystal clear ArtResin finish. You'd never know you ever had any bubbles in your piece!
So remember ....
- Use a torch
- Stir and pour gently
- Use room temperature ArtResin
- Mount carefully
- Pre-seal if necessary
... and if you already have pesky bubbles in your cured resin, follow our simple steps to get rid of them.
We hope this was helpful - please leave any questions or comments below!
@penaynayjane Is Our #ArtResin Instagram Winner For January!
Every month we like to spread the love by sending a 1 gallon kit to a couple of artists who have tagged us on Instagram ... and then we share their work with the world!
Congratulations to artist Penny Heather ... our first lucky winner of 2020!
Penny is a full time artist based in New Brunswick. Having studied fine art at Bishops University, she turned her passion for creating soulful pieces of art into a successful business.
Every now and again, we come across an Instagram post that makes us stop in our tracks: such was the case when we saw Penny Heather's incredible resin sculptures. Commissioned by Big Brothers and Big Sisters to award community youth mentors, each piece is a labour of love.
"I was approached by BBBS when they were looking for an artist to create awards to give their recipients that would be something unique, and more meaningful to their good deeds than a traditional plaque. I knew they wanted an artwork, but a painting just didn’t feel right to me for the occasion. All I had was a whisper of an idea for a type of sculpture I'd never made before. They agreed, and the rest was history."
To make these sculptures, Penny first creates a large, custom made mold into which she embeds a large piece of locally sourced silver maple into ArtResin that she pours into the mold layer by layer. Once fully cured, Penny cracks the mold and cuts the large casting down into smaller, individual pieces.
Watch the video below to see Penny unmolding her cured casting:
Penny cuts the casting based on the pattern compositions within the piece, choosing shapes to compliment each sculpture's individual features.
Next, with a lot of sanding, Penny refines each piece into smooth, organic shapes until they become something otherworldly.
Last, Penny restores the resin's transparency revealing secret, hidden worlds within. The fluidity of the resin allows for ethereal patterns to form as it cures, juxtaposing the ruggedness of the raw wood. Standing approximately 6" x 14" tall and weighing about 5 lbs, each sculpture presents a uniquely beautiful shape, wood grain and colour.
Penny says: "I love creating them because they have a mind of their own: they decide what they want to look like and I have to surrender, which is sort of the opposite of when I paint. I could never recreate it exactly, even if I tried.
"From the very first series of sculptures I made, creating these has excited me for their possibilities and nuances, they terrify me for all that can (very expensively) go wrong during the creation process, but most of all they just fascinate me. They’re just kind of a lovely, nerve-wracking, mad science experiment every time and I absolutely love making them."
Penny says: "I am inspired by my impressions of nature & landscapes, and how these impressions allow me to connect with others who share similar experiences. Creating art is a meditation; a compass to navigate my subconscious thoughts, where recurring patterns become apparent in a visual way that I can share for others to interpret on their own. For me, art is an energy transfer between the artist and the viewer. I hope that my work can take the viewer somewhere peaceful in their mind; a feeling, a memory, even a dream."
Penny discovered ArtResin a couple of years ago as a way of finishing a jellyfish painting, the resin providing a finish that echoed the aquatic theme of the painting.
"The resin enriched and deepened the colours and, to my surprise, really brought out the wood grain of the paintings background, which is one of the distinctive features of my work. I was hooked!"
"As I became more experienced in using resin I also became curious about how far I could take the medium. Since then I have had many triumphs and failures as I experiment in my work, resin has helped me expand my confidence in exploring new mediums."
Congratulations on your win, Penny!
To see more of Penny's beautiful work:
visit her website: pennyheatherart.com
follow her on Instagram: @penaynayjane
like her Facebook page: @pennyheatherart
Don't forget ... tag YOUR ArtResin work with @art_resin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next monthly winner!!!
Have A Canvas You Want To Resin?
You don’t have to be a professional artist to get the sleek look of epoxy resin on your artwork: it provides a modern, glossy, finish to paintings, photographs, prints, drawings, wood, metal and more.
Artist Allyson Reeves always wanted to try ArtResin on one of her abstract acrylic paintings but was a bit intimidated, so we invited her to spend some time with ArtResin's Joanne to help demystify the process.
Within 30 minutes, Allyson was measuring, mixing and pouring like a pro.
Though the idea of applying epoxy resin may seem a bit daunting, ArtResin was designed by artists who understand what artists want:
- a product designed specifically for artwork
- a safe and easy application
- and most importantly, pro results.
This video will show how simple ArtResin is when you follow a few key steps: measure, mix, pour, spread, cover and you’ll wonder why you haven’t been using it all along!
Let's get started ...
What You'll Need:
- ArtResin epoxy resin
- plastic container for water bath ( optional )
- paper towel
- masking tape
- cardboard
- compressed air canister to eliminate surface dust from artwork ( optional )
- plastic stands to prop up artwork ( pyramids, plastic cups, lego )
- level
- nitrile gloves ( a must! )
- plastic measuring cup ( or 2-3 clear plastic drinking glasses )
- stir stick
- a spreading tool ( ArtResin's Reusable Spreader works great! )
- an Artist's Torch
- toothpicks
- dust cover large enough to fit your piece ( a cardboard box or a plastic tote )
1. Assemble Your Materials:
Gather together your ArtResin and your tools before you start resining: you want to make sure you have everything you need on hand so you can measure, mix, pour and spread ArtResin with ease and efficiency.
Line your work surface with plastic for easy clean up and to protect your table top: a vinyl shower curtain makes an easy, inexpensive liner that can be re-used again and again. Resin drips can either be wiped clean with paper towel and isopropyl alcohol or, if allowed to dry, can be peeled off the next day.
A torch is the very best way to zap bubbles out of wet resin for a flawless finish. Our butane powered Artist's Torch ( pictured below ) is perfect for most jobs. For larger pieces, you may want to look into a propane powered torch.
Use hard plastic tools: epoxy resin doesn't stick to plastic making clean up a breeze and allowing you to re-use your tools indefinitely. We like using hard plastic mixing cups, stir sticks, stands, and spreaders like our jagged Reusable Spreader, pictured below.
Have a dust cover ready to go: you never want to leave your wet, freshly resined piece sitting out while you look for a cardboard box or plastic tote to fit your piece.
2. Prepare Your Artwork:
Make sure your artwork is dry and dust free: a soft brush or canister of compressed air can help eliminate dust.
Decide if you want to resin the entire painting ( i.e including sides ) or if you only want to resin the top: applying resin to the top of your artwork while leaving the sides unresined is referred to as doming. Since Allyson's painting wrapped around the sides of the canvas, she decided to resin the entire piece.
💡 TIP: Read more about how to dome in our blog What Is Doming Resin?
If you want to resin the sides, we always advise taping off the bottom of your piece: Why tape the bottom? As gravity pulls the resin down the sides, drips will naturally start to accumulate along the bottom of your piece. Tape will catch the drips. Once the resin is dry to the touch, you can pull the tape off and the drips right along with it.
Stretched canvases should be reinforced: the weight of epoxy resin can cause stretched canvas to sag and, consequently, the resin to pool in the centre. To prevent this, cut a piece of cardboard to size and insert it in the back to provide strength and stability.
Prop your piece up on plastic stands: propping up your piece allows drips to pool on the plastic lined work surface. Epoxy resin won't adhere to plastic stands so you can easily peel off resin drips once dried.
Ensure your work is perfectly horizontal by checking it with a traditional level or with ArtResin's mobile phone level: www.artresin.com/level
2. Prepare Your ArtResin
It's important that both ArtResin and your resin room is at least room temperature or warmer. Epoxy resin loves warm temperatures, so 75-85F or 24-30C is absolutely ideal. During the cold winter months, it's a good idea to increase the temperature of your resin room before you start to resin and, if your ArtResin is cold, you may choose to give your bottles a warm water bath before you measure and mix. It's important to prevent any water from getting into the resin: keep the caps on, don't submerge the bottles and dry the bottles off thoroughly before you open them.
💡 TIP: See our blog Should I Warm Epoxy Resin In A Water Bath? for more information and helpful tips.
Measure equal parts by volume: ArtResin is a 1:1 epoxy resin, meaning that you need equal parts of resin and hardener measured by volume. To determine how much ArtResin you will need for your piece, enter the length and the width into the Resin Calculator on our website.
For example, Allyson's 12"x12" piece requires 5 oz total, made up of 2.5 oz of resin and 2.5 oz of hardener.
Wearing gloves, measure equal amounts of resin and hardener: it doesn't matter which one you start with, as long as you measure equal amounts of both. You can pour the resin and hardener ( one at a time ) into a measuring cup OR you can measure the resin and hardener in two separate cups and then pour into a third cup for mixing. It's important to measure accurately: if your resin and hardener are not perfectly equal, your resin may not cure properly.
Mix thoroughly for at least 3 minutes: as you stir, scrape the sides and bottom of the cup to ensure you incorporate every last bit of resin and hardener. Mixing thoroughly and scraping the sides will ensure every last bit of resin and hardener are combined: under mixing may lead to curing issues so this is an important step. Now you're ready to pour!
💡 TIP: for our very best measuring and mixing tips, read the blog How To Measure And Mix Resin And Hardener.
3. Pour The Resin
💡TIP: Read our blog How To Pour And Spread Epoxy Resin for more resin tips and techniques!
Use the spreader to gently pull a little resin over the edges and down the sides of your piece. Using gloved hands, smooth the resin out, evenly coating each side.
5. Torch, Cover And Wait:
Using an Artist’s Torch, hold the flame a couple of inches above the resin surface just long enough to pop the bubbles. One or two passes with the torch is all you need to get rid of bubbles.💡TIP: if you're nervous about using a torch, don't be! Read our blog with all you need to know about How To Use A Torch On Epoxy Resin.
Keep the torch in a constant side to side motion, as if you're ironing clothes. Don't hold the flame too close - it should just lightly kiss the resin surface.
Use a toothpick to pop any missed bubbles or to fish out any bits of dust: look at your resin under a light source and at eye level to easily spot any imperfections.
Cover and wait 24 hours: using a clean plastic tote or cardboard box ( with the flaps cut off ), cover your piece and let it sit for 24 hrs until it’s dry to the touch. Last step is cleaning your tools: we like to wipe our tools down with isopropyl alcohol and paper towel until all traces of resin have been removed. Dried resin can be peeled off of plastic tools, liners and stands. For more tips on how to clean your tools, check out our blog How Can I Clean Epoxy Resin Mixing Containers?
💡TIP: the resin will be dry to the touch at the 24hr mark. At this point, you're free to hang your artwork on the wall but if you're planning on packing and shipping your artwork, please wait at least 72hrs until the resin has fully cured.
6. Reveal!
Absolutely gorgeous!ArtResin took Allyson's vibrant acrylic paintings next level, giving them a professional looking finish and a glossy sheen that makes colour pop!
We hope you found this tutorial informative and helpful. More importantly, we hope it made the process of applying epoxy resin a little less intimidating. Like anything, practice makes perfect but these suggestions will give you a good head start:
- have everything you need ready to go: tools laid out & artwork prepped
- ensure your ArtResin and resin room is 75-85F or 24-30C
- measure accurately, mix thoroughly, scrape your container as you stir
- use a torch and dust cover
Before you know it, you'll be applying ArtResin over ALL of your favourite art pieces!
Questions? Comments? Tips?
Please leave them below!
To see more of Allyson's artwork:
visit her website at www.allysonreeves.ca
follow her on instagram at @allyson_schmidt_reeves
Happy Holidays From ArtResin!
It's the most wonderful time of the year, friends.From our ArtResin family to yours, we wish YOU a happy holiday season and a New Year filled with joy!
ArtResin: Made For Artists, By Artists.
@ellis.artworks Is Our #ArtResin Instagram Winner For December!
Every month we like to spread the love by sending a 1 gallon kit to a couple of artists who have tagged us on Instagram ... and then we share their work with the world!Congratulations to artist Shawn Ellis ... our second lucky winner for December! A self-taught artist based in Vernon, British Columbia, Shawn designs and wood burns intricate mandalas onto wood panels which he seals with a layer of shiny ArtResin.
Shawn designs each mandala, one at a time, outlining them first in pencil onto the wood panel. He says: "My process is pretty natural. I don't like to have anything specific in mind when I start a Mandala; I prefer to let my emotions and inner self take over and guide the design. I often hide numerology throughout my art, for a variety or reasons. The over all piece, is usually like a journal of what's going on in my life whole I work on that piece. I only work on one project at a time, as I like each piece to capture a moment in my life."
On this piece, Shawn placed the design in order to highlight the pattern of the wood grain:
Next, he burned the design into the wood using a wood burning tool:
Finally, Shawn applied a layer of ArtResin to seal his work, providing a glossy finish that enhances both the pyrography and the wood grain.
In Shawn's words: "ArtResin has elevated my art. I was always intimidated to try it for some reason, but seeing how it enhances my paintings and especially my pyrography has made it my favourite part of the process. I love resin day, and even more, I love reveal day! That's when all my hard work pays off, and my piece is completely finished/sealed with its ArtResin finish. I love it, and so do my amazing clients."
Shawn says: "My art is a therapeutic expression for me, that's why I started. Being the father to a special needs child, I needed something I could do for self care, and it all started with painting. After losing my son in 2017, art has been more important than ever to me. I dedicate myself to each piece, and try to take all the grief in my heart, and turn it into something beautiful that both the viewer and I can find comfort in. Expression is such an important part of handling my grief and anxiety, and art has given me an outlet to positively move forward through some difficult life experiences. Every time I finish a piece, I'm blown away by the support I receive from strangers across the globe. It's such a rewarding feeling when people I've never met take the time to comment on my art and have such lovely things to say. It definitely keeps me pushing myself to be a better artist."
Different wood burning tips allow Shawn to create simple line designs to highly detailed pieces with shading and a variety of tonal lines:
Before focusing on pyrography, Shawn painted his mandalas in acrylic on canvas:
Shawn often paints on layers of cured ArtResin with acrylic paint pens to create depth and make the mandala look like it's floating:
Though Shawn will always incorporate art as part of his life and self-care routine, he hopes that his mandala work's current momentum carries him towards a career as a full time artist.
To see more of Shawn's beautiful work:
follow him on Instagram at @ellis.artworks
Don't forget ... tag YOUR ArtResin work with @art_resin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next monthly winner!!!
How To Avoid Reflections When Photographing Resin Art
- Work in a controlled environment ( close curtains, turn off room lights )
- Set up 2 bright lights on either side of your artwork at 45 degree angles
- Set up your artwork so that it's at a perfectly parallel angle to your camera lens
- Take a few test shots and adjust your lights and artwork to eliminate reflections
- Once you're happy with what you see, you're ready to shoot!
Great shots of your artwork is an important marketing tool for any artist. Photographer Geoff George shares his techniques for proper lighting and camera positioning so that you can capture shots of your artwork like a pro! With Geoff's simple, inexpensive and effective set up, you'll never have to settle for shots with too much glare again.
- Work in a controlled environment: taking a shot with both studio lights and ambient lighting ( daylight or from lamps/ceiling lights ) can cause glare and uneven lighting. Close curtains and blinds and adjust room lights as necessary in order to control all the light hitting your piece.
- Set up your lighting: to get an equal, even wash of light, set up two identical lights on either side of your artwork at 45 degree angles. Use the brightest lights you can and ensure both lights are the same in order to provide even amounts and even colour. Never use your camera's flash or light your work from the same angle as the camera or else you'll end up with a hot spots in your work.
- Set up your artwork: Whether you hang your artwork, lean it on a wall, or lay it on the floor, it's important that the camera is positioned at a perfectly parallel angle and that the lens is centred to the middle to avoid making your piece look distorted. Using a tripod locks the camera in and offers the most control.
- Adjust your lights and your artwork for reflections: examine the way your artwork looks through the lens, identifying any unwanted sources of light and finding a way to minimize them. You may need to adjust the positioning of your lights or adjust your artwork.
- Take a few test shots: once you're happy with what you see, you're ready to shoot!
- Work in a controlled environment: taking a shot with both studio lights and ambient lighting ( daylight or from lamps/ceiling lights ) can cause glare and uneven lighting. Close curtains and blinds and adjust room lights as necessary in order to control all the light hitting your piece.
- Set up your lighting: to get an equal, even wash of light, set up two identical lights on either side of your artwork at 45 degree angles. Use the brightest lights you can and ensure both lights are the same in order to provide even amounts and even colour. Never use your camera's flash or light your work from the same angle as the camera or else you'll end up with a hot spots in your work.
- Set up your artwork: Whether you hang your artwork, lean it on a wall, or lay it on the floor, it's important that the camera is positioned at a perfectly parallel angle and that the lens is centred to the middle to avoid making your piece look distorted. Using a tripod locks the camera in and offers the most control.
- Adjust your lights and your artwork for reflections: examine the way your artwork looks through the lens, identifying any unwanted sources of light and finding a way to minimize them. You may need to adjust the positioning of your lights or adjust your artwork.
- Take a few test shots: once you're happy with what you see, you're ready to shoot!
