Doing arts and crafts can really be exciting, especially if it’ll be your first time trying a new medium. While there are plenty of art types you could try out, such as painting and knitting, resin art has ballooned in popularity over recent years, and that’s for a good reason.
When you watch other people do resin art, it might look simple and easy. While pouring resin into their molds might look quick, there’s more to it that you should know about. Apart from reading some resin tempering tips, there are many other factors you need to consider in order to produce clear, hard, and perfect output.
Here are some keys to resin art success:
1. Prepare Your Workstation
The ultimate key to a successful resin art is to prepare everything you need before you begin your project. Depending on your environment’s temperature and condition, moving away from your workstation might cause damage to your art, which might lead to irreversible results. With that, you should ensure that you have everything with you so you can quickly grab anything you want just a few steps away.
For your workstation, you should prepare your resin mixture, mixing cups, stirrer, mold, dye, and accessories, among others. Having a dedicated workstation in your home allows you to keep everything in place and prevent yourself from turning the room upside down just to look for a missing piece.
2. Manufacturer’s Instructions
Since resin would be the most important material for your art, you need to use the right combination of epoxy and hardener to accomplish the best results. Usually, you can see the instructions at the back of the bottle, giving you a basis on how much you should use per material.
As you pour your epoxy and resin into a cup, you can’t just estimate their weight; instead, be specific and use a weighing scale to guarantee top results. A quality weighing scale would give you accurate measurements. Moreover, you’ll have a basis on how much resin mixture you need when creating another product from the same mold.
3. Identify The Right Mixing And Pouring Method
Since you’ll be mixing the epoxy and hardener, you must practice the proper mixing method to avoid developing bubbles and prevent the mixture from being too hot, which could cause it to harden prematurely.
As you pour the two ingredients together, you should use a stirrer, and stir them as slowly as possible. While it might take quite some time, it’s the best way to prevent bubbles from developing on your mixture, which can be hard to remove, especially for deep cast projects.
Along with the mixing method, you should also know the right pouring method to prevent air bubbles once you pour your mixture into your mold. To do this, you should pour your mold slowly and never go beyond one inch to allow for a thorough curing process. You can do this for combs, coasters, paperweights, clips, and more.
4. Balance Your Accessories
If you plan on adding an element or two to your resin art, you must allow for the perfect balance of resin and accessories to ensure that the final output is sturdy and firm. If there are too many elements and accessories inside your resin art, chances are you’ll come up with a flimsier product.
Ideally, you should only add a maximum of 10% of elements into your product. If you think it’s too plain, you can always add some colors to make your artwork more fun and exciting. Adding the correct elements helps make the item look creative, making it great for selling or as a gift.
5. Use A Heat Gun
Sometimes, air bubbles still tend to appear in your mold even with the right mixing and pouring methods. You should use a heat gun to prevent them from occurring and eliminate their presence as your project cures. The heat can help pop any air bubbles away and keep them off your mold. This can also help lift any air bubbles from the bottom of your mold, removing them completely from your work.
As you heat-gun your resin, try to keep a safe distance as the heat gun will still produce air, which could blow and affect your resin artwork’s appearance, especially if you’re particular with your lines and colors.
6. Don’t Forget Your Safety
Resin can be quite tricky to work with, especially since it can cause some health concerns, especially when done without any caution. You should practice proper safety practices when working with resin to prevent any issues.
Preferably, you should work in a well-ventilated room and wear a repositor to avoid inhaling any toxic fumes. Moreover, you should also wear sterile gloves and avoid any resin contact on your skin.
Takeaway
Creating a successful resin art project can be challenging, especially since there are plenty of things that you must consider. But, with the right preparation, you can allow every resin project to be a success. Ideally, you should prepare your workstation, know the right pouring and mixing methods, and balance the elements you put into the mold. While the process might be lengthy, the results would be worth your while.
Author Bio: Lena Cole is an arts and crafts enthusiast who sells art for a living. She has been writing blogs to share her expertise in handling and doing crafts. In her free time, Lena enjoys painting and taking photos of landscapes.
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