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If you are a resin artist looking for some resin art supplies, or you are someone who is interested in starting resin art, you have come to the right place. We know how to work with resin and there is so much we have learned over many years, so we are happy to help give you tips and advice when looking to purchase resin art supplies on what works, and what works WELL.
There is so much to learn about resin art before jumping right into it. We are going to talk all about some of the essentials that you really need to have on hand for any project. Also, something to note, anything on this list would make great gift idea for a resin artist if you are keeping an ear out for that.
We will also discuss some epoxy resin safety info and the must-have resin tools that you will need to create crafting project with resin including resin jewelry, river tables and geode resin art.
When you start to put a list together of everything you need for creating resin art, here are some resin art supplies to consider:
We are going to go through the resin art supplies listed above and share the best finds that you will want to have on hand for each item, depending on the resin project you want to take on. Let's go!
When working with resin, the most important items you can purchase are the proper safety gear pieces for working with resin, like gloves.
Nitrile gloves for working with resin are the best. It's very important that you keep resin off of your skin. If you do get resin on your hands, check out this article about how to get resin off of your hands and skin.
It's so important to always have a box of resin gloves on hand.
Here is the respirator mask that we personally use and always recommend when working with resin.
If you're into resin crafts, you probably already know that it's important to work in a well-ventilated area. But did you know that wearing a respirator is also a good idea? It's actually highly debated in the resin groups, but we err on the side of science, and safety.
Resin fumes can be harmful if inhaled, so it's important to take precautions when working with this material.
A respirator will help to filter out harmful particles from the air, making it safer for you to breathe. In addition, working in a well-ventilated area will help to dissipate the fumes more quickly, making your workspace safer for everyone.
To start a resin project or when purchasing resin crafting supplies, you are going to need some resin.
There are so many brands of resin out there, and the type of resin you need depends on which project you are going to try. There are different resins for making general craft projects, for deep pours, casting resin and for making resin jewelry.
For crafting projects there are lots of different epoxy resins out there to choose from and we have tested a ton of brands out there.
One of the brands we especially like to use is ArtResin. It is a 1:1 mixing resin and is easy to work with.
In this video, we show how you can use ArtResin to make a geode resin art piece. It's one of the resins that is easy to use. And you can mix in and colorants for resin at about 10%.
We are recommending this resin again as we have used Art Resin for jewelry making. This is a great one, especially if you are just getting started. Yes, it is one of our favorites to work with for smaller projects if you haven't guessed by now.
Here is a piece created using Art Resin:
Not only does Art Resin have some of the best resins out there for jewelry artists, they also have resin colorants that are specially formulated to work beautifully with their epoxy.
Here is an example of one of their metallic shades being mixed with their epoxy:
Our all time favorite colorant to use with resin is mica powder, and there are a few things to know if you plan on using mica powder for your resin art. First make sure you are not adding too much powder, no more than 10%. This is the golden rule for adding any colorant.
Next, stir the mica powder in very slowly so that you do not get too many bubbles.
Hippie Crafter sells really great quality mica powders that incorporate into the resin perfectly. We have used these micas to create amazing river tables and really enjoyed working with them. The colors in this resin pigment set are stunning.
Here's the video of us making a river table using these micas so you can see exactly what they look like.
Check Price of this Metallics Set we Recommend for Resin
You can use acrylic paint to add color to your resin, and like mica powder, a bit goes a long way. Be sure to use no more than 10% colorant to resin.
Adding more than this much will chemically alter the composition of the resin, creating unintentional variances in flow and cure. Also be sure to mix it slowly in to avoid causing more bubbles than necessary.
Alcohol Ink will add beautiful color to your resin, and there are many ways to play with alcohol ink and resin. You can mix it in with your resin, you can add alcohol ink to your surface and resin over the top of it, or come up with your own technique.
Just know though, that alcohol ink can fade over time with resin and needs to be protected with a UV protectant. Many artists swear by Krylon's UV Resistant Clear Coating as the best UV protectant for resin pieces.
Paint pens are often used when adding details and embellishments onto your finished resin projects. They are particularly useful in drawing in agate and geode lines in resin geode creations.
We have researched and collected some key points to help you purchase the best paint markers for your geode projects. There's a huge difference between quality paint markers and cheap markers.
You might think you are saving money, but in the long run, the cheap markers don't hold up to regular use on resin. Especially when you are going over the rocks, gems and glass parts. So invest in a good set from a reputable company.
This particular set is great because it comes with six pens so if you are making several different pieces or are experimenting, you will always have some spares on hand. Nothing like running out of a white pen when you need it!
Another choice is the Uni-Posca paint markers. These paint pens are a favorite among many resin artists are definitely a tool that you will want to have on hand.
The opaque felt tip markers can write on resin very easily and this particular set comes with some beautiful metallics and other gorgeous colors. The full color pigment ink in these paint pens is non-toxic, light-fast and waterproof.
If you are looking for a paint marker with bright and bold colors, you will love this set for your creations. This set is water-based so be sure to do a test before adding resin over the top of these paint pens to make sure that the resin you are using won't cause them to run.
But for finishing work as the last step, like going over decorative stones or final touches, they write on nice and smoothly.
Glitter is a really fun way to add sparkle, color and shine to any resin piece you are working on, regardless of what your project is.
Look for sets with a variety of different holographic colors. You can even get glow in the dark shades. Neons are UV-reactive which means they will react to a range of ultra violet lights creating a glowing, bright effect on your resin art piece. How cool is that!?
Iridescent glitter can add a very whimsical, sparkling effect to your resin art.
There are so many iridescent glitters to choose from for resin art, it depends on the look you are going for. Many pigments have an underling tone of blue or pink, so sort through them and see which ones you like.
In this piece below we used a mix of gold and iridescent glitters to create depth and sparkle.
If you're into resin crafts or resin art, then you know that one of the most important steps is removing bubbles from the resin. You can try to do this by lightly tapping the side of the container or using a straw to blow on the surface of the resin, but sometimes those bubbles are just too stubborn.
That's when you need to break out the heat gun. By using a heat gun to carefully apply heat to the resin, you can cause the bubbles to rise to the surface and pop.
Just be careful not to overdo it, or you could end up with a big mess. But using a heat gun is definitely the best way to get rid of pesky bubbles in your resin.
Resin is a great material for making all kinds of resin crafts and resin art. It's easy to work with, and it dries quickly. Plus, it's very versatile - you can color it, add glitter or other embellishments, and create all kinds of interesting effects.
However, resin can be tricky to work with if you don't have the right tools. One of the most important tools you'll need is a silicone mold. Silicone molds are flexible, so they're easy to pop your resin piece or fine art out of when it's dry.
They're also non-stick, so you won't have to worry about your resin piece sticking to the mold. Plus, silicone molds come in all sorts of fun shapes and sizes, so you can really let your creativity shine.
We have a whole article about some of the best silicone resin molds to help you pick out the best ones for your epoxy resin projects. We especially love the resin coaster molds that are available.
Getting resin out of plastic cups is a pain and it's not environmentally friendly to keep throwing out mixing cups. That's why every resin artist should invest in a set of silicone mixing cups and stirring sticks.
You can easily remove resin from silicone so you can keep using the same cups over and over.
This resin art e-book is packed with 50 pages of information and inspiration for aspiring resin artists and current resin artists. It's a go to guide and a must have reference tool for anyone who works with resin.
Here are some more questions people are asking about resin art supplies:
The general supplies you need for resin art include the resin itself, resin safety gear such as a proper respirator for resin and nitrile gloves, a heat gun to get bubbles out and cups and sticks for mixing and colorants/inclusions like mica, acrylic paint, glitter, alcohol ink...etc.
The more specific supplies will depend on what you are making; ex: molds for jewelry or coasters, wood canvas for pours or geode resin art, or whatever else you may need for your specific project.
Resin art can be an expensive hobby to take up basically due to the cost primarily of the resin itself. Many resin artists go through many brands to find one they like, and then opt to buy the largest containers of that resin to save money.
The other resin supplies you will need will be a one time upfront cost for your resin respirator, your heat gun and your molds.
The best, and most important place to start learning about resin for beginners is by looking into resin safety and then watching YouTube videos and reading tutorials or buying a resin e-book.
After that, beginner resin artists need to find what they are interested in making and buy those supplies (ie: molds) and then find the colors they are wanting and buy the colorants (ie: mica powders) and then get the heat gun to get rid of bubbles. Lastly is purchasing the resin for the project.
There are so many brands of resin out there, that it all depends on what you looking for. If you are making a large mold like a pyramid or a resin table, you might opt for a deep casting resin. If you are doing a tumbler or jewelry you might want to look for an art resin.
You will need to get your bubbles out of your resin somehow and the best way to do this is with a heat gun. Once your resin is poured, a heat gun can be turned on and you will actually see the bubbles coming to the surface of your resin and popping. This prevents bubbles for being present in your resin once it cures.
A UV light is required only for UV resin. If you are using a 2 part epoxy resin, it will cure on its own over time and does not need a UV light.
You may also be interested in reading these articles:
How To Choose A Respirator For Resin
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