Creating a resin artwork
Shopping list:
One board-backed canvas (we
used 30x40cm)
6 plastic cups
1x 1L ice-cream container
Six icy-pole sticks
1 tongue depressor
400mL Glasscoat resin
1x 250mL beaker
1x 600mL beaker
1 pair disposable gloves
1 pair safety glasses
1x DM2000 valved mask
1x butane torch
Plastic table cover
Pigments, dyes and metallic
powders
Instructions:
Setup
Cover your work table with a plastic sheet. Make sure the area
where you are working is well ventilated and if possible the
temperature is between 18 and 25 degrees C. Place your canvas
board onto an upturned ice-cream container so it is elevated
from the table. Make sure the canvas board is level, and placed
at least 20cm back from the edge of the table so resin runoff
will not go on the floor. Put on your gloves, mask and safety
glasses.
Please note: Resin is not recommended for use by children under
16 years or during pregnancy.
Select your colours
Select up to six different colours for your artwork. Think
about what colours might go together and don’t use all six if
you don’t need to – sometimes simplicity is better! Use a range
of pigments, dyes and powders to create a layered effect. It’s
great to have an idea beforehand of what you want to do.
Measure and mix resin
Resin formula: length of board (cm) x width (cm) divided by
3800 = total quantity of resin required in litres. For example
30x40 = 1200 / 3800 = 0.315 = 315 mL resin
For glasscoat allow 400mL of resin to cover the surface and the
sides.
Measure 200mls of Glasscoat resin Part A into the 600mL beaker.
Measure 200mls Part B into the 250mL beaker.
Pour Part B into Part A and mix well for 60 seconds or until it
no longer looks cloudy.
Once part A and B have been mixed you have about 30 minutes of
working time before the resin starts to set.
Add colours to create artwork
Distribute the mixed A and B between the six cups (less cups if
you want less colours) in the approximate amounts you need for
each one. For colours you want more of, allocate more resin in
the cup. Add colours to each of the cups, mixing until they are
blended.
Make sure you add the colour gradually as it can’t be removed
or diluted once it has been added. More than 10% pigment won’t
be absorbed by the resin and will cause the resin to look dull
rather than glossy.
Note: you can leave a couple of cups without colour initially
and add the colour later, once you have started pouring. This
should avoid too much wasted resin if you decide not to use as
much of one colour as you thought, or need more of another
colour.
Pour resin
Pour the coloured resins onto the canvas board. We recommend
start with the dominant or background colour. Then add the
other colours and create your artwork. You can use the tongue
depressor to spread the resin and cover the canvas, to draw
colours through in lines or to create swirls on the canvas.
Remember the resin will keep spreading for up to an hour, so
don’t try to control the outcome too much. Once you have
finished pouring, use the tongue depressor to pick up the
runoff and wipe it along the sides of the canvas. Make sure the
top and sides are fully covered.
Blowtorch
Use a blowtorch to remove air bubbles on the surface of the
canvas. Keep it above the surface of the resin, just close
enough so that you can see the bubbles bursting. Make sure you
don’t touch the torch to the resin or it may ignite. Keep the
blowtorch moving over the surface as leaving it in one spot may
also cause the artwork to ignite and leave a burn mark.
Finish
Your resin artwork won’t cure for 24-36 hours, longer if the
temperature is below 18 degrees C or in high humidity. On cold
days you might like to put it near a heater. Make sure you wait
until the next day before trying to move your artwork. Break
off any long drips. Shorter drips can also be sanded for a
neater finish on the back of the board. It will fully cure in
48 hours. It’s now ready to display!
candu.com.au
1300 810 602
[email protected]