Resin art has recently taken on a variety of new styles, forms, and applications. First developed in the 1930s, resin art involves a chemical mixture of epoxy resin, colors, and additives typically placed in silicone molds to form and dry. If you want to develop or advance your resin art skills, this article outlines 15 resin projects that can help you get started.
5 Skills That Resin Projects Can Help You Practice
Below are some of the primary skills you’ll practice through the resin projects featured in this article. These skills are fundamental in your artistic development and play a key role in producing high-quality resin pieces.
- Casting. This skill refers to the process of pouring the synthetic resin into a mold. Although it sounds quite simple, there are a number of techniques that you’ll need to learn to avoid forming bubbles or disturbing the features you’re pouring the resin over.
- Pouring. Unlike casting, pouring does not involve the use of molds. Pouring most often applies to projects such as river tables, terrariums, and any other project that doesn’t require a mold. Different pouring techniques produce different effects.
- Combining Colors. As resin art requires you to mix your own colors into the chemical mixture, you’ll need to develop skills in combining colors. These skills involve ratios, tones, and mixtures. Additionally, too much color can cause the resin to become cloudy.
- Shaping and Sculpture. These skills are mostly applicable to resin jewelry or dish projects. When resin dries to a certain extent, it’s easy to sculpt and shape. However, there are a variety of shaping and sculpting methods that ensure it fully dries in the form that you’re aiming for.
- Creativity. Generally, in the art industry, creativity is your foundation. Having creativity skills allows you to create projects that are unique and help you to stand out as an artist. This can involve creativity in color combinations, materials used in products, sculpting methods, or even project choices.
Best Resin Project Ideas for Beginners
Below are some of the best epoxy resin crafts for beginners. These projects will allow you to develop basic skills and will familiarize you with the processes involved in creating resin projects.
Jewelry
- Skills practiced: Shaping and sculpting, combining colors
Beautiful resin jewelry is one of the most fun and creative projects to start with. If you’re a complete beginner, you might want to start with this simple tutorial. You’ll need a mold, resin, and one color that you want your epoxy resin jewelry to be. Once you’ve mixed the color with the resin, you’ll pour it into the mold. Once the resin dries, you can remove the mold and drill a small hole for the hook.
Botanical Crafts
- Skills practiced: Shaping and sculpture, creativity
Botanical resin crafts are a perfect choice if you want to create epoxy resin projects to sell. You’ll need dried or fresh flowers, leaves, or pine needles. Some fun ideas include picture frames, ornaments, or coasters with resin. This is also a good budget-friendly option for you and a cheaper item to sell if you choose.
Paperweights
- Skills practiced: Creativity, casting
This project allows you to be as creative as you want to. Your paperweight can be any shape and can include any combination of colorful resin you want. You can even add materials inside of the paperweight, such as a button, flower petal, gold leaf, or piece of wood. Keep in mind, if you decide to add anything other than resin, your resin shouldn’t include any dark or bold colors.
Candy Sprinkles Keychain
- Skills practiced: Casting, creativity
In this simple tutorial, you’ll be creating keychains made of candy sprinkles resin. As you’re using sprinkles, you won’t need to add any color to your resin. Your keychain can be any shape and size that you want, and even include other candy such as Skittles, M&M’s, or gummy bears. You’ll need to fill half of the mold with colorless resin, add the candy once it feels gel-like, and then pour the other half of the resin.
Bookmarks
- Skills practiced: Combining colors, creativity.
Bookmarks are an ideal choice for artists starting out, especially if you love to read. You’ll need to use a mold, and your resin layers will need to be thin. There are plenty of options to create exciting pieces with cool color combinations, flower petals or leaves, or even glitter. If you decide to add objects, remember to only fill the mold halfway and let the resin become gel-like before adding the objects and pouring the other half.
Best Intermediate Resin Project Ideas
If you want to advance your resin art skills, you should consider trying the intermediate projects listed below. These projects will help to strengthen your skills and provide you with beautiful portfolio content.
Mosaic Tray
- Skills practiced: Pouring, combining colors
For this project, you’ll need CDs, DVDs, or any type of metal or glass. You’ll begin by carefully cutting or breaking the materials into smaller pieces. These pieces should be small enough to not be recognized as the original item it was, but large enough to individually glue to your base. You’ll then strategically glue each piece to your platform and fill it with resin.
Fishbowl Aquarium
- Skills practiced: Casting, creativity
To create a fishbowl aquarium, you’ll need sand, small rocks, seashells, fake plants, and fish figurines. You can use a glass fishbowl for this project, as you won’t need to remove the mold. First, you need to strategically arrange everything but the fish in the aquarium. Decide where you want to place the fish, and carefully pour the resin until that point. When it becomes sticky, place the fish and continue pouring.
Decorative Spheres
- Skills practiced: Casting, creativity
For this project, you’ll be creating decorative resin balls filled with whatever material you choose. Some creative options include nails, rocks, wood pieces, seashells, or jewels. You’ll need to fill a third of a circular mold. Once it becomes tacky, you’ll add the materials you chose. Fill the rest of the mold with resin. You’ll need a second mold to create the top of the decorative ball.
Salad Plate
- Skills practiced: Pouring, creativity
This project requires you to create a plate, but if you’re feeling ambitious, you could create a whole dining set. You’ll need to fill the bottom of a circular mold with resin. Once it becomes dry but flexible, place it on a plate and put a plate on top of it to ensure it keeps its shape. Get creative with the color combinations. You can even implement patterns and designs.
Resin Coasters
- Skills practiced: Pouring, combining colors
For this project, you’ll need circular or square molds that match your desired coaster size. You’ll start by pouring a thin layer of resin. Once it dries, pour in small streaks of your desired colored resin. You can choose any colors you want, but you’ll want to include white for varied shades. Use a blowdryer to move the mixed resin around the mold and add another clear layer once it’s dry.
Best Advanced Resin Project Ideas
The advanced resin projects listed below require an ample amount of time, resources, and creativity. These projects will advance and solidify your skills and can be added to your professional portfolio.
Resin Wall Art
- Skills practiced: Pouring, combining colors
In this project, you’ll be creating beautiful resin wall art. You’ll need a clean-cut wooden board that will act as the base. The resin will be poured over the board, so choose a piece of wood according to the size of wall art you want. You should incorporate different colors and patterns into your art. Once you’ve poured your resin, move the board around to spread it.
Flooring
- Skills practiced: Pouring
Before you begin this project, you’ll need to ensure that you are working in a dry, heated, and well-ventilated area. First, remove any dust or dirt on the floor, and seal any gaps in the floorboard. As you’ll be working with several batches of resin, carefully calculate how much color you’re adding to ensure consistent results. Once you’ve poured the resin, spread it evenly and use a torch to get rid of bubbles.
Coffee Table
- Skills practiced: Pouring, creativity, combining colors
For this project, you’ll need a small wooden tabletop. You’ll start by pouring a layer of white resin over the top. Once it dries, you’ll pour a second layer to ensure the wood grain is no longer visible. Once that dries, you’ll need cups for separately mixing three to five colors with resin. Pour these colors onto the coffee table and maneuver them to spread the different colors. Once it dries, add a clear coat of resin.
Layered Painting
- Skills practiced: pouring, combining colors
This project is time-consuming but so worth it. The mold you use should suit the size and shape you want for your painting. You’ll be pouring thin layers of resin, letting it dry, and painting over it. Since you’re painting in coats of epoxy resin, the features you want to appear the furthest away should be painted first. After each layer of paint is dry, pour another layer of resin.
Night Lamp
- Skills practiced: Casting style skills and creativity skills.
For this project, you’ll need a smooth plastic water bottle that you’ll fill with whatever items you want in your lamp, along with the clear resin. Once it dries, peel away the plastic and file down rough edges. Using a circular piece of wood, cut a small circular indent that matches the size of the top of your bottle. Drill a hole for the 5V USB switch line and connect it to the LED chip. Place your resin inside and enjoy the finished piece.
Next Steps: Start Organizing Your Resin Portfolio
Once you’ve completed a wide variety of epoxy resin products, you can showcase your skills through a portfolio. Potential employers and clients will view your portfolio when you apply for jobs, so it’s important that it’s well-organized. The tips listed below can help you in assembling your professional portfolio.
Choose Your Best Projects
Your portfolio attests to your capabilities, so it’s important that it focuses on your best work. Employers and clients often rely solely on portfolios to determine the suitability of the artist to the position or project. For this reason, include impressive pieces that represent your skillset.
Include Variety
You should include projects that showcase a wide variety of methods and techniques used. This means incorporating different kinds of projects based on their use and applied method. By doing this, employers and clients get an accurate sense of your capabilities and flexibility.
Mention the Skills You Applied
The purpose of a portfolio is to showcase your skills. In addition to the impressive projects you include, be sure to add short descriptions that let viewers know which techniques and skills were used. You should also make sure that you include a variety of projects that can represent your different skills.
Resin Projects FAQ
Yes, you can make money by selling your resin projects. Many buyers are interested in epoxy resin jewelry, home decor, wall art, and gifts. If you want to begin a successful career in art you can even start your own business selling epoxy resin crafts.
According to Comparably, resin makers earn an average annual salary of $44,471. Resources like Creatively can help connect you to creative jobs.
There are tons of resin projects you can work on. There are plenty of options you can find for resin craft ideas to create amazing-looking tables, plates, jewelry, wall art, keychains, home decor, and many other amazing resin projects. River tables are especially popular right now.
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Yes, resin projects are very easy to make. You can find the necessary tools and products in most stores and online. Some of these products include high-viscosity epoxy resin, low-viscosity epoxy resin, and color pigment powder. Once you have the materials and a little creativity, you can create nearly anything.
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