Learning: My Journey with Resin Mixed Media Art

Resin art is a captivating world where different elements come together to create stunning, multi-dimensional pieces. At its heart is epoxy resin, a clear liquid that hardens into a glass-like finish. The magic happens when you mix this resin with a hardener and add artistic touches like pigments, beads, or even metal pieces. Its versatility allows for layering materials, creating a sense of depth and movement.

In this blog post, I want to share my personal journey into this medium—the discoveries, the challenges, and the joy. But first, let me tell you how it all began. Or maybe, how resin found its way to me.

Discovering Resin: A Happy Accident

Back in 2019, I wasn't looking for a new artistic medium. My main concern was protecting my fineliner drawings. UV light was causing them to fade, and I was terrified of losing my work to sun damage after a close call with a piece displayed in my living room.

My first step was to scan every drawing. My second was to find a protective coating. While searching online for ways to preserve my art, I stumbled upon an article about using resin. The article described resin's beautiful fluid movement, how well it worked with other materials, and the luminous finish it created. It caught my attention immediately.

Intrigued, I tried to learn more, but finding clear, straightforward guidance was tough. Information was scarce, but I pieced together what I could about the pouring process and the importance of safety precautions. After some research, I chose a product with good reviews and ordered a small test kit.

When the package arrived, it included a surprise: a flyer from the seller, a German artist who also taught resin classes not far from where I lived. It felt like a sign. I contacted her right away, and her enthusiastic response confirmed I was on the right path. My journey into resin art had officially begun.

Learning and Growing: Embracing the Challenge

Mastering resin has been both an exhilarating and challenging journey—one that I’m still on. It felt like the perfect counterbalance to the strict, precise work of my fineliner drawings. Suddenly, I had to let go of control and learn to guide a fluid material with patience, a heat gun, and a steady hand.

Since that first class, I’ve spent countless hours learning and experimenting. I’ve attended more workshops with the same talented artist and dedicated time to my own exploration. I’ve watched how resin reacts with different materials, studied its curing process, and learned to manipulate it to achieve the effects I envision. Every discovery has added a new tool to my artistic vocabulary.

Working with resin is a delicate dance. You need the right balance of resin and hardener, and your mixing technique has to be just right to avoid a cloudy finish or bubbles. I’ve had my share of pieces that didn’t cure properly or colors that blended into muddy shades. But these challenges have been my greatest teachers, refining my skills and making the journey incredibly rewarding.

And the rewards make it all worthwhile. There's nothing like the thrill of seeing colors merge and swirl into unique patterns or the satisfaction of turning a simple wooden board into a stunning piece of art. Each finished piece is a testament to patience, perseverance, and the spirit of exploration.

Fusing Styles: Resin Meets Fineliner

Once I felt more comfortable with resin, I decided to combine it with my first love: fineliner drawings. After all, protecting them was what started this journey in the first place.

The result was a unique fusion of textures, colors, and lines—the abstract meeting the concrete. The fluidity of the resin against the meticulous detail of my drawings created an aesthetic that felt deeply personal and completely new. This combination allows me to create a dialogue between different forms and textures, pushing the boundaries of my creativity. For me, they work together in perfect harmony.

It’s a process that tests my patience but also teaches me about myself. There’s a certain thrill in watching the resin flow over a drawing, adding a new layer of emotion and narrative. Each piece reveals a part of my thoughts, perspective, and inner world. The unpredictable nature of resin mirrors the unpredictability of life, and in that way, the creative process reflects my own personal growth.

The Journey Continues: Always Exploring

My artistic exploration didn't stop with just resin and fineliner. I began incorporating more media into the mix, scanning my drawings and digitally manipulating them to create new patterns and colour combinations. I also added structure paste, acrylics, spray paints, and stencils to my toolkit. Each new medium brings a unique texture and depth to my work, enriching the narrative and expanding my creative vocabulary.

This constant evolution is what I love about art. It’s a journey of always pushing boundaries, discovering new facets of self-expression, and bringing art to life that is as multi-dimensional as the experiences that inspire it.

My journey with resin mixed media art is a continuous process of learning, exploring, and creating. For me, art and personal growth are intertwined, each enriching the other. The creative process has been a powerful tool for self-understanding, emotional expression, and building resilience.

Inspiration comes from many places—the strength of remarkable people, exciting adventures, and stories of triumph. These narratives remind me that resilience is a driving force, not just in life, but in creative expression itself.

I hope my experience sparks your own curiosity. I invite you to share the creative journey you’re on—or perhaps begin one, if you've been inspired to start.