Work quickly after painting each coat so they don’t dry before combining them in the curing process.
Artist Resin Craft Idea: Coat an Acrylic Painting
Today, we are going to teach you how to use Artist Resin on acrylic painting. This is one of the most common applications of epoxy resin for artists. To avoid running on certain issues in the use of the resin, I’m going to teach you certain techniques that will make the process easier and more efficient.
First, you need to prepare the painting. Clean it off using dish soap and a wet paper towel. I suggest that you have an extra painting on standby, which is smaller than your main painting. The idea is that you have another painting where you can pour the extra resin after working on the first one. Both paintings must be cleaned before going to the next step.
The canvass has the tendency to collect the resin at the center. To resolve this problem, I supported the back of the canvass with a piece of cardboard. Then, I stacked some yogurt cups in the middle and at the four corners of the canvass. Settle your painting against the yogurt cups and press the center. If the canvass does not sink, that means it’s being supported in the middle.
Now, it’s time to mix your resin. Get identical plastic cups and use them to measure an equal amount of resin and hardener (Parts A and B) from Counter Culture DIY Artist Resin . Use the ridges on the cups to guide you in properly measuring the resin. Using a wood, flat stirrer, gently stir each cap.
Pour each cup on a bigger mixing container. Make sure to scrape all the resin on each cup. Gently stir the mixture for at least 3 minutes.
Slowly pour the mixture into the canvass. Using a scraper, spread it up to the sides. You will notice that the tendency of the resin is to go back to the center so want to push it out. Spread the resin all the way to the edges. Pour more resin as needed. Technically, you need 1/8 inch of the coating but since you have no way to measure it, a good feel on it and a lot of practice will help you determine if you have applied enough.
With your gloved fingers, run them around the edges. You want the edges to be coated thinly and evenly as well.
See some bubbles forming? Here, we use a heat gun or a handheld torch to burst them out. Quickly run the torch above the resin but not too close though. Use the torch to incinerate small pieces of hair or dust too. Double check for bubbles and run the torch again if needed. Do it within 15 minutes after you pour the resin.
If you have an excess resin, pour it on the smaller painting and follow the steps above.
Now, it’s time to cover your painting. Set up cups at the four corners near the canvass (it must be slightly higher than your work). Get a trash bag and adhere each side of the bag in each cup using a tape. Make sure the trash bag is not touching the resin below it.
Let the resin cure for 72 hours. After a few days, you will see a shiny finish which makes the painting more beautiful!
Why Should You Use Acrylic Paint With Epoxy Resin
Acrylic paint is easy to use and epoxy resin can be hard to work with. However, since you’re using both together the mixed product should be easier to manipulate than just one or the other alone.
Using these two together can create a unique look and feel that you won’t get from just one or the other alone.
Table of Contents
- Why Should You Use Acrylic Paint With Epoxy Resin
- How To Use Acrylic Paint With Epoxy Resin
- Tips For Making The Process Easier
- Things To Keep In Mind When Painting With Acrylic And Epoxy
- Troubleshooting Problems That May Occur When Using Acrylic Paints With Epoxy Resins
- Can You Mix Oil Paint With Epoxy Resin
- What Can I Use To Color Epoxy Resin
- FAQ
How To Use Acrylic Paint With Epoxy Resin
When you are using acrylic paint with epoxy resin, it is important to prepare the surface.
If there’s a porous or rough substrate under your project, then that can cause little bubbles in between the two resins when they cure together.
It will also create an uneven finish and maybe even discolor parts of resin where they touch due to different rates of curing time of each material.
If your piece has been prepared properly by sanding down any ridges or depressions in order for the topcoat to be smooth and level, this should not happen as much if at all.
Tips For Making The Process Easier
- Have all of your tools ready, and make sure you are wearing gloves! It is best to have a dedicated set of supplies for working with epoxy resin.
- Mix the acrylic paint into the resin as opposed to adding it on top after pouring (it will sink beneath the surface).
- Be patient when applying multiple coats; let each coat dry before continuing onto another layer.
- Make use of rags instead of paper towels or other disposable products. otherwise, you risk contaminating any leftover materials that may be used later.
Always do a test run with the paint and resin to ensure color saturation and adhesion.
This is especially important when using paints not made for use with epoxies, such as enamel or textile mediums. Test on a spare surface, not your finished project!
Thinner coats will allow more of the colors from both layers to mix together while still providing some contrast between them. When applying thicker coats, you may notice that the new layer doesn’t show through quite as much.
Work quickly after painting each coat so they don’t dry before combining them in the curing process.
Use slow cure times if working during colder months of winter (below 70F) where slower drying times are necessary to prevent cracking.
If you don’t have a slow cure epoxy, use heat lamps to speed the process. Stay about 12 inches from lighting and rotate your pieces every few hours so they dry evenly.
To create an even greater depth of color when using multiple layers, paint with enamel or oil paints instead of acrylics.
You can also layer these types on top after completing resin layering. This will give much more vibrant results than traditional layered painting methods.
