How To Resin Your Home Wall Decor

Do you wish that the canvas prints you ordered online would have a little more pizazz? Are you tired of looking at the same print on your walls? 

Add vibrancy to your art with ArtResin! Pouring a perfect coat of ArtResin adds a  professional look and shine to any print that you order or pick up from the store. It's simple and quick.

Within 30 minutes, you'll be measuring, mixing and pouring like a pro.

Though the idea of applying epoxy resin may seem a bit daunting, ArtResin was designed by artists who understand what artists want:

  • a product designed specifically for artwork
  • a safe and easy application
  • and most importantly, pro results. 

This video will show how simple ArtResin is when you follow a few key steps: measure, mix, pour, spread, cover and you’ll wonder why you haven’t been using it all along!

Let's get started ...

 

What You'll Need: 


The ArtResin 32oz Combo Pack

This kit includes:

32 oz ArtResin (covers approx. 8 sq ft)
• 5 reusable spreaders
• 1 reusable mixing stick
• 5 pairs of disposable gloves
Artist's Studio Torch (butane not included)
• 4 resin stands


In addition, you will need:

• cardboard
• level
• plastic measuring cup (or 2-3 clear plastic drinking glasses)
• toothpicks
• paper towel
• dust cover large enough to fit your piece (a cardboard box or a plastic tote)

 

1. Assemble Your Materials:

Gather together your tools and your ArtResin epoxy before you start resining. Line your work surface with plastic for easy clean up and to protect your table top: a vinyl shower curtain makes an easy, inexpensive liner that can be re-used again and again.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor: Assemble Your Materials


2. Prepare Your Artwork:

Make sure your artwork is dry and dust free. A cloth, soft brush or canister of compressed air can help eliminate dust.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor: Prepare Your Artwork

 

Decide if you want to resin the entire painting (i.e including sides) or if you only want to resin the top. Applying resin to the top of your artwork while leaving the sides unresined is referred to as doming.

💡 TIP: Learn more about doming in our blog What Is Doming Resin?

Resin Your Home Wall Decor: Decide if you want to resin the entire painting

 

If you want to resin the sides, we always advise taping off the bottom of your piece. Drips will naturally start to accumulate along the bottom of your piece but tape will catch those drips. Once the resin is dry to the touch, you can pull the tape off and the drips right along with it.

Stretched canvases should be reinforced. The weight of epoxy resin can cause stretched canvas to sag and, consequently, the resin to pool in the center. To prevent this, cut a piece of cardboard to size and insert it in the back to provide strength and stability.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor: Stretched canvases should be reinforced

 


Prop your piece up on plastic stands.
Propping up your piece allows drips to pool on the plastic lined work surface.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Prop your piece up on plastic stands

 


Ensure your work is perfectly horizontal
by checking it with a traditional level or with ArtResin's mobile phone level: 
www.artresin.com/level

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Ensure your work is perfectly horizontal

 


3. Prepare Your ArtResin

Measure equal parts by volume. ArtResin is a 1:1 epoxy resin, meaning that you need equal parts of resin and hardener measured by volume. To determine how much ArtResin you will need for your piece, enter the length and the width into the Resin Calculator on our website. 

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Measure equal parts by volume

 


Wearing gloves, measure equal amounts of resin and hardener.
It doesn't matter which one you start with, as long as you measure equal amounts of both. It's important to measure accurately: if your resin and hardener are not perfectly equal, your resin may not cure properly. 

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Wearing gloves, measure equal amounts of resin and hardener

 


Mix thoroughly for at least 3 minutes.
As you stir, scrape the sides and bottom of the cup to ensure you incorporate every last bit of resin and hardener. Mixing thoroughly and scraping the sides will ensure every last bit of resin and hardener are combined. Now you're ready to pour!

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Mix thoroughly for at least 3 minutes

 


4. Pour The Resin

Pour the mixed ArtResin onto the center of your piece and spread it out to the edges using a plastic spreader. You'll have about 45 minutes of working time before the resin gets too thick to work with.
 
Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Pour The Resin
 


Use the spreader to gently pull a little resin over the edges and down the sides of your piece or let the resin dome on top. 

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Use the spreader to gently pull a little resin over the edges and down the sides

 

Using gloved hands, smooth the resin out, evenly coating each side.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - smooth the resin out



5. Torch, Cover And Wait: 

Using an Artist’s Torch, hold the flame a couple of inches above the resin surface just long enough to pop the bubbles. One or two passes with the torch is all you need to get rid of bubbles.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Torch, Cover And Wait



Keep
 the torch in a constant side to side motion, as if you're ironing clothes. Don't hold the flame too close - it should just lightly kiss the resin surface.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Keep the torch in a constant side to side motion


Use a toothpick to pop any missed bubbles or to fish out any bits of dust.
  Look at your resin under a light source and at eye level to easily spot any imperfections.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - toothpick to pop any missed bubbles or to fish out any bits of dust


Cover and wait 24 hours.
Using a clean plastic tote or cardboard box, cover your piece and let it sit for 24 hrs until it’s dry to the touch.

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Cover and wait 24 hours



6. Reveal!

Remove the cover to reveal your new and improved artwork!

Resin Your Home Wall Decor - Remove the cover to reveal your new and improved artwork


We hope you found this tutorial informative and helpful. More importantly, we hope it made the process of applying epoxy resin a little less intimidating. Like anything, practice makes perfect but these suggestions will give you a good head start:

  • have everything you need ready to go: tools laid out & artwork prepped
  • ensure your ArtResin and resin room is 75-85°F or 24-30°C
  • measure accurately, mix thoroughly, scrape your container as you stir
  • use a torch and dust cover

Before you know it, you'll be applying ArtResin over ALL of your favourite art pieces!

Questions?  Comments?  Tips?
Please leave them below!

About the author: Joanne Wright

I'm Joanne, the Marketing Content Writer at ArtResin. Originally from Canada, my home is now Indianapolis, Indiana. My love of all things creative and my entrepreneurial heart means I’ve worn many hats over the years including fashion producer & stylist, retail store owner, t-shirt designer, and even vegan baker! I...