Alex LabunetsResin Art Essentials
If you're just starting out with resin art, the list of supplies necessary can be daunting. It takes a little while for everyone to gather their bearings, so I have compiled a list of supplies that I see as "absolutely necessary" and supplies that are just nice to have on hand in your studio. By no means is this list exhaustive but it'll start you off on the right foot from the beginning!
Supplies that are absolutely necessary:
Organic Vapor Respirator (https://amzn.to/2JYtpIYor https://amzn.to/2JYtZGE)
Nitrile gloves ( https://amzn.to/2JXSLHi)
Table. I prefer a glass top table so you can level it and it'll be perfectly flat.
Plastic sheeting (you want a thick plastic cover for your table so it doesn’t tear easily; painter’s plastic sheeting works great for that and if you buy a big roll, it’ll serve you for years and years! https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-10-ft-x-100-ft-Clear-4-mil-Plastic-Sheeting-CFHD0410C/204711635)
Resin. I started with Art Resin (cheapest if bought in biggest size possible which is available on their site https://www.artresin.com/collections/artresin but make sure you like it first before stocking up!)
Popsicle sticks (visit your local dollar store)
MDF panels or cheeseboards to practice on
Pigment pastes and dry pigments (see below)
Plastic measuring cups (https://amzn.to/32RzNt3 or similar)
Cups for pouring (I use these little bathroom paper cups https://amzn.to/2LHjCcJ)
Heat gun ( https://amzn.to/2LMIWOb)
Orbit palm sander (https://amzn.to/30Y3CXc)
Level
Painter’s masking tape (https://amzn.to/2LKtt1b)
Heavy-duty tarp for your floor
Sealing medium like Golden Soft Gel Matte medium (https://amzn.to/3120k54)
Rubbing Alcohol
Paper Towels on a paper towel holder (that's important!)
Supplies that are “nice” to have:
X-acto knife (https://amzn.to/2LQMe3l)
Glitter, glass, and crystals
Mica powder (https://amzn.to/2JY0FA9)
Jig Saw (https://amzn.to/2SNX6iT)
Miter saw, wood glue, miter clamps (if you want to make your own cradled wood panels)
Con-Tact paper (https://amzn.to/2LKehRD)
Painter’s caulk
Liquid Gold Leaf (https://amzn.to/2K0LBlD)
Quality acrylic paint to make custom color blends (I like the Golden brand for their high pigmented product)
Woodworking workbench (I have two like this https://amzn.to/30VlcuM, one for my miter saw and one for sanding and jig sawing)
Aluminum foil tape (https://amzn.to/312lXCx)
Artist easel (the one I have is this one https://amzn.to/2Yz5gNh You want something big enough to handle big wall art pieces as they can get heavy)
Posca pens (https://amzn.to/313MP59)
Temperature & Humidity controller (https://amzn.to/2CL7GQn)
Dehumidifier (https://amzn.to/2QWUhgn)
Silicone mat (https://amzn.to/2OmKUoA)
PlastX plastic polish and cleaner (https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-PlastX-Plastic-Cleaner-Polish)
Where I buy pigment pastes and dry pigments:
Artisue (https://www.artisue.com.au/shop-pigments) has a great range of pigment pastes and they carry Langridge dry pigments; they’re based in Australia.
JustResin (https://www.justresin.com.au/) has a great pigment paste Titanium White – very very vivid white which produces crisp lacing. Also has a huge variety of trendy colors for pigment pastes!
Color Obsession (https://www.colourobsession.com.au/colour-obsession-colourants-cover)
Just4YouOnlineUk (https://just4youonlineuk.com/) has a nice variety of glitter and some specialty glitter as well.
BulkGlitters.com has amazing chunky glitter, particularly in size “mammoth” or “colossal”
That's it for now! Hope this helps. Happy creating!
Alex Labunets is an abstract artist based in Seattle, Washington. She mainly works with epoxy resin but uses other media in the mix to achieve various results. Her work is inspired by nature and semiprecious gemstones, geodes, and agates. To inquire about a possible commission, click here.