To create impressive art, you need a ton of quality raw materials. Epoxy resin is one of them. There are many factors to consider when you go out to shop for the best resin to create outstanding art.
If you keep asking yourself this question; what kind of resin should I use to make my art? Your question is plausible. Here are the best picks available in the market that you should consider purchasing for your next art.
1. ArtResin Epoxy Resin
ArtResin Epoxy Resin has been called the best resin for art in the market. This resin was developed to protect your artwork and give it beauty at the same time. This high-gloss clear enhances and protects your art from yellowing.
It is a great choice for creative projects. It is very easy to use and only needs a simple mix of 1:1 ratio from both the resin and the hardener. Once the mixture is ready, you can pour it over your project for a gorgeous and durable finish.
This resin will do great justice to your painting, photos, jewelry, wood among many others. Once spread on the art, it levels itself and takes up to 72 hours to completely cure. It is non-combustible and almost odorless there it can safely be classified as non-toxic. https://www.dickblick.com/products/artresin-epoxy-resin/
Pros
- It provides superior long-term clarity.
- It is easy to mix and use.
- It creates a beautiful finish to the art.
- It is strong and durable.
- It is thick, solid, and hard.
- It offers efficient yellowing protection.
- It is non-toxic therefore safe for your health.
- It is non-flammable and non-hazardous.
- It contains no fumes or solvents.
Cons
- It takes a longer time to harden and fully cure.
- Bubbles take time to go away during mixing.
- It is more expensive compared to other brands.
- It has some odor before it dries.
2. EnvirotexLite Epoxy Resin
You must have experienced it before, that thick, smooth glossy finish appealing to the eye. The clear and hard lustrous feel that graces the surface of your art piece for a beautiful modern masterpiece. There is no other resin responsible for this opulence other that EnvirotexLite Epoxy Resin itself. It is an absolute choice!
This resin is Non-VOC and solvent-free with a tested and proven formula. Its packaging comes with detailed directions and it is both easy to use and compatible with most colors and equipment. https://www.dickblick.com/products/envirotex-lite-epoxy-resin/
Pros
- It hardens to a high gloss finish.
- It cures within 32 hours.
- It creates an attractive finish.
- It has a tested and proven formula.
- The directions in the packaging make it easy to use.
- It safe for both your health and the environment.
- It is high build and durable.
- One coat is enough for a good finish.
- It requires no polishing to gloss.
- It is durable and resilient.
Cons
- It is quite costly.
- Bubbles take time to go away when preparing.
3. Pebeo Gedeo Resins
This easy to use transparent resins are easy to prepare as well. You only need two-part resin and one-part hardener to come up with a fine casting for your art. When the mixture is ready and you have prepped your surface to satisfaction, all you need to do is to pour it for coating or pour it into a mold for casting and voila!
This strong popular finishing renders unique glazy effects. It is perfect for jewelry and other decorative embellishments. If you are adventurous and daring and enough, you can use it to laminate and coat your creative art pieces. You will not go wrong it even when used on postcards.
Pebeo Gadeo Resins can take up to 24 hours to completely cure and it leaves no unattractive yellowing finish. It can be mixed with other products to create unlimited shades and imprints. The tip is, you should ensure that your surface is completely protected from dust until it completely dries. https://www.dickblick.com/products/pebeo-gedeo-resins/
Pros
- It is easy to mix and use.
- It can be mixed with other Gedeo Color Resins to create marbleized effects.
- It is strong and durable and can be used to mold.
- It dries to a shiny, hard non-yellowing finish.
- The excess bits are easy to trim.
- The bubbles completely disappear after curing.
- The molds are flexible and can be reused.
- It does not spill over when applied to a flat surface.
Cons
- Customers complain about it as lumpy and with debris.
- Leaking and messy containers reports.
- It has some bubbles during the mixing process.
- It can trap dust when it is still wet.
4. Castin’Craft Clear Polyester Casting Resin
This versatile, light, and easy to use resin are fun and exciting. It allows you to form glass-like coatings when mixed with hardening catalysts. It has a wide variety of creative e possibilities like jewelry paperweights and other decorative items.
This convenient resin can be used to paint finished pieces. It can also texture them to resemble ivory, horn, and amber. The coating from this resin helps to encapsulate the objects well in crystal-clear plastic. There are a number of possibilities that you can embed, and it includes coins, insects, dried flowers, rocks among others.
Castin’Craft Clear Polyester Casting Resin has a new package that contains a catalyst. It is safely sealed in a clear bubble top cap. This resin has a 6-months shelf life and it should be stored in a cool dry place. https://www.dickblick.com/products/castincraft-clear-polyester-casting-resin/
Pros
- It is affordable.
- It is versatile and light.
- It is popular in making decorative items.
- It forms a glass-like coating to encapsulate an object.
- It can be painted and textured.
- It comes with a bottle of catalyst.
- It has a very low viscosity.
Cons
- This resin’s shelf life is short.
- It cures a little bit slower.
- The odor from this resin is a bit distinct and too much.
- It cannot be used indoors because of the odor.
- The material can crack if used with heat.
- The instructions are not very explicit.
5. Jacquard Pearl-Ex Pigments
This is the most versatile resin available in the market. Jacquard Pearl-Ex Pigments is made from powdered mica, which is nontoxic. The pigments exhibit colorfastness and stability. It can be mixed with other paints or binders for shimmering surfaces on metals and colors and they can never rust or tarnish.
This powerful powdered resin can be sprinkled as glitter on the surface or incorporated into any viscous medium. This pigment can also be kneaded into polymer clay for outstanding results. It works with oils, acrylics, varnish, and wax. It can also look great in paper pulp, gouache, and any other viscous material.
Jacquard Pearl-Ex Pigments sound to be great for many things that include collage and mixed media art. It does not leave calligraphy behind as it blends well with it. They are temperature resistant and can be baked in a kiln at extremely high temperatures. It can be used dry and it should be sealed after every use because they are inert and colorfast.
Pros
- The pigments are non-toxic.
- They cannot rust or tarnish.
- It can be used for both interior, exterior, and archival applications.
- It can work with many viscous mediums.
- It can be used for collage and mixed art.
- They are temperature resistant.
- It can be used dry.
- It is highly stable.
- It is very versatile.
- It sets in quickly and can be sanded after 4 hours.
Cons
- It is inert and colorfast.
- The odor can be a bit much in confined spaces.
- It needs acetone for cleaning.
6. ArtMold Aqua Clear Resin
This resin provides a combination of both quality and high performance. It is a two-part casting system used for UV-resistance. It is optically clear, hard, and leaves a non-yellowing finishing. It tends to well with platinum cure such as BakeSil. It is also known to work with condensation cure silicone.
This resin that completely cures at room temperature does not trap any air bubbles in the process. It does a whole lot of good things from casting fine arts to encapsulating objects. It is also perfect for producing rapid prototypes. You can also muse it create fine effects on your art without having to worry about the odor.
The mixing ratio of ArtMold Aqua Clear Resin is a simple 1:1.
Pros
- It cures at room temperature.
- It is UV resistant.
- It is optically clear.
- It leaves a non-yellowing finish.
- It is a two-part casting system.
- It is non-toxic.
Cons
- Tiny bubbles can be apparent in the finished art.
- It is very expensive.
- Needs assistance from other materials to preserve the surface clarity.
A good resin product should include UV stabilization. This is meant to keep your artwork a beautiful finish and help it to stay that way for a long time without turning yellow or amber. If you go for cheap low-quality resin, your artwork will quickly deteriorate; a costly mistake you should never make as a seasoned artist.
You would also want to go for something that has been certified as non-toxic and good for home use.