ResinKriti Journal
Resin Art for Beginners
Resin art looks intimidating until you've done it once. This guide cuts through the noise — exactly what to buy, how to mix safely, and a foolproof first project you can finish in an afternoon.
What is resin art, really?
"Resin art" almost always means working with two-part epoxy resin: a clear liquid (Part A) and a hardener (Part B) that, when mixed in the right ratio, cure into a glass-clear, rock-hard solid. You can pour it into moulds, over canvases, around objects, or on top of furniture.
For a deeper introduction, read What is Resin Art? The Ultimate Beginner's Guide.
The starter supply list
You can begin with a kit under ₹2,000. Here's what matters:
- Two-part epoxy resin — 200–500 g kit, art-grade, non-yellowing.
- Digital scale (0.1 g precision) — for mixing by weight.
- Silicone moulds — coasters, trays, or small trinket shapes.
- Mixing cups and stir sticks — disposable, graduated.
- Nitrile gloves and safety glasses — never skip.
- Mica powders or alcohol inks — for colour.
- Heat gun or small torch — to pop bubbles.
- Plastic sheet to protect your work surface.
Safety first — non-negotiable
- Work in a ventilated room — open a window and run a fan.
- Always wear nitrile gloves (latex degrades on contact with resin).
- No food, no pets, no kids in the room during pouring.
- Cured resin is inert and safe; liquid resin is not.
Your first project: a glitter coaster
A round silicone coaster mould is the perfect first pour — shallow, forgiving, and finished in 24 hours.
- Measure: on the scale, pour Part A then Part B in the exact ratio on the bottle (usually 1:1 by weight).
- Mix slowly for 3 full minutes, scraping the sides and bottom. Slow stirring = fewer bubbles.
- Split into two cups. Add a pinch of mica powder to each — pick two colours that look good together.
- Pour alternating ribbons of colour into the mould. Drop a few glitter flakes on top.
- Pop bubbles with a quick wave of the heat gun, 15 cm above the surface.
- Cover with a cardboard box and leave undisturbed for 24 hours.
- Demould after 24 hours; full hardness reaches in 72.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Eyeballing the ratio. Always weigh — even small errors prevent curing.
- Stirring too fast. Creates clouds of micro-bubbles.
- Pouring too deep. Keep first projects under 1 cm.
- Working in cold rooms. Below 20°C, resin cures cloudy and tacky.
- Demoulding early. Patience now means a flawless piece.
Where to go next
Once you've nailed a coaster, the natural next steps are embedding objects (dried flowers, photos, charms) and working with bigger moulds. Our guides on embedding objects in resin and preserving flower color are the natural next read.