Resin... not just clear
Resin is a seriously fabulous medium. It coats, it seals, it can also be the artwork itself.
By adding color or inclusions, the options are endless.
Color: Color can be tricky, but when you understand the technical aspect, it doesn't have to be. There are a few options for color. The easiest one is acrylic paint, because most artists have it already in the house. Acrylic paint is water-based. Water is not recommended to be mixed with resin. If you add too much acrylic paint to resin, it will skew the curing process. But, a tiny amount of acrylic paint should be find - that means there is a world of colors you can choose from for your small-scale artwork. We recomend a 1:10 ratio - that means a really minuscule amount of color. Mix it throughly and you will see the resin tint beautifully.
Alcohol Ink is another option people use. A few drops can make a beautiful transparent color for your resin. A little goes a long way. You can also create what's known as petri art. Petri art is a technique done when dropping the ink directly into the resin without mixing. Choose a rainbow of colors to make stunning affects. Alternate gold and white inks with the other colors. They are heavier and will push down the lighter colors, so they don't just float on top of the resin.
Use Mica powder to color your resin. It can be slightly messy, the powder is super, finely ground pigment. But, there is an endless amount of color options, from metallic, glitter or pearlescent to matte. The color won't fade over time and there is no metal in them, so they wont tarnish either. You dip a stick into the pigment and then stir it into the desired amount of resin. Add more if needed. The Mica powder won't affect the curing process and quantity added is more forgiving because it is a dry powder.
A great option is a paste or liquid pigment specifically formulated to use with resin. These are usually highly pigmented. The colors are rich and beautiful. Again, you only need a small amount to get a deep, bold color.
Inclusions: Inclusions don't blend into your resin. You add them in to create different affects. Inclusions can look as if the are coloring your resin if they are small enough, or if you add enough of them. An example of this kind of inclusion is glitter. Inclusions can range from sand to buttons. You can use seashells, stones, crystals, beads or gummy bears. As long as the inclusions you choose do not contain liquid, they should work fine. Your imagination is the only limit.
Happy crafting!