Rainbow Epoxy Resin Art: Step-by-Step Guide to Create Stunning Creations

Creating Rainbow Epoxy Resin Art can be a therapeutic and fulfilling hobby, and it allows you to produce vibrant, mesmerizing pieces of art. This blog will walk you through the process, ensuring you have the right tools, materials, and techniques to make your own rainbow resin masterpieces. Follow these detailed steps to craft your own beautiful epoxy resin art. 

Preparing Your Workspace and Materials

Materials We Used:

• 18" Pine Round 5pk
• Black Flat Paint (for background)
• Promise UV Art Epoxy 
• Colors from Eye Candy Pigments (use the code FLUIDWOOD20 for 10% off)
• Red Opaque Dye
• Nita's True Black Pigment
• Nita's True White Pigment
• Nita's Cell Magik Activator

Tools We Used:

• Heat Gun With Attachments
• Festool 6" Sander
• Festool Dust Extractor
• Reusable Dust Bags
• 6" Serious Grit Sandpaper (80-220grit)
• Dewalt Drill
• Helix Mixing Paddle (for drill)
• D-Ring Heavy Duty Hooks
• Painters Triangles
• Cricut Vinyl Cutter
• Adhesive Mats
• Permanent White Vinyl
• Transfer Tape
• Paint Rollers Kit

Ensuring Safety and Proper Ventilation

Safety first! Always work in a well-ventilated area when handling epoxy resin. Use gloves and wear a mask or respirator to avoid inhaling fumes or getting resin on your skin. Cover your workspace with a plastic sheet or disposable table cover to protect it from spills and drips. 

Preparing Your Workspace

Set up your workspace to ensure everything is within reach. Lay out your mixing cups, pigments, and tools neatly to avoid confusion during the resin pouring process. It's important to work on a level surface to ensure your resin art sets evenly. 

Mixing And Coloring the Resin

1) Give it a Background

Start by painting the pine round with black flat paint. This base will make the rainbow colors pop more vividly. Use painter's triangles to prop up the pine round and a paint roller or brush for an even coat. Let it dry thoroughly. While the paint dries, start preparing your resin mixture. 

2) Measuring the Resin

Using Promise UV Art Epoxy, measure a total of 14 oz, with equal parts A and B since it's a 1:1 mixing ratio by volume. The 14 oz. was chosen to ensure 3 oz. per square foot with some extra for any mistakes or movement. 

3) Mixing the Resin

Mix the resin and hardener thoroughly, stirring slowly to introduce as little air into the mixture as possible. If working in cooler temperatures, place your container in a warm water bath while mixing to help the components blend smoothly. 

4) Coloring the Resin

Set aside 6 paper cups and add your desired colorants to each cup. Add a small amount of epoxy to each of the 6 cups and mix the colors into the clear resin. Ensure one cup contains white. This will be important for creating the resin cells. You should have a homogenous mixture in each cup. Add black colorant to the remaining epoxy in the original mixing container and stir until it's homogenous. Pour this mixture onto the pine round, ensuring the entire surface and edges are coated. 

Creating the Rainbow Effect

5) Swipe Technique

Begin at one end of the pine round and add 2-3" of one color at a time, creating a multicolored continuous line from one end to the other. Then, add a long strip of the white epoxy mixture over the colors in a continuous line from end to end. Use a piece of parchment or paper with a flat edge and slowly drag it from the middle of the colored area straight out to the edge of the pine round, perpendicular to the colored line. Don't worry if it doesn't look perfect immediately; the resin will move and settle over time to create cells. 

6) Using a Heat Gun

Use a heat gun to push the resin further and help create more cells. This step will enhance the depth and vibrancy of your rainbow effect. 

7) Spraying Cell Magik Activator

Spray a light mist of Nita's Cell Magik Activator onto the pine round. This helps create more dynamic cells and enhances the overall texture of your resin art. 

8) Popping Surface Bubbles

Use a blow torch to pop any surface bubbles that may have formed. Move the torch quickly and evenly over the surface to avoid overheating any one area. Let your piece cure for at least 24 hours before proceeding. 

Curing and Finishing Your Rainbow Epoxy Resin Art

9) Scuffing the Surface

After curing, scuff the surface by hand sanding it with 320-grit sand paper. This will provide a better grip for your vinyl decal and flood coat. You only need to remove the sheen, so be gentle. Don't forget to sand the edges. Wipe down the surface with isopropyl alcohol afterward to remove unwanted dust. 

10) Applying the Vinyl Decal

Use a Cricut machine to cut your vinyl decal and place it in the center of the piece. Use a flat tool to ensure it's securely attached before peeling away the application portion. 

11) Applying the Flood Coat

Place your piece on painter's triangles on a prepared level surface. Measure and mix 300 mL of Promise Table Top Epoxy. Cover the entire round, including the sites, with the epoxy. Use a trowel to move the epoxy around if needed for full coverage. Use a blow torch to pop any surface bubbles that have formed. 

Let your piece cure for another 24 hours before proceeding. 

12) Removing Drips

After the final cure, remove any drips from the back of the piece. Start with a file to remove the larger drips, then use 80-grit sandpaper, working your way up to 150-grit for a smooth finish. Touch up the back with black paint to ensure a professional look. 

13) Attaching D-Ring Hooks

Finally, attach D-ring hooks to the back of your piece so you can hang it on the wall. 

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