Resin Casting: Botanical Inclusions
Preserve your botanical specimens in creative compositions with resin. Resin’s outward appearance can be similar to glass, allowing an artist to achieve depth and dimension within an object. Use resin to encapsulate flowers in flat discs that can be hung, displayed on a shelf, or used as coasters!
Materials:
- Resin
- Resin Molds
- Flower Press
- Pressed and Dried Flowers
- Long-Handled Lighter
- Wooden Skewer
- Gold Leaf or other Inclusions (optional)
Step 1: Choose an assortment of fresh flowers. Place the flowers in a flower press, or layer them between cardboard and paper and place heavy books on top. Allow the flowers to press and dry for 24 hours.
Step 2: Once the flowers are dry, remove them from the press or the layers of paper and cardboard.
Step 3: Place the dried flowers in a resin mold. Carefully consider the composition of the flowers. If other inclusions are desired, such as gold leaf flakes, add them now.
Step 4: Mix the resin. Resin requires two parts mixed equally. Follow the instructions on the resin box.
Step 5: Add color to the resin if desired.
Step 6: Slowly pour the resin into the mold.
Step 7: Using a wooden skewer, gently move the inclusions in the resin to help release any air bubbles that may have been trapped underneath the inclusions.
Step 8: Allow the resin to dry and harden. Check the resin box for estimated curing time.
Step 9: Carefully remove the hardened resin from the mold.
Ideas to take the resin castings to the next level:
- Display your resin on a light stand (sold online) to create an illuminated artwork that serves as a great nightlight.
- What else can you encapsulate in resin? Experiment with different inclusion objects.
Learning and Discussion Questions:
Artists use resin in a variety of ways. The resulting artworks can look strikingly different. The following artists are two examples of many who use resin in their work:
A. Emily Mullet is a Pennsylvania-based artist who uses resin in some of her work. When creating with resin, Emily uses printmaking techniques between each glossy layer. Visit this link to learn more about Emily and her work.
B. Ava Block is an artist who uses the creative process to work through life events, emotions, and memories that affect her physical body. Visit her website to read her artist statement, learn more about her process, and see her works in resin.
Thank you to our sponsor, PNC Arts Alive!, for helping to make this video possible!
