When Heidi Werschler talks about epoxy compounds, resins, and tints, it sounds like complex chemistry. But the entrepreneur and owner of All About Resin, a Winnipeg-based company, explains that these products are easy to use and allow for a lot of creativity as an artistic medium.
“You can paint with it, you can use it to cover surfaces, or you can create surfaces with it,” Werschler says. “For example, you can pour it into moulds and can even make a coffee table with it!”
Epoxy art isn’t new, but it is rapidly gaining popularity in Canada.
“When I first came across it, I was absolutely blown away at how huge this industry is in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand,” Werschler explains. “It’s been [in Canada] about a year, but we’re just now getting into all the opportunities and possibilities.”
Indeed, All About Resin is a very new company. Werschler and her business partner founded it in July of this year, but it’s growing quickly as people discover the variety of ways the product can be used.
“Our company calls on art supply companies, woodworking companies, we work with artists who use it, and we do workshops,” says the entrepreneur. The workshops are similar to popular paint nights where people are guided through the steps of painting a canvas.
Unlike painting nights, however, All About Resin’s workshops don’t focus on a specific design. Participants are given guidance on how to use the medium and then are allowed the freedom to explore and bring their own vision to fruition.
“What’s really unique about this is that even if you’re a novice, it’s all about your own creativity,” Werschler says. “Every single person that has been in a workshop has loved it, because they come up with their own unique design.”
In addition, she points out that participants aren’t restricted to any specific surface, like a canvas. “When you do this, there are so many objects you could use; you can do coasters, tiles for the backyard, and I even just finished doing a bar top.”
Werschler, a born-and-raised Manitoban, admits that she is not an artist.
“But even I feel that creative spark,” she says. “I see people create such beautiful art and it’s their first time trying it.”
The epoxy system is a “pour medium” because it is typically poured onto either the surface to be coated or into a mould. Werschler compares the consistency to honey. Just like honey, the epoxy is more easily manipulated at higher temperatures. So in addition to using tools like brushes to create patterns in the epoxy, temperature can also be employed. For example, Werschler says that artists can do everything from gently blowing warm air over their projects to using a heat torch.
The epoxy uses a two-part system—the resin, which gives the product its texture, and a hardener. Both ingredients are clear, and when mixed together they can be used to seal or protect a surface without altering its appearance.
It is when tints are added to the mixture that the epoxy becomes an artistic medium.
Werschler was drawn to work with this particular product because of its high quality and versatility.
“Resin is resin,” she explains, “but it’s all about the additives that people use. Ours is a more pure resin with minimal additives, and it’s certified non-toxic.”
When she set out to find the perfect supplier, she did a lot of research. Her search took her all the way to England, where she struck gold.
“This supplier has six different lab technicians on site, and therefore we have the ability to develop new products together. Also, they are reliable and established and have a great variety of the tints, all the colours, metallics, and even glow-in-the-dark tints.”
Werschler didn’t even know about epoxy products and art until she was asked to research them as part of her work in business development. When she came across epoxy systems, she was struck by how popular they were elsewhere and how many possibilities they offer as a creative outlet for both new and experienced artists.
“Once you learn how to manipulate and use this product, even on your first try, you’re totally hooked,” she laughs. “Resin art is really about the exploration of a medium and colour that brings out every artist’s heart.”
