Getting Started with Decorative Shapes in Resin
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Decorative shapes are a good way to explore resin without committing to one particular finished project. A simple shape can become part of a larger piece, a decorative detail, a colour sample or the starting point for something completely different.
They are also useful for experimenting with colour combinations and finishes on a manageable scale. If you are just starting out, the Decorative Shapes collection is a useful place to compare different mould styles before deciding what you would actually like to make.
Start by thinking about the finished shape
It is tempting to choose a mould simply because the design catches your eye. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but it helps to spend a moment thinking about what you want from the finished pieces.
Do you want several matching shapes? A mixture of different designs? Something recognisable such as a bow, or more abstract pieces where colour and pattern become the main feature?
Your answer changes the type of mould that makes sense. A repeated design can be useful when creating coordinated pieces, while a mixed-shape mould gives you more variety from the same casting session.
The Abstract Mixed Shape Casting Silicone Mould, for example, is worth considering if variety is more useful to you than producing several identical pieces.
Choose a mould that suits how you like to work
Decorative shape moulds can be approached in several ways. Some encourage repetition, some offer different shapes, and others give you multiple spaces that can be treated almost like a small colour palette.
Before choosing one, consider:
- Whether you want matching or different shapes.
- How many separate pieces you would like to make at once.
- Whether you plan to use one colour or several.
- How much resin you normally prepare for a project.
- Whether the finished shapes will be used individually or together.
There is no need to begin with the mould that produces the most pieces. A smaller or simpler design can make it easier to concentrate on colour placement and consistency while you get used to the process.
Plan your colours before you pour
Decorative shapes become much more interesting once you start thinking about them as a group rather than as isolated pieces. Even a fairly simple mould can produce very different results depending on how you organise your colours.
You might use one colour throughout, work with several related shades, create a light-to-dark sequence or deliberately use contrasting colours. If you are using a mould with several separate cavities, planning this beforehand helps avoid making colour decisions halfway through the project.
The 8 Slot Colour Pour Silicone Mould lends itself particularly well to projects where you want to prepare a selection of separate colours or effects rather than treating the whole mould as one design.
Keep your first colour plan manageable
More colours mean more containers, more measuring and more things happening on the workbench at once. That can be enjoyable when you know exactly what you are trying to achieve, but it can make a first attempt unnecessarily complicated.
Try beginning with two or three colours that work together. You can still create plenty of variation by changing how much of each colour you use in individual shapes.
Once you understand how your chosen materials behave, it becomes easier to plan more involved combinations.
Prepare everything before mixing
Decorative shapes often involve several small jobs happening in quick succession. You may need different mixing cups, pigments or other decorative additions, along with the mould itself and the tools needed to transfer your resin.
Setting these out before you begin makes the process considerably less muddled.
- Choose the mould and decide which cavities you intend to use.
- Work out your colour scheme.
- Prepare enough containers for any separate mixtures.
- Arrange pigments and decorative materials in the order you expect to use them.
- Make sure the mould is positioned on a suitable, stable work surface.
- Prepare and use your resin according to the instructions for that particular product.
If you are dividing one prepared mixture between several colours, have all the smaller containers ready beforehand. Searching for an extra cup once you have started is an easy way to turn a tidy project into a slightly frantic one.
Simple shapes can carry strong designs
A complicated mould does not automatically produce a more interesting finished piece. In fact, simpler shapes often give colour, pattern and decorative additions more room to do the work.
The Abstract Shape Casting Silicone Mould is the sort of design that can be approached in many different ways because you are not tied to representing a familiar object.
You could explore transparent and opaque-looking colour combinations, restrained palettes or contrasting sections, depending on the resin and colouring materials you have chosen. Just remember that pigments and additives can behave differently, so follow the guidance supplied with the materials you are using rather than assuming every combination will work in exactly the same way.
Recognisable shapes offer a different direction
Abstract pieces are useful when colour is the main focus, but sometimes you want the shape itself to provide the character.
A design such as the Bow Silicone Mould gives you a recognisable form that can then be interpreted through your choice of colour and decorative finish. The same mould could form part of several very different projects simply by changing the visual treatment.
This is where keeping notes can be surprisingly useful, particularly if you sell your work. If you create a combination you would like to reproduce, record what you used rather than relying on memory. A quick photograph and a few written details can save a lot of guesswork later.
Think in collections rather than individual pieces
If you make resin pieces to sell, decorative shapes can be useful for developing a consistent visual range. Instead of producing unrelated colours each time, choose a small palette and repeat it across several shapes.
For example, you might create a collection around three complementary colours and use those throughout different mould designs. Individual pieces can still vary, but they retain a connection when photographed or displayed together.
This approach can also help when deciding which colour combinations deserve further development. You do not necessarily need to turn every experiment into a finished product. Some pieces can simply help you decide what to make next.
Common pitfalls with decorative shapes
Trying too many ideas at once
Multiple colours, decorative additions and different effects can quickly make a small project surprisingly complicated. Pick one or two ideas to concentrate on, especially when using a mould for the first time.
Making more resin than the project needs
Small decorative moulds may require less material than you expect. Until you understand the capacity of a particular mould, plan cautiously rather than preparing a large amount without a clear use for it.
Not preparing enough mixing containers
A five-colour design usually means dealing with five separate mixtures somewhere along the process. Count what you will need before you begin and set everything out.
Choosing colours individually
A colour can look attractive on its own but feel completely different alongside several others. Put your intended colours together before starting and consider the overall combination rather than choosing each one separately.
Changing everything between attempts
If you are experimenting, changing the mould, colours and decorative additions simultaneously makes it difficult to work out which change produced the result you prefer. Altering one or two things at a time gives you a much clearer comparison.
Build up your decorative shape collection gradually
You do not need a drawer full of moulds to get started. One versatile design and a thoughtful selection of colours can produce plenty of different ideas.
As you work, notice what you actually enjoy making. You may find yourself drawn towards repeated geometric or abstract pieces, recognisable decorative forms, or moulds with several cavities that allow you to develop colour sets.
That is usually the point to add another mould, when you know what you want it to do rather than simply adding another shape to the collection.
Start simple and let the ideas develop
Decorative shapes are particularly good for experimenting because the project does not have to become anything more complicated. Choose a mould you genuinely like, plan a small colour palette and concentrate on making a few considered pieces.
From there you can start repeating successful combinations, introducing new colours and building groups of shapes that work together. Sometimes the smallest experiments are the ones that quietly suggest the next project.