How to Make White Pigment Paste for Resin — Mastering Ocean Waves

Creating ocean-inspired pieces of resin art can be a captivating and rewarding experience. But one of the critical elements for success is using a suitable white pigment paste to develop cells and the sought-after foam effect in your resin waves. In this article, we'll show you how to make a fantastic and inexpensive DIY white pigment paste that you can use to create stunning ocean waves.

What is Pigment Paste made of?

Pigment paste is a concentrated colorant made up of pigment powders and a binder. The binder is typically made of a combination of resin and other additives that help to thicken, preserve, and stabilize the resulting paste. The pigments can be matte or pearlescent and made from various materials, including natural minerals like micas, organic compounds, or synthetic versions of the above, like synthetic mica powder.

Usually, pre-made pigment pastes can be pretty expensive and come in relatively large containers. While they may be convenient for those who work on large projects regularly and use a lot of pigment, they can be wasteful for those who use pigment pastes occasionally. On top of that, resin pigment pastes can also dry out if left unused, which can be frustrating and a waste of money. In contrast, making your own pigment paste with Pigment Powder and Resin Part A is an inexpensive and efficient way to create the exact amount of pigment paste you need for your resin art projects. Plus, you can easily adjust the intensity of the pigment by adding more or less powder to the mixture, giving you more control over the final result and special effects.

How to make DIY pigment paste for Resin Waves?

MEYSPRING White Pearl Mica Powder has been specially formulated to create compelling movements and interesting cells when mixed into epoxy resin. Its fine-tuned composition, density, and particle size make it the perfect choice to achieve remarkable effects effortlessly. But the incredible lacing effect you will get when mixing our White Pearl mica powder with Epoxy Resin Part A to make your DIY Pigment Paste for Resin Waves will blow your mind. 

Mixing Ratio:

• 3 Parts White Pearl Mica Powder
• 1 Part Epoxy Resin Part A

All Supplies needed:

Making your own white pigment paste for resin waves is easy and fun. See below all the supplies you need.

• White Pigment Powder (Matte or Pearlescent)
• Epoxy Resin Part A 
• Containers with lids (to store your paste)
• Palette knives (to thoroughly mix the ingredients)
• Glass mixing surface 
• Cleaning Wipes (to clean your tools afterward)

Step-by-step Guide:

Follow the steps below to make your DIY Pigment Paste.

1. First, place 1 part of the white pigment powder onto your glass mixing surface.
2. Add a similar amount of Resin Part A and mix with the pigment powder using a palette knife.
3. Add more pigment to the mixture until you get the 3 parts of pigment fully incorporated into 1 part of the resin. The more pigment powder you add, the heavier the final paste and the better the lacing in your waves.
4. Once the pigment is thoroughly mixed and no lumps can be seen, your paste is ready.
5. Use it immediately or store it in a small container for future projects.

How to use pigment paste in resin?

Understanding the science behind lacing in ocean art pieces is essential to achieve extraordinary results in your artwork. Here are a couple of secrets to achieving beautifully foamy resin waves in your ocean art pieces:

1. Pouring Tip: Always pour a layer of clear resin where you want your lacing and foam effect, then sparingly pour a line of your white-colored resin on top.
2. Lacing Tip: Use heavily-colored resin to create cells. Since the white-colored resin is heavier and denser than the clear resin poured in your project, it will tend to sink. So, with some heat, the lightweight clear resin from the bottom will eventually break through the white-colored resin poured and spread on top of it, magically creating cells and the desired foam effects!

Check out the technique above by talented resin artist @lisamarie.artdesign to create magnificent waves in her signature ocean-inspired resin coasters. 

Since pigment pastes are highly concentrated, you don’t need much to color your resin. Start by adding the tip of your crafting stick to your mixed resin and stirring thoroughly until the color is evenly distributed. The amount of pigment paste needed depends on the desired opacity or intensity of the white foam. Once the color is fully dispersed, you can gradually add more pigment paste and continue mixing until you reach your preferred saturation. 

It's also important to note that pigment pastes can affect the curing time of your resin, so be sure to experiment with small amounts before adding large quantities to your project. And remember, a little bit of pigment paste goes a long way, so use it sparingly to avoid over-saturating your resin.

Final Thoughts

Making DIY white pigment paste for resin waves is an inexpensive way to achieve extraordinary effects in your ocean-inspired resin art projects, and it’s even fun. You only need two main ingredients (Resin Part A and White Pigment Powder) to make your own paste and a small container to store it. On top of that, producing small amounts of resin pigment paste at a time ensures a fresh supply that won't dry out if unused. 

Just remember to mix the pigment thoroughly, start with a small amount of resin, and keep adding until you get the desired consistency. 

When pouring your layers, always pour a little bit of clear resin first and then use the white resin colored with your DIY pigment paste sparingly to create the shorelines. That technique will produce fascinating foam effects when you heat the layers with a heat gun or torch. Of course, you can always add more white-colored resin if needed, but you can never remove the already poured layer.

If you want to learn more about this style, check our step-by-step guide on Resin Ocean Art for more details on techniques, tips, and tricks. With a bit of practice, you'll be able to create stunning ocean-inspired pieces of resin art that will be the envy of all who see them.