Painting your resin figurines can be a great creative project for a lazy afternoon to do with friends over a steaming cup of tea or alone to give yourself some well-deserved me-time. But where to start?

Painting resin statues is not too difficult but it requires a certain set of knowledge. If you are now full of motivation but lack the necessary information, you landed on the right page. Here is our complete guide to painting resin figurines.  

The materials

Not all paint is the same and the same goes for brushes. So let’s take a few seconds to figure out the material needed for this project.

Choose the right paint

First and foremost, you need to choose the right paint. We highly recommend acrylic paint for several reasons. For instance, it allows you to easily fix your mistakes and it can be mixed without problems. If acrylic paint is not for you, you can try oil paint, even though this takes way longer to dry and may not be the best option if you’re a beginner.

Pick up the right brushes

From our experience, synthetic brushes work better on resin statues. These are made from nylon or polyester and allow you to hold and release paint more efficiently than natural brushes. Buy a few different ones and see what works best for you. Make sure to also get a few small brushes for the details.

Time to begin

Now, you have all the necessary material! But don’t let the excitement take control. There are still a few steps you need to take before starting to paint.

Clean your figurine

Let’s start by cleaning your statue. You need to make sure your figurine doesn't have any dust on it before applying your first layer of color. Luckily, this process is quite easy. All you need is some soapy water and an old toothbrush. Spend a few minutes scrubbing your figurine and wait for it to dry out.

Sand

We know you’re impatient but trust us. Avoiding this step will be detrimental as all the rough areas on your statues will become incredibly evident once you apply your paint. Simply sand your statue with some sandpaper until you get a super smooth surface.

Use a primer

Here is the last step before we finally pick up those brushes and start painting. You need to apply a primer. Any spray primer will work but pay attention to the color. Ideally, you want to use a white one if you’re planning to use bright paint and a black one if you’re opting for dark colors. Use a gray primer for anything in between.

Time to paint

The time you’ve all been waiting for. Without further ado, let’s start painting!

Give it a try

We recommend first practicing on a resin figurine you do not plan to use just to try your brushes and acrylic paint. Don’t forget to use painter’s tape if you want to have sharp color edges on your statue. In this way, you won’t have to be extremely meticulous while applying the paint.

Apply different coats

Keep in mind that one layer probably won’t be enough. Painting resin requires patience as several coats need to be applied. You will have to wait at least 30 minutes before starting with a new layer, so make sure you have a book with you or someone to talk to kill time between one paint application and the next.

What if I make a mistake?

As we mentioned earlier, one of the advantages of using acrylic colors is that you can easily fix your mistakes. If your paint is still wet you can wipe it off with a damp paper towel. If the paint has already dried you can simply scrape it off.

Add a protective coat

We are now at the end of our painting journey. It is time to add a protective coat to your final product to make sure it will last for years to come. There are several products out there that provide adequate protection. For instance, you can use a polyurethane sealer spray to make sure your statute is waterproof and protected from the sun. Keep in mind that resin statues don’t perform too well under freezing temperatures. This means that if your figurine is meant to be left outdoors you may want to bring it back inside whenever temperatures get too cold.

Conclusion

So, here you are! Now you are an expert at painting resin statues. But remember, painting requires lots of patience and skills so don’t be discouraged if your first creation didn’t come out as you expected. Keep practicing and be creative, with time you will soon master the technique and you will be able to turn your white figurines into little works of art to adorn every corner of your house.