DIY Ocean Wall Art Tutorial

In this tutorial, I show you how to make ocean wall art with resin ocean waves to bring a coastal beach vibe to any living space.

Learn how to make resin ocean waves along with many resin art techniques and DIY tips.
So, let’s get started with a list of resin art supplies you will need for this project.

Tools and Materials

Resin Ocean Wall Art DIY Plans

I created a set of downloadable DIY plans for this ocean wall art project.
Download yours today!

Download the Plans

Video Tutorial

There are several things which are difficult to fully explain with words and images, so be sure to check out the video tutorial.

Prepare Work Area

First, I recommend using tuck tape to cover a scrap piece of plywood, mdf, or particle board.
Resin does not adhere to sheathing tape so it makes cleanup very easy.

In addition, I like to suspend the work piece for my resin art projects to allow the excess resin to drip off the sides.

Mix Epoxy Resin

Most epoxy for resin art projects requires a 1:1 mixing ratio.
So, 1 part A (resin) to 1 part B (hardener/activator)

To properly mix epoxy resin, use 3 mixing containers.
Keep in mind, each mixing container needs to be large enough to hold 32 ounces.
Measure 16 ounces of part A in one container and 16 ounces of part B in the other container.
Pour both containers in the third container and slowly mix with a mixing stick.

Also, do not ‘whip’ the epoxy resin as this introduces excess air bubbles.
First, gently stir in a circular pattern in one direction while scraping the sides.
Next, repeat this process in the opposite direction.
Then, scrape the bottom of the container and turn the material over.
Repeat this process until the resin turns clear, which is a clear indicator it is ready.

Color Epoxy Resin with Dye

To color the resin, split the resin into 4 cups equally (8 ounces per cup).
Each cup will a different color:

Translucent Ocean Blue
Opaque White
Translucent Blue
Clear Resin

Next, add 1 drop of dye to each cup and stir.
If you prefer a darker color, add another drop until the desired color is achieved.

Pour Resin

First, pour the translucent blue on the rear of the wood and cover about 1/5 of the surface.
The dark blue will represent the deep ocean water.
Also, you can use your hand to spread the resin on the ocean wall art.

Next, pour the translucent ocean blue next to the previous color.
The lighter blue represents shallow ocean water.

As a quick tip, lightly tap with your finger where the light blue resin meets the dark blue resin to blend the area.

Then, pour the clear resin in next to the ocean blue.
Essentially, the clear resin separates the white resin and helps make resin ocean waves look more realistic.

Finally, spread the white resin in front of the clear resin.
Be sure to leave about 1/5 of space to expose the raw wood.
If you are creating resin canvas art, I recommend to use a tan color to represent beach sand.

DIY Resin Ocean Waves

Immediately after pouring the white resin, use your heat gun to gently remove the air bubbles from the resin ocean wall art.
The heat gun loosens the resin and allows it to flow better.

Next, place the heat gun in front of the white resin and point it to the rear of the ocean wall art piece.

Do not point in down. Rather, make sure it points from front to back.
Apply heat to the white portion only and the white resin should start to run over the clear and light blue resin.
When the white resin reaches the dark blue, start moving the heat gun across.

It will be tempting to continue to play with the resin ocean waves to make them perfect.
However, I encourage you to stay disciplined and avoid doing this because it will result in a ruined project. Trust me, I’ve done it 2 or 3 times and learned this lesson the hard way.

Allow the resin to cure for 24 hours.

Remove Resin Drips

First, remove the ocean wall art piece from where you poured the resin and peel off the excess.
Since resin doesn’t adhere to sheathing tape, it should peel easily.
Also, I find it satisfying to peel the resin from the tape.

To remove the resin drips, use a heat gun and razor blade scraper.
First, heat the resin with the heat gun on a low setting to soften it.
Next, slide the razor blade under the resin and scrape the drip off.

Then, use an orbital sander to flatten it out and remove any minor excess.
Don’t worry about making the underside perfect – you just want it to be flat so it sits flush on the wall.

Apply Wood Finish

For any resin ocean wall art project, I recommend to finish the surface with Odie’s Oil.
Odie’s oil protects the surface and allows you to control sheen levels by sanding grit.
You can achieve a glossy finish or an epoxy matte finish with Odie’s oil.
Also, it is food safe, non toxic, and stabilizes wood.

First, I flipped the ocean wall art over and applied finish to the underside.
I allowed this to set up for 45 minutes and removed the excess with a terry towel.
Next, I flipped the piece over and repeated the process on the top.
I didn’t sand the epoxy because I wanted to keep a glossy finish.

This article outlines the 4 best finishes for epoxy wood surfaces. I encourage you to read it for more detail.

Hang Resin Ocean Art on Wall

I recommend installing z-clips or installing french cleats to hang the resin ocean wall art.
For this project, I used z-clips because it allows the ocean wall art to sit more flush on the wall.

Conclusion

I hope you learned how to create DIY resin ocean waves in this ocean wall art tutorial.
Lastly, be sure to download my Resin Ocean Wall Art DIY Plans.