Today I’m giving you a behind the scenes look at a very talented Savannah-based artist and friend, Mary Margaret Monsees with M Studio. As you may know, I already have her intricate flower studies in my double parlor as a gallery wall. I’ve shared these beauties all over my Instagram and I loved them so much that I commissioned coordinating magnolia flowers above my fireplace.

Since Casey and I have had a blossoming Magnolia tree in every home that we’ve owned, I opted to have this classic Southern flower as a focal point above our fireplace in our double parlor. Mary Margaret is well-known for her resin paintings so we decided to commission the Magnolia paintings in resin too. The paintings are absolutely gorgeous and I love the subtle sheen that the resin top coat adds. The paintings provide a touch of modernity to our historic double parlor filled with antique frames and furniture.

Mary Margaret’s resin process is so special and awe-inspiring that I thought I’d take you with me to her studio and show you the process from beginning to end through an IGTV video.

The light-filled studio located on the marshes of Savannah offers endless inspiration through stunning views of the water. When I stopped by, the paintings were ready for the resin process. It’s super soothing to watch her pour and spread the resin on the painting’s surface to remove any air bubbles. It takes about 72 hours to cure and adds a beautiful glossy finish that sets it apart from any other artwork that I’ve seen!

Since I’m obsessed with her resin process, she was gracious enough to outline the process for you below and answer a few questions.

What does the resin process entail?

The resin process is pretty involved and time-consuming but produces a one-of-a-kind painting.

• Step 1. I first prep the area where I’m going to pour the resin. I lay a drop cloth and set up a folding table since the resin is a permanent application. It’s important to make sure that the resin doesn’t get on anything precious. It’s also important that the table is level as the resin (in its liquid form) moves around and I want to make sure that it dries in an even application. 

• Step 2. I prep the paintings by taping the sides with painter’s tape so the resin doesn’t adhere to the edges. I double check the surface of the painting to get rid of any dust. 

• Step 3. I use a calculator to determine the exact amount of resin I’ll need to cover the surface. 

• Step 4. I mix the two-part formula which is one part resin to one part hardener.

• Step 5. I pour the resin on top of the painting and spread to all four corners to make sure the entire painting is covered. 

• Step 6. Air bubbles occur as part of the mixing and pouring process so I use a blowtorch to pop all obvious air bubbles. The heat also helps the resin move around and cover every square inch of the painting.

• Step 7. I cover the paintings with cardboard and a plastic sheet to keep any dust particles in the air from settling into the drying resin. 

• Step 8. The resin dries for the next 24 hours. The painting can be handled at this point, but the chemical process isn’t complete until 72 hours so I hold off on shipping or delivery until then. 

Why do you start using resin on your paintings? 

You’re probably wondering why I go through all this effort in the first place? Haha. This idea came to me about a year ago because I was painting traditional studies of individual flowers. I loved the realism and details of the paintings, but wanted to add a fun, unexpected element to my paintings – thus the idea of adding a high gloss, resin top-coat to my paintings was born! I think it adds a more contemporary feel to the traditional paintings and I’ve never seen anyone else use resin in this way before. Practically speaking – the resin also protects the underpainting and eliminates the need for a frame!

Do you like doing commission paintings? How is it special for you?

The majority of my business is commission paintings. Commissioned art is very personal and I love the collaboration process. I love talking with clients about their space, visiting their homes, seeing fabric swatches & paint colors, and discussing favorite flowers. I will often create a vision board for my clients so we can swap ideas back & forth until we land on a concept with both love. Nothing is more special to me than having my artwork in people’s houses. I’ve helped clients decorate nurseries, dining rooms, bedrooms and it makes me so genuinely happy to contribute to these sacred spaces in a home. It warms my heart to know my art will be enjoyed by the clients for years to come. I don’t take that privilege lightly and am so excited to be in this line of work. 

Tamara Gibson Photography