Meet Lidia Malina | Epoxy Resin Artist & Future Chemist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lidia Malina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lidia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Growing up, I’ve always been an artist in my own way. I took a few classes at a local mall in elementary school and then kind of stayed away from art for quite some time. I had a class in middle school and then didn’t really touch any paint or anything until junior year of high school. I ha a teacher which saw talent an pushed me to make lots of art an learn a lot before I graduate. When I finished high school I was abscessed with oil painting and drawing but I went to college. I am currently working on my degree in Chemistry, so art fell on the back burner once again. I somehow stumbled across epoxy resin videos and thought, “that’s cool” and saw people making cool work and actually selling it. I thought why can’t I do that. I researched epoxy resin, how to use it and though long and hard about making my work different. I love the ocean and felt that maybe a surfboard would look cool. I started using damaged boards, giving them a new life and making work that made people smile when they saw it. This artistic career gave me an opportunity to make people smile, think, and react when they see my work. Its given me the opportunity to learn so much about the art community, business, and even more. Im constantly learning about myself and others. A creative career is more than just making something and having it sell, there is so much more that goes into it. I feel like when I know how to so something, there always a different or new way, and I find that to be exciting.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My artwork uses epoxy resin and crystals to make geodes. I do large and small wall pieces and clocks, but I love making my geode surfboards. I like taking old objects and giving them new life. The surfboard that are cracked an broken can’t be used in the ocean, but they most definitely can be used to hang in a wall or corner when there’s a little bit of sparkle and color added to it. Ive seen lots of resin artist with beautiful work, but I find my work to be.a little different. Aside from never seeing a surfboard like mine, I dont see much work with the fluidity or natural flow that I try to accomplish with the resin and pigments.

I wouldn’t say that im very far along the professional side of being an artist. I started this whole business last year during the summer. Ive made many mistakes, lost a lot of money, and still struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel at times. Going to a few art festivals really taught me I should stick to making work that I love…and that location plays a big factor in sales and what your should make lol. I could consider y self to be semi professional artist and Im still working my way up. A lot of the difficulties I’ve come across is cost and making an income (im really bad a pricing things, usually go wayyy to low, I have a weird thing where id rather have someone have the art and be happy than making money. But sadly only talks ), I still do struggle with this but with constant work, prayer, and networking, opportunities arise.

I want the world to know that every piece a make is made individually. Whether its a surfboard or wall piece, I put may heart into it. I want you to feel happy, excited, or just have a million questions when you see my work. Art is meant to be enjoyed, and I wish nothing more but for everyone to enjoy it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh man, my best friend loves to play volleyball and we are foodies. Finding a way to get food a find a good view would be ideal. Sun bathing is a must and an amusement park would be somewhere on that list. Im not the best at planning things, so honestly it would be a go with the flow kinds of week, but wed be sure to figure it out.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s a lot. Many people who support me family friends and teachers. My Fiancé is the reason why im able to do any of this, he pushes me to keep working with resin even when times aren’t nessisarily rewarding. Plus I stole the garage as my workspace, so that was a big sacrifice for him.

Website: malinacollective.art

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malina.co_/

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