Marlis Dsouza is a Dubai-based resin artist who turned art into her full-time career in April of 2022. Resin Art is an art form that includes epoxy and colored pigments to create intricate works of art. From the creative process to advice for those starting out, Let's explore Dsouza's journey with art and resin.
What has influenced your identity as an artist?
My story, curiosity and versatility influence my identity as an artist. I was born in India and grew up in Dubai. I was that kid that took her grades really seriously, but also really enjoyed Art and Athletics. In high school I chose Art as one of my subjects and then went on to do my first exhibit in school which represented 3 years worth of work.
A moderator from London came in and graded us and I was one of the 6 students that were awarded an A. Since then, I knew that I considered myself as an ‘artist’ but had no clue that 15 years later I would be pursuing it as a career.
In college I took the STEM route and now I've got a couple of degrees under my belt (B.S. in Aeronautics and M.S. in Systems Engineering) after which I spent 3 years working as a System Test Engineer in the aviation industry.
While I was embarking on my STEM journey, I was always creating art in some form or another. Whether it was acrylic paintings, henna tattoos or dabbling in fluid art. My curiosity and creativity drew me back to art time and time again.
Why choose resin art as a medium? What are the challenges that accompany this medium?
I started to experiment with fluid art in the form of acrylic paints about 5 years ago while I was in grad school working on my Systems Engineering degree. I needed a creative outlet and mixing and pouring paint gave me that opportunity to tap into my artistic self without the pressures of a paintbrush on canvas. I soon found myself going down a rabbit hole when I discovered resin shortly after. I was fascinated by the glossy finish and the endless functional ways you could create art with resin too.
It did come with a lot of challenges though. One being that it is the most expensive medium I have ever used. It has a short working time and needs to be in a temperature controlled space in a dust free and clean environment. There’s a whole lot else that could go wrong like an exothermic reaction or mixing the wrong ratio or adding too much pigment…really the list is endless.
How would you describe your creative process?
I’d say it’s very intuitive. If I’m creating a piece that isn’t a commission order, I usually just pick a size/surface and then a few colors and start pouring them while creating natural movement and flow. If it is a larger piece, sometimes I have to step back for a few days or even weeks to figure out what my next move will be. The hardest part is knowing when it is finally complete.
Where do you think resin art stands in the Art scene of Dubai/UAE?
I just moved back to Dubai in January of this year and from what I’ve seen is that resin art has popped off during the pandemic. More people are learning about it and enjoy how it looks and are eager to have resin art on their walls or as functional art in their homes. I think the medium definitely needs more exposure and I hope to be one of the artists that encourages that effort.
Advice for someone starting out in resin art?
Start small. There is so much to learn and since it is an expensive medium (both resin and alcohol inks), I think working on small projects will help gain the knowledge and confidence. You can only control so much when it comes to fluid art so have fun with it and don’t be so critical of the outcome.
Anything exciting in the works? Where can we find you?
In October I had my first ever solo exhibit as a full time artist where I displayed 30 original pieces from the NEW Wave collection that's inspired by my life in Florida and to new beginnings. That was a life changing experience and I can’t wait to do another one in 2023. But for now, I do pop up showcases all around Dubai. You can follow me on social media to find out more details @ artsybym or on my website www.artsybym.com.
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