Valerie Dado, a dedicated resin artist and recent third-place winner in the iCoat Epoxy competition, shared her creative journey on the Resin Mastery Podcast after winning five gallons of premium epoxy. Starting out in Michigan with simple decorative trays and knick-knacks, she transitioned into floral preservation, making custom pieces such as blocks, jewelry dishes, and crosses that captured sentimental value for her clients. Her leap into resin artistry was inspired during pregnancy, spending a year learning about techniques and epoxy safety before launching into craft parties, continuous practice, and eventually developing her own signature style, one that values detailed design, purposeful placement, and rigorous use of PPE and professional tools.

Valerie’s promotion strategy is rooted in Instagram, connecting with local custome ...