Epoxy Resin Art & Interview w/ Justin of Kaotic Artworks

Kaotic Artworks is an art project by Missouri-based Artist Justin Mosley.
Justin has been pouring epoxy resin art for over 20 years 
and creates resin art blocks made from various materials such as epoxy, acrylic, and urethane.
His work is appraised by craftsmen of all types, and has been used to make everything from knives and jewelry, to resin guitar picks and guitars.

Revered for its reality-defying beauty,
every piece that contains Justin’s work becomes an escape to a distant yet familiar place of comfort and wonder.

Kaotic Artworks and Iron Age have been collaborating on projects since March of 2019 with the creation of the “Bifrost” pick,
which as far as we’re concerned, is the first time such a collaboration was ever made. 

The Bifrost pick was the first guitar pick that we know of that was made from epoxy resin art,
it’s the “3-minute mile” of the plectrum world which has seemingly caught on with other makers.
The Elysian Spears followed shortly after in April of 2019.

Since then, Justin has not only become a valued business partner, but also a good friend who shares similar ideals with his business & art.
For those interested in the person behind the brand, we asked Justin for some insights into his creative process,
the values that are the backbone of his work, and his aspirations for the future of Kaotic Artworks.

Interview with Justin of Kaotic Artworks

Where do your ideas come from?
Most of my ideas come from comics, movies, cartoons, & album art.
That’s for colors. For products I mainly just try to make things I don’t see anywhere that I know will be useful.

What makes a certain idea worth pursuing?
Lol this is a tough one for me.
As a business I should follow the money but as an artist I have to follow my gut.
I try & balance those two daily but honestly I follow my instinct. I read art books constantly & pour (resin) constantly.
Complete submersion in what I do gives me a perspective on what can be done.

I try whatever pops into my head to satisfy the artist in me. Then I let the businessman take over.
That side looks at if there is money there or not because if there isn’t a customer for a product then I can’t keep doing that specific thing.
This system keeps me from feeling like an artistic sell out & run a business.
There is no finer line to straddle than art & commerce.



Are there any personal values that you consider when you make your art?
To what extent does identity or personal experience play a role in your work?
Absolutely!! If I don’t like it, I don’t make it. I will not copy another resin maker is another.
The product I make has my name on it. So I try and keep my work a reflection of my interest.
The second you’re chasing the new trend you’re not authentic anymore.

These rules are a direct reflection of my identity I’ve made based on my personal experience.
LMAO How many times has a band you like compromised & made an album that goes against everything they stood for?
I never want to do that with my art. I’ll make something under a different name before I hurt Kaotic.



What were some tools, techniques, or things along the way that you had to learn in order to bring your ideas to life more effectively?
To turn your work into a full time job?
Total Boat Resin. The day I started using it was a big deal. Pay for quality ingredients is something that made a huge difference.
Making my dyes by hand. This gives me options on color nobody can copy or match.

Consistency in my work & schedule.
It will never be a business if you don't wake up & go to work. If you would work 8-10 hours for a stranger then work that for yourself.
Be ready to make personal sacrifices. I still have some weeks I live on ramen & potatoes. If I’m working on something new, that’s out of my own pocket. My entire family knows we will bleed to succeed. That mindset is necessary. You can’t kind of do it.



What parts of the artistic process do you find most difficult and how do you deal with them?
Definitely scale. I have no shortage of ideas; working them on a small scale to see if they work sucks.
I think money is the absolute enemy of art lol. I want to go so big every time reining in my passion is the hardest part, hands down.
At the end of the day it is a business and you have to live in that constraint.

Your resin art material has been used by Iron Age to make guitar picks for a few years now,
and more recently has been seen as guitar tops by luthiers such as Newmusic guitars;
Is being associated with the music and guitar business something that you intended on?
Do you hope to see more of your art being used by musicians in the future?

It’s been the goal from the start. My family has played music for generations.
I was raised playing standup bass in a Bluegrass band. It's a short road to Metal from there. Bluegrass is the Metal of Country music.
My grandfather was making fiddles & mandolins when he passed.
He raised me & he always told me his biggest regret was not making them sooner.
Him & my grandmother were backup players in Nashville. They met bootlegging.

So music & living on your own terms have been in my life forever. I couldn’t work without music playing.
I honestly wish I exclusively did resin for music products. Its my true passion.
It also pays respect to my ancestors by carrying that dream & using that foundation they left me.



Is there anyone you want to give a shoutout to?
Well normally, Iron Age haha. You already mentioned New Music.
There are a lot of people who make for the wrong reason or don’t put the emphasis on quality. So you two are top of my list on shout outs.
I don’t respect many people unfortunately. John T Davidson @ Heavy Repping is a great guy that’s passionate. I respect him also.
Actually shout out to anyone pursuing their goals. Goals are for serious people. Dreams are for the sleeping.

Guitars crafted by Jeremy Bevans of NewMusic Guitars using poured epoxy resin art by Kaotic Artworks:

Where To Find All The Kaos

To follow Justin’s resin art journey, you can follow him on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube,
or support him by purchasing an art piece on his website.
These resin blocks can be used as standalone display pieces, or for all you makers out there,
can be used to make anything from guitar picks, knife handles, rings, EDC knucks,
or inquire about custom guitar tops for crafting a truly unique six-string.

Join The KAW Kaos Krew:

• Homepage
• Instagram (Main)
• Instagram (Kaotic Kollective)
• YouTube
  

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to do this Justin!
I also agree with the difficulty of making something artistic but then also having to market & sell it.
Both have their own sets of challenges but at the end of the day I do believe you need knowledge of both to succeed in any business field.
It's like the duality of creativity & ideas versus constraints of getting things done & making them appealing for others.
Thanks again, I look forward to more collaborations in the future & I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors!
-Alex

In any form of art, there is a ceaseless conflict between the maker and the consumer.
Thank you for your insights on how we can deal with this in order to create authentically and still be able to eat.

Every time I look at your material, I try to think about what I see, or how it makes me feel, like a Rorschach test.
I mostly find momentary peace, a feeling similar to contemplating the expansive universe upon viewing the cosmos.
And then I try to take that feeling with me, wherever I go. For me, your work serves as a reminder of that.
Thank you for being willing to let us pry your brain and learn from you.
-Emma



To see how some epoxy resin art guitar picks are made, check out these two posts featuring Kaotic Artworks:
How It's Made - Resin Plectrums #1 (Green)
How It's Made - Resin Plectrums #2 (Red)

Actually shout out to anyone pursuing their goals. Goals are for serious people. Dreams are for the sleeping.

-Justin Mosley

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