Polymer Clay
Polymer clay is a form of modelling medium based
on the component PVC. It does not actually contain any earthen clay materials or
minerals but instead gets its name as its working properties and texture feels
like clay. Polymer clay is usually cured by baking in the over at relatively low
temperatures and will remain soft and malleable until cured, allowing for
limitless work time and uses.
Polymer clay has a very low shrinkage rate (around 1%-2%) and is therefore very popular for jewellery, sculptors, artists and deco artists to create charms, cabochons, beads, cameos and more. It is also very easy to work with, comes in a variety of colours (or you can colour your own) and effects (such as metallic, neon, UV reactive, eraser putty and transparent) and has a soft and smooth
texture.
on the component PVC. It does not actually contain any earthen clay materials or
minerals but instead gets its name as its working properties and texture feels
like clay. Polymer clay is usually cured by baking in the over at relatively low
temperatures and will remain soft and malleable until cured, allowing for
limitless work time and uses.
Polymer clay has a very low shrinkage rate (around 1%-2%) and is therefore very popular for jewellery, sculptors, artists and deco artists to create charms, cabochons, beads, cameos and more. It is also very easy to work with, comes in a variety of colours (or you can colour your own) and effects (such as metallic, neon, UV reactive, eraser putty and transparent) and has a soft and smooth
texture.
Price
Polymer clay is generally quite expensive compared to other clays, at £1.85 for a standard block of Sculpey from
a craft store. This probably has something to do with the fact it contains more
expensive materials in it, such as liquid plastics and PVC. Because polymer clay
is more expensive than other clays, decoden artists tend to switch to paper or
air dry clay, or choose to make their own cold porcelain after working with this
for some time.
a craft store. This probably has something to do with the fact it contains more
expensive materials in it, such as liquid plastics and PVC. Because polymer clay
is more expensive than other clays, decoden artists tend to switch to paper or
air dry clay, or choose to make their own cold porcelain after working with this
for some time.
Availability
Polymer clay is widely available in many countries including the UK, US, Asia and Europe and can be bought at
craft, hobby and art stores as well as online. The most well-known brands, and
therefore the most available, are Sculpey, Fimo and Premo. One brand of air
drying polymer clay is a Japanese one called Lumina. It has been around for a
couple of years now and so it getting quite widely available in America and
Canada.
craft, hobby and art stores as well as online. The most well-known brands, and
therefore the most available, are Sculpey, Fimo and Premo. One brand of air
drying polymer clay is a Japanese one called Lumina. It has been around for a
couple of years now and so it getting quite widely available in America and
Canada.
Uses
Polymer clay has a wide variety of uses, including sculpting, jewellery, charms, beads, cabochons, cameos,
creating vessels and covering items. It can also be used to make moulds,
although some form of release agent is needed and is very good used in moulds,
mostly because of the low shrinkage. Polymer clay can be cured in the oven, then
worked over the top of and new pieces added with little to no consequences. As
long as the recommended time or temperature is not exceeded, the clay will not
crack, break, shrink or burn. It is very popular among deco artists and
hobbyists and is uses to make sweet deco
items and other charms and cabochons because of its taking of detail. There are
many tutorials available to easily create cute deco items such as cake, biscuits, cookies,
breads and macarons by using tools to help you mould and make impressions that
are easily found in your home.
creating vessels and covering items. It can also be used to make moulds,
although some form of release agent is needed and is very good used in moulds,
mostly because of the low shrinkage. Polymer clay can be cured in the oven, then
worked over the top of and new pieces added with little to no consequences. As
long as the recommended time or temperature is not exceeded, the clay will not
crack, break, shrink or burn. It is very popular among deco artists and
hobbyists and is uses to make sweet deco
items and other charms and cabochons because of its taking of detail. There are
many tutorials available to easily create cute deco items such as cake, biscuits, cookies,
breads and macarons by using tools to help you mould and make impressions that
are easily found in your home.
Texture & Workability
Polymer clay tends to need conditioning before use to get rid of
the hard, sometimes crumbly and hard to work with texture and feel. You can
condition polymer clay, if not all clays, by either working it with your hands
for a few minutes or by using a pasta machine reserved for clay use (in order
oto reduce cross contamination). After proper conditioning, it is soft, flexible
and slightly elastic. If you are using a strong colour, however, it can leave
traces or stains on your hands and other surfaces so take care whilst using it.
Consider using white or light colours first to minimise mixing the colours.
Polymer clay tends to come in a variety of colours so colouring the clay is not
usually necessary.You can colour polymer clay using paint, ink,
coloured pencil, chalk, metallic or mica-containing powder, metal leaf or foil,
glitter and embossing powder. It is not advised to mix air dry and polymer clay
together.
the hard, sometimes crumbly and hard to work with texture and feel. You can
condition polymer clay, if not all clays, by either working it with your hands
for a few minutes or by using a pasta machine reserved for clay use (in order
oto reduce cross contamination). After proper conditioning, it is soft, flexible
and slightly elastic. If you are using a strong colour, however, it can leave
traces or stains on your hands and other surfaces so take care whilst using it.
Consider using white or light colours first to minimise mixing the colours.
Polymer clay tends to come in a variety of colours so colouring the clay is not
usually necessary.You can colour polymer clay using paint, ink,
coloured pencil, chalk, metallic or mica-containing powder, metal leaf or foil,
glitter and embossing powder. It is not advised to mix air dry and polymer clay
together.
Curing & Aftercare
After you cure polymer clay by baking in an oven, it turns very
hard and solid. You may find with thin pieces it is slightly bendy and flexible;
this is normal. Properly conditioned and cured clay can withstand dropping and
normal stresses other materials may not. Curing polymer clays tends only to
shrink the shape by 1 or 2 percent and the texture is smooth and consistent.
After curing, you can paint the clay using acrylic, oil or water paints, rework
other pieces on top of the clay and cure again, sand and/or buff it or seal it
using varnish or gloss. I don’t think rubber stamping or marker pens hold up
very well on polymer clay because of the liquid plastics and PVC components in
the clay causing a slight rubbery surface and feel.
hard and solid. You may find with thin pieces it is slightly bendy and flexible;
this is normal. Properly conditioned and cured clay can withstand dropping and
normal stresses other materials may not. Curing polymer clays tends only to
shrink the shape by 1 or 2 percent and the texture is smooth and consistent.
After curing, you can paint the clay using acrylic, oil or water paints, rework
other pieces on top of the clay and cure again, sand and/or buff it or seal it
using varnish or gloss. I don’t think rubber stamping or marker pens hold up
very well on polymer clay because of the liquid plastics and PVC components in
the clay causing a slight rubbery surface and feel.
~ written by Laura Haslam
