Secret Tips For Sculpting With Polymer Clay

Polymer Clay Flower

Polymer clay is an inexpensive material that can transform into any magical art form. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, this material will offer you some exciting sculpting ideas. The material can be extremely challenging if you wish to push the boundaries of creativity. However, it will be interesting to note some secret tips and techniques before you begin.

Arrange The Tools Of The Trade

This is the 1st step that you need to follow to begin sculpting. You might not require all these tools unless you are a professional, but it’s good to know the stuff.

Gather some rubber tipped brushes. These brushes are super flexible and work on a tiny surface.
Get hold of a dentist pick, which works great for sculpting.
Purchase some loop tools that will help you to create the general shape. These are made from bent wire ribbons.
Pasta machines are great for pressing the polymer clay and achieving your desired shape.
You can also make some DIY tools right at home. Collect the drinking straws, toothbrushes that you can curve to make knives.

Secret Polymer Clay Tips That You Must Know

Let’s look at some tips which will be helpful for beginners to start their first clay sculpting.

The polymer is exceptionally durable, and so, it doesn’t need sealing. It can withstand water, weather, and works better than sealers.
Warm the clay slowly to soften it up. You can place the clay in your pocket for 30 minutes to warm up the material.
Polymer clay must be adequately baked to make it hard and attractive. Underbaking the clay can lead to brittleness and ultimately breakage.
Never use nail polish or gloss to color the clay. Test your clay brands before adding any color to the surface. You can try Sculpey III, which offers better paint compatibility.
Polymer clay is certified to be non-toxic and safe to use. There will be some toxic fumes in the beginning, which will gradually fade away.
Always use premium brands when purchasing polymer clays. There are many cheap non-branded materials available in stores. Check them out properly before using them.
Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and heat when storing polymer clay. Also, remember to keep dust and pet hair out of your clay surface.
Polymer clay works better with most art materials that are readily available. You can mix this material with mica powders, alcohol inks, spectrum noir, and foils. Colored pencils, paper punches, shape cutters are mostly used to create exciting objects with clays.
You can use nail polish to accent polymer clay creations because the solvent in nail polish will make your polymer clay soft and sticky.
You can change the texture of polymer clay by leaching it between sheets of paper. It will allow the clay to soften up, making it hard to mix.
Storing polymer clay in ziplock bags keeps it safe and free from dust.

Basic Sculpting Tricks With Polymer Clay For Beginners

Polymer Clay

Do you wish to create classic art forms with polymer clay? Well, you can do that and much more. Sculpting is like painting, and you need to learn the basics to begin. So, scroll down and find some top tips for sculpting your favorite clay model.

1. Easy To Clean Surface

You should set up a clean surface to work on your sculpture. You can use a sheet of paper over the board or place a mat on top of the body. Wash your hands properly before you start removing the soil or dirt.

2. Create A Framework

When you are working with polymer clay, you should build a support base. You can create an internal structure to support sculpting by using wires and aluminum foil.

3. Tools For The Job

When you are sculpting with polymer clay, always use tools with sharp edges. You can also use mini wooden modeling tips that can be smoothed out using a sharp knife. You can also use hobby knives for carving.

4. Condition Your Clay

Make your clay soft by knitting it for 5 minutes and clean up using a clay press. Condition your clay and press it for some time to get the perfect shape. You need to roll it back with your hands, and the motion will cause the clay to soften up and the edges to smoothen out.

5. Build Up Your Shape

Build up your clay gradually until you get the perfect shape. You must take time to bake up the clay in the oven until you get the ideal texture. So, it will help to build that perfect model you have been looking for a long time.

6. Remove Any Excess Clay

Remove any unwanted clay using the knife and join the sculpture’s edges. Your polymer clay toy will remain imperfect if any excess clay remains in the mixture.

Polymer clay is a flexible material that can be put to any use. It has some outstanding benefits that help you to curate delicate art objects, children’s toys, and much more. Take your sculpting skills to the next level by using polymer clay. Keep in mind these top tips before making your following toy.