POLYMER CLAY
FOR BEGINNERS
Inspiration, techniques, and simple step-by-step projects for making art with polymer clay
Emily Chen
INTRODUCTION
I remember the day I discovered polymer clay. This was before video tutorials became so accessible, and search engines were still working out their kinks. I found a Japanese website with a simple image gallery full of tiny, realistic-looking foods arranged in various scenes, and I fell in love. The next day, I went to my local art and craft store and picked up a couple of packs of clay.
My first pieces were not pretty. They honestly werent much more than lumps of reddish-brown clay meant to look like loaves of bread, but I didnt let that deter me. I made things because it was fun, and over many years, I came to develop a style and techniques of my own.
In this book, I hope to share some of the things Ive learned and inspire you to make some wonderful creations of your own.
Lets get started!
One of the best things about polymer clay is how easy it is to use. You dont have to be formally trained to make some wonderful pieces out of clay!
TOOLS & MATERIALS
One of the things I love most about working with polymer clay is that its possible to make amazing creations using only your hands. However, having a few additional tools will make your polymer clay projects easier to accomplish. Well discuss them here, along with the different types of clay that can be used.
POLYMER CLAY
Lets start by exploring your main material, clay, which is available in art and craft stores and online. Polymer clay comes in different brands and colors and varies widely in durability and ease of use.
Some of the types of clay you may find at your local craft store include Original Sculpey, Sculpey III, Premo! Sculpey, FIMO, and Kato Polyclay. I like to use Premo and FIMO, and all of the projects in this book are made using these two brands. However, there is no one best brand, so the clay you choose will depend on the purpose and project youre working on.
TIP
When purchasing clay in a store, you might want to try feeling the clay to ensure its workability and softness. Some brands start off quite hard and require more kneading.
ADDING COLOR
Polymer clay comes in many wonderful, vibrant colors, but it also provides a good base for adding colors using materials like chalk pastels and water-based acrylic paints.
LIQUID POLYMER CLAY
Polymer clay in liquid form is more flexible than regular polymer clay. It can be used to embellish or seal clay pieces and is baked the same way as regular polymer clay.
TIP
Use chalk pastels on your clay prior to baking to add soft, subtle color to your piece.
Acrylic paints can be used to add detail to clay after baking.
Various-sized brushes allow you to create different levels of detail.
DETAILING
Although you really only need your hands for working with clay, having a few basic tools can make things a lot easier. A sharp blade, a needle, and a round-tipped tool (a ball stylus) can make all the difference when it comes to adding details.
These can all be found in craft stores and online. If you prefer to use tools you already have on hand, alternatives include toothpicks, razor blades, and sewing pins.
ROLLING & SHAPING
If you decide to make any kind of investment in equipment, I recommend purchasing a pasta machine. Not only does it make rolling sheets of clay easier, but you can also use it to mix colors and take some of the strain off your hands.
Some polymer clay manufacturers make these devices, but a hand-crank pasta machine works just as well. Just remember to use it only for clay!
TIP
A hand roller or rolling pin works too if you dont have a pasta machine, and shape cutters can be used to create interesting pieces.
JEWELRY-MAKING SUPPLIES
Being able to wear and use your creations is one of the most exciting parts of making art with polymer clay! Some jewelry-making supplies you might want to pick up include head pins, eye pins, earring hooks, earring posts, and rings. Needle-nose and round-nose pliers and a pair of flush wire cutters are necessary for working with wire supplies.
TECHNIQUES
Many techniques can be used to form polymer clay into a wide variety of objects, from food items to plants and animals. In this book, well explore a handful of the simplest and most useful techniques, including caning, texturing, and blending colors.
Lets start by learning about some of the basic shapes you will need to make when working on the step-by-step projects in this book.