How Do You Manipulate Polymer Clay?

ByScarlett Evans

Polymer clay is an artist’s material made from polymers, resins, fillers, and pigments that can be shaped and cured by baking. Polymer clays remain malleable and flexible until they are hardened at temperatures typically ranging from 265°F to 275°F. Once baked, polymer clay is durable and can last indefinitely.

The most common brands of polymer clay are:

  • Sculpey
  • FIMO
  • Premo!
  • Cernit
  • Kato Polyclay

Polymer clay offers many benefits over other sculpting materials:

  • It’s lightweight, portable, and easy to work with.
  • It can be sculpted very smoothly, molded, or shaped by hand.
  • Details can be added by carving, sculpting tools, or liquid clay.
  • It’s available in a wide variety of colors that can be blended and mixed.
  • Finished pieces don’t require sealing or painting.
  • It’s inexpensive, reusable, and versatile for all skill levels.

Getting Started

When getting started with polymer clay, you’ll first want to gather some basic supplies and prepare your workspace. Here’s what you’ll need:

Supplies:

  • Polymer clay in a variety of colors
  • Clay sculpting tools like sculpting needles, loop tools, clay cutters
  • Acrylic roller for conditioning the clay
  • Smooth work surface like glass or ceramic
  • Baking tray lined with parchment paper
  • Oven for baking the clay

Workspace:

Make sure you have a smooth, clean area to work on that allows you to spread out. Cover the work surface with parchment paper to keep it clean and make it easy to lift your finished piece. Have a space set up near an oven or toaster oven for baking the clay.

Gather all your supplies and tools and organize them within easy reach. It helps to have your clay sorted by color so you can easily mix and blend. Having your tools organized and nearby makes sculpting easier.

Before you condition the clay and start sculpting, you’ll want your workspace prepped and supplies handy. That gets you set up for success with your polymer clay creations!

Conditioning the Clay

Conditioning the clay is one of the most important steps before sculpting. Properly conditioned clay is smooth and pliable, which makes it much easier to manipulate into intricate shapes and designs.

When you first open a package of polymer clay, it can be quite stiff and may even contain some small hard spots. Attempting to sculpt with unconditioned clay will result in cracks, breakage, and an uneven texture in the finished piece. That’s why taking the time to condition is well worth the effort.

There are a few techniques you can use to condition polymer clay:

  • Kneading – Knead it with your hands like dough, pressing into the clay to soften it up and make it smooth. This warms the clay and makes it more malleable.
  • Rolling – Roll the clay out with an acrylic roller or rolling pin, then gather it back up and repeat. This helps distribute the oils evenly throughout the clay.
  • Twisting – Twist or pull the clay apart into strands, then smash it back together. This helps soften any hard spots.

In general, you’ll want to condition polymer clay for 5-10 minutes before sculpting. Take your time with this step and be vigilant about finding and working out any harder areas. Well-conditioned clay will lead to a much more enjoyable sculpting process and better end results.

Sculpting with Polymer Clay

Sculpting with polymer clay allows you to create customized 3D objects. There are a variety of sculpting techniques you can use depending on the desired effect.

Sculpting Techniques

To sculpt basic shapes, roll the clay into balls, cones, snakes, or tubes then attach them together. Use knives and clay tools to cut and carve away excess clay. Smoothen seams by gently blending with your fingers, clay shapers, or silicone tipped tools.

For sculpting fine details, use small stiff bristle brushes, toothpicks, pins, or needles. Imprint textures by pressing objects into the clay. Use loop tools to create grooves and refine curves.

Support armatures or joints with wire wrapped in foil or clay. Allow thicker areas of the sculpture to cure slightly before attaching thinner extremities to prevent drooping or sagging.

Adding Textures

Textures make sculptures more realistic and tactile. Press molds, stamps, stencils, or found objects into the clay to transfer patterns. Use a roller over textured fabric, doilies, or lace to imprint designs.

Draw or carve lines, scratches, or wrinkles using clay tools. Create irregular, hammered textures by tapping the clay with the end of a paintbrush. Crumple and smooth aluminum foil for an uneven, bumpy effect.

For organic textures like scales, feathers, or fur, thin the clay and layer it on in strokes. Add inclusions like translucent liquid clays or Angelina fibers for variation.

Using Molds with Polymer Clay

Using molds is a great way to quickly and easily make detailed and consistent polymer clay creations. Molds provide shape and structure so you don’t have to sculpt every detail by hand. There are many benefits to using molds with polymer clay:

Benefits of Using Molds:

  • Saves time compared to hand sculpting every detail
  • Allows you to easily recreate the same design multiple times
  • Provides uniformity and consistency in designs
  • Can be used to create detailed and intricate designs
  • Makes complex shapes easier to achieve

There are two main types of molds that work well with polymer clay:

Silicone Molds: Flexible and able to bend as you press in the clay. These molds pick up fine details and are easy to unmold finished pieces from.

Rigid Molds: Made from pottery plaster, resin, or plastic. Rigid molds hold their shape well but can be more difficult to unmold finished pieces from.

Here are some tips for successfully working with molds and polymer clay:

  • Condition your clay well before pressing it into the mold so it is smooth and pliable.
  • Lightly dust the mold with cornstarch or talcum powder so the clay releases more easily.
  • Press the clay firmly into all areas of the mold to pick up the details.
  • Avoid getting air bubbles by pressing the clay progressively from one side.
  • Let the molded clay cure before unmolding so it retains its shape.
  • Unmold rigid molds carefully to avoid distortion or breakage.

With the right molds and techniques, it’s easy to make detailed polymer clay pieces from start to finish!

Mixing Colors and Patterns

One of the great things about polymer clay is the ability to mix and blend colors to create completely custom palettes. Here are some tips for mixing new colors with polymer clay:

Start with just two colors and add them together incrementally until you achieve the desired hue. Adding colors together equally typically results in a muddy brown, so start with more of one color. Adding a small amount of white will lighten the color, while black will darken it.

You can also blend three or more colors for more complex effects. Roll snakes of each color and twist them together thoroughly before blending into one solid color.

In addition to mixing solid colors, there are a few fun techniques for adding patterns and visual interest to polymer clay:

Marbling: Roll out a base color into a slab. Place dots and swirls of contrasting colors on top, then carefully fold and twist the clay to blend the colors in a marbled pattern. The more you fold and twist, the more blended the colors will become.

Striping: Roll contrasting colors into logs, then twist or roll them together. Cut cross sections across the stripes to reveal the pattern.

Confetti: Fold tiny pieces of colored clay into a base color for a confetti look. Use coordinating colors or go bold with contrasting shades.

Get creative and come up with your own patterns too! The possibilities are endless when you start mixing polymer clay colors and textures.

Baking Polymer Clay

Baking is a crucial step for curing polymer clay to properly harden and stabilize the materials. Baking activates the polymers and creates bonds between the plasticizers, giving your clay artwork strength and durability. Here are some key baking guidelines and tips:

Baking Instructions

Polymer clay baking temperature should be between 130-135°C/275-275°F. Check your clay brand for its exact recommended baking temperature. Bake for a minimum of 15 minutes per 6mm of thickness. For example, a 12mm thick piece should bake for at least 30 minutes. Bake in a conventional or toaster oven – do not use a microwave. Place clay on a baking sheet or ceramic tile, as direct contact with the oven racks can scorch the clay. The clay should be evenly cured throughout, not just the surface. You’ll know it’s properly baked if it’s hard, won’t deform, and has a uniform finish.

Oven Tips

Preheat your oven fully before baking polymer clay. Avoid opening the oven door frequently during baking. Bake away from any direct heat source in the oven for most even results. Pieces with thicker and thinner areas may require longer baking times or rotating to prevent under-baking. Let cool completely before handling after baking. If needed, you can rebake cured polymer clay pieces that were under-baked at a slightly higher temperature.

Finishing Techniques

After baking polymer clay, there are a variety of finishing techniques that can be used to enhance the look and feel of polymer clay creations.

Sanding

Sanding is an important finishing technique for polymer clay. It helps smooth out any imperfections, fingerprints, or rough edges. Start with a coarse sandpaper like 220 grit and work up to finer grits like 400 or 600 for a smooth finish. Sand in a circular motion and wipe away dust with a dry cloth after sanding. Be careful not to over-sand too much or you may sand away fine details.

Varnishing

Applying a varnish is highly recommended for polymer clay pieces. Varnish provides a protective seal against moisture and handling. There are various varnish options like polyurethane, epoxy resin, or UV resin. Use an art brush to apply the varnish in thin, even coats according to the manufacturer’s directions. Allow each coat to dry fully before adding more. Two or three coats is usually sufficient for good protection.

Painting

Acrylic paints work well for hand-painting details on polymer clay. Make sure the clay is cured, sanded, and cleaned before painting. Thin layers of paint work best. Let each layer dry before adding more paint. Clear acrylic paint finishes can also be used over painted areas to seal and protect the paint. Paint pens are another option for adding fine details and accents.

Storing Polymer Clay

Properly storing polymer clay is important to keep it soft and pliable for future use. Here are some tips for storing polymer clay:

Store unused polymer clay in an airtight container or bag. Exposure to air can cause polymer clay to dry out and become brittle. Put clay in a sealed plastic bag or Tupperware-style container. Squeeze out excess air before sealing to prevent air exposure.

Wrap solid pieces or blocks of polymer clay in plastic wrap if storing for more than a few days. The plastic wrap creates a barrier between the clay and air to prevent drying.

Consider storing polymer clay in the refrigerator, but not the freezer. The cool environment helps keep clay soft and workable for several months. However, avoid freezing polymer clay as it can become too firm to condition properly.

Keep clay away from direct sunlight, which can cause fading or color changes over time. Store polymer clay indoors or in another shaded, dark area.

Lay clay flat or supported when storing for long periods. Storing clay vertically or piled up can cause it to deform over time.

Check stored polymer clay occasionally. If it becomes dry, leathery, or brittle, it may need re-conditioning before use. Knead and warm clay to restore softness.

Advanced Techniques

Once you have mastered the basics of working with polymer clay, you can move on to more advanced techniques to create even more intricate and beautiful works of art:

Caning

Caning involves creating thin rods or sheets of contrasting colored polymer clays, then slicing them to reveal intricate patterns and designs. The sliced layers are then used to cover other polymer clay sculptures. Caning allows you to achieve very complex designs and color patterns.

Inclusions

You can embed various materials into polymer clay to add interest and texture. Common inclusions are beads, seeds, wires, fabric, rhinestones, and more. Make sure any items you embed can withstand the baking temperature of the polymer clay.

Transfers

Image transfers allow you to apply printed designs, photos, or text onto cured polymer clay. Print out the image you want to transfer on a laser printer or photocopier. Apply a medium like acrylic gel medium to the surface of the baked clay. Place the image face down and use an old credit card to smooth it out and transfer the image. Seal with a few coats of polyurethane.

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