David K Small

| Tiles | Wearable | Angels | Goddesses | Beads | Faces | Cabochons | Links |

What is Polymer Clay ?

The technical answer is - it is PVC (polyvinyl chloride) particles mixed with plasticizer and pigments. The PVC particles fuse together when heated to form a hard plastic-like substance. It is certified non-toxic (but can release toxic fumes if burned) and has an indefinite shelf life if stored properly.

The layman's answer is - it is an inexpensive, colorful, easily pliable modelling material that can be sculpted, molded, stretched, folded, squished, textured, blended... and cured in a home oven at a low temperature (baked, usually at 275 degrees for 15-20 minutes per 1/4 inch thickness). Then it can be polished, painted, drilled, sanded, glued, rebaked, or carved. No special expensive equipment is required (but a pasta machine is a great tool to get even sheets of clay).

Polymer clay comes in small or large quantities, soft or firm (even liquid), various colors (even glow-in-the-dark and translucent). Just cut, roll, shape, mold, the clay into whatever you want for unlimited creative possibilities - jewelry, art dolls, home decor, gifts, wall art - basically if you can shape it you can make it. There is little to no waste as you can use scraps to make very interesting colors and marble-like variations.

Polymer clay guilds and many other related organizations exist all around the world. There are a lot of books on the subject and most craft stores carry a variety of polymer clay brands. So its easy to get started, and hooked.

There are many different brands available. They all essentially contain the same materials. The characteristics vary and so you must choose the one that best suits your needs. I have tried them all and find Super Sculpey is great for making heads, arms, and legs for art characters and Sculpey Premo for everything else. I am sure there are those who like the characteristics of Fimo (too hard) or Sculpey I and Sculpey II (both too soft), Cernit (not smoothable) but it does have a porcelain-like appearance when cured (not what I look for). I use Liquid Polymer Clay a lot - as a top coat, sealer or cover up, as a "glue" for securing unbaked clay to baked clay or unbaked to unbaked, as a tint (mixed with powders or paint), transfers, as a filler, attaching beads or alike, and so much more.

I am primarily a professional fiber artist who learned how to make polymer clay beads for embellishments, and then "got carried away" exploring other uses. I enjoy creating polymer art characters as well as wearable art (because its fun making something someone enjoys wearing as art) and have just started exploring it's use as a primary medium for wall art. I teach classes working with polymer clay but still consider myself a polymer clay art hobbyist at most.