Has somebody mentioned this to you earlier than? Or have you ever mentioned it your self? Possibly somebody has mentioned to you, “I solely use Fimo Basic polymer clay.” In both case, I name this the “polymer clay snob syndrome.” I’ll be sincere, I too favor a sure model of clay over others, nevertheless, I’ll use no matter I’ve and sometimes instances clay that I’ve discovered on sale or on clearance. So why am I towards “polymer clay snob syndrome?”
The definition of polymer clay snob syndrome is that this (as from Katie’s dictionary after all): Being so model particular that one refuses to think about, use, or buy different kinds of polymer clay manufacturers.
Let me be sincere, each form of clay has good and unhealthy makes use of. Whereas one model of clay could also be nice for cane work, one other model could also be finest for sculpting, and one more for jewellery parts. Right here’s the underside line: If you happen to haven’t tried each polymer clay model for each clay utility then you haven’t any proper to say one variety is superior to a different. And because of this I don’t like “polymer clay snob syndrome.” Please don’t inform me how your alternative is superior to my alternative for what you do, while you haven’t tried one other model for that individual utility.
All of us have manufacturers of clay that we like, favor, and use first for particular issues. Nonetheless … being accustomed to all of the manufacturers of clay and their makes use of won’t solely provide help to to be a greater artist, however it can provide help to to be extra accustomed to forms of clay. This particularly is useful when going to workshops and the teacher could also be utilizing a distinct form of clay than the one you usually work with. If you happen to at the very least have a fundamental understanding and familiarity with the clay they’re educating you with, the workshop might be way more gratifying.
This being mentioned, right here’s a temporary evaluation from me to you on among the main kinds of polymer clay, what I’ve used them for, and what I’ve discovered works the very best for me. I’ve posted related issues earlier than on polymer clay manufacturers and their makes use of, be happy to verify these posts as properly.
I’ve tried each sort of polymer clay obtainable to me right here within the northeast Ohio space. I’ve my favourite (which I’ll share with you in a minute) however my studio is crammed with dozens of bars of every variety from the most important producers and I’ll let you know why too. The primary motive is the simplest: I mix my very own colours fairly often. I hardly ever will use clay straight from the package deal.
Because of this Parker’s yellow is at all times barely totally different. Sure, I take advantage of a formulation, however do I get it precise each time….no. Is that okay with me? Sure. This being mentioned, selecting to mix colours and manufacturers (which I do ALL the time by the way in which) is a fragile space that many both received’t admit or received’t discuss.
Tremendous Sculpey Trick:
I’ve performed this for 2 years now…I’ve performed it for thus lengthy, I don’t bear in mind if I got here up with it myself or if I learn it someplace. That being mentioned, for over 12 years I’ve blended Tremendous Sculpey into each clay mix I make. [Read more here] Why you ask? As a result of not solely does Tremendous Sculpey bake up agency and inflexible, but it surely additionally provides issues a softer matte end, or a ceramic-esque feel and look. I prefer it as a result of it makes me really feel higher about my gadgets and their total energy. Is {that a} examined incontrovertible fact that I’ve confirmed….no, however it’s the means I really feel. I favor my gadgets to look this fashion and to have this attribute. You might not and that’s okay. Please observe that this clay is not Sculpey III, could be very totally different from Sculpey III (listed and proven beneath), and shouldn’t be confused with that model. It also needs to not be confused with Authentic Sculpey which is available in many shades and variations lately.
A Observe About Sculpey III:
Most clayers of any size of time will let you know to avoid Sculpey III for many issues as a result of it’s so mushy and much too brittle. This was very true at one cut-off date. It’s the one factor about this model that I don’t favor, particularly for sculpting. For me, when polymer clay is simply too mushy, I discover it horrible to work with and I get annoyed simply. I favor to sculpt with clay that is a bit more on the agency aspect. [I also have a trick to keeping my clay firm – watch this video to find out]. This being mentioned, Sculpey III’s large line of colours and variations are incredible so as to add to your blends. Why? Have you ever ever needed in an in-between colour and the model you’re working with doesn’t have that colour…you’d have to combine the colour your self, after which use the specified quantity on your mission. That is the place Sculpey III can typically come to the rescue! I’ve typically wanted an in-between colour and didn’t have time/vitality/assets to make it. Or I’m utilizing a really agency clay that wants softened shortly … once more … Sculpey III to the rescue. I will even typically use Sculpey III as an armature for a lot of of my clay tasks. Sculpey III carries a nasty repute from years previous however isn’t fairly as unhealthy as some would have you ever consider.
What I Use In My Studio:
My go-to model of clay for many of my tasks and the one which I take advantage of to show with in workshops, my Membership, and on-line programs is Premo polymer clay & Fimo polymer clay.
Premo is a superb all-around clay for all types of functions; from sculpting, bead making, caning, to mosaics, and every thing in between. It has little or no colour shift from its unique in package deal colour and is predicated on an artist’s colour palette, making colour mixing very simple and a breeze to work with in addition to yielding predictable outcomes. It holds very fantastic particulars when used as a sculpting materials and doesn’t heat up too shortly when being labored. It blends simply with different manufacturers and bakes to a dependable, constant, and predictable outcome each time. It is available in a 2 ounce, 8 ounces, and 16-ounce choice (relying on colour). The value could be very respectable for polymer clay and doesn’t fluctuate by retailer as closely as different manufacturers. Due to its predictability, consistency, and ease of discovering in my space each in-store and on-line that is my clay of alternative most frequently to be used in my polymer clay studio.
This being mentioned, in recent times (as a result of Claydemic of 2020 and persevering with by the current day) Premo is inferior to it was once. It’s inconsistent in colour throughout batches, it has issues throughout baking (together with cracking that has nothing to do along with your oven), and really poor distribution.
Causes I Get pleasure from Premo for Sculpting:
- It bakes with a mushy sheen to it, with when making sculptures it actually permits colours to pop with out having so as to add glaze to the merchandise.
- It tends to take the least quantity of conditioning and doesn’t simply over-condition.
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Manufacturers I take advantage of & What I Use Them For:
Authentic Sculpey
- Normal craft functions
- Children ornaments for VBS tasks
- Giant Vases (I often combine with Tremendous Sculpey)
- Use this to “stretch” your different Sculpey manufacturers of clay; particularly your invaluable white clay.
- Draw back:
- Too brittle post-baking for something long-ranging or everlasting utility.
- As a result of Claydemic this polymer clay may be exhausting to supply.
Sculpey III
- To mix with my customized blends when a colour I want is lacking.
- To make very exhausting clay softer and simple to situation.
- Use this to “stretch” your different Sculpey manufacturers of clay or soften a tougher block of Premo.
- This can be a superb clay to make use of to combine with different Polyform manufacturers of clay, particularly to assist brighten colours as this colour palette tends to have extraordinarily vivid colours.
- Draw back:
- Too mushy for sculpting & caning alone; should be combined with a firmer clay.
- Is brittle after baking if not combined with a firmer clay.
- As a result of Claydemic this polymer clay may be exhausting to supply.
Souffle by Sculpey
- This can be a good normal all-around clay.
- Many advocate this for caning, within the Pandora model.
- I don’t advocate this for Kaleidoscope or image model caning as it’s far too mushy; nevertheless in case you combine it with firmer clays (like Premo) it’s simpler to cane in a real Kaleidoscope model.
- This can be a nice light-weight clay for bead making and normal all-purpose sculpting.
- This clay is light-weight and mixes splendidly with Premo!
- Downsides:
- This can be a horrible clay for colour mixing. The outcomes are unpredictable at finest.
- This clay warms up too shortly for sculpting and I don’t advocate it for detailed sculpting work. It doesn’t maintain fantastic particulars and warms far too simply in your arms.
- As a result of Claydemic this polymer clay may be exhausting to supply.
Premo by Sculpey
- My favourite clay (see above).
- Premo is predicated on an artist’s colour palette. This lets you get predictable colour mixing outcomes.
- This clay has a incredible firmness and a sheen that I simply love.
- It bakes robust and resilient by itself with out using another clay additive.
- Sidebar: I nonetheless nevertheless add Tremendous Sculpey to this clay anyway, each time, with each colour I make.
- I take advantage of it for every thing: caning, sculpting, buttons, mokume gane, distinctive results and a lot extra.
- Downsides:
- Can get a “moon” impact with translucent bars alone if not combined with a extra opaque colour.
- Generally one colour batch of the identical colour may be barely “off” from the subsequent batch attributable to pigmenting/dye points from the producer.
- As a result of Claydemic this polymer clay may be exhausting to supply.
Tremendous Sculpey
- This can be a incredible clay for sculpting.
- It is available in a number of colours and “strengths.”
- This bakes very exhausting and may simply add clay excessive of a preliminary bake.
- There isn’t a want to combine this clay with another clay if you’re portray your completed piece. It’s exhausting and agency by itself.
- Downsides:
- The “beige” colour at all times will get “moons” and the one strategy to keep away from it’s so as to add your personal opaque clay to this.
- This clay solely is available in gray or flesh tones and can at all times want painted submit baking.
- As a result of Claydemic this polymer clay may be exhausting to supply.
Tremendous Sculpey Residing Doll Clay
- This can be a incredible clay for sculpting dolls, faces, and quite a lot of lifelike tasks.
- It is available in a number of mild beige pores and skin/rose colours, nevertheless no darkish pores and skin tones presently.
- This bakes very exhausting and may simply add clay excessive of a preliminary bake.
- There isn’t a want to combine this clay with another clay. You should use it proper from the pack.
- Downsides:
- There aren’t any darker pores and skin tones on this colour vary. If you need a darkish pores and skin tone, it’s worthwhile to make your personal from a light-weight base. This may be tough at instances as a result of yellow pigments within the clay.
- As a result of Claydemic this polymer clay may be exhausting to supply.
Papa’s Clay
- That is incredible clay!
- It’s newer to the market and doesn’t have as huge of a following but, however I’m undoubtedly a fan.
- It holds particulars properly and doesn’t “smoosh” as a lot in your arms as among the softer clays.
- It’s mixable with different colours in its line.
- It has a variety of colour choices that adjust in opacity.
- Downsides:
- As with many different clays, this additionally ‘fractures’ if is it not sufficiently warmed earlier than use. You’ll need to take a seat on it, heat it in your arms, or place it on a barely heat (and lined) heating pad.
- It’s not obtainable for buy in huge field shops but, solely on-line.
- It has a substrate in it that makes it nearly fluffy, which takes away the sheen that Premo, Kato, or different US clay-based corporations have.
CosClay Doll
- Nice for sculpting items that you simply need to bend with out breaking post-baking.
- Circumstances very simply.
- Doesn’t require a pasta machine; mushy straight from the pack.
- Downsides:
- Extraordinarily mushy. Requires leaching for bigger tasks. Resulting from its softness, it is vitally exhausting to work with, in my view.
- You possibly can mix this clay 70/30 with different clays to assist ‘agency it up’ but it surely loses a few of its elasticity properties.
- Solely obtainable on-line; sells out shortly.
- Doesn’t take all pigments in addition to conventional polymer clay would.
Any Kind of Fimo (Professional / Leather-based)
- The hardness of this clay varies per bar & per sort – As a normal rule, it’s exhausting to situation in comparison with different manufacturers.
- I take advantage of it to cowl pens & in blends.
- This can be a nice clay to make use of for stamping. Makes nice impressions and holds them properly.
- Fimo Professional is predicated on a true artist’s colour palette permitting you to attain a real tone colour.
- Draw back:
- It doesn’t like water. Lots of the methods that I educate (and use in my studio) use water, so this clay (till it’s baked) doesn’t like water.
Kato PolyClay
- Troublesome to situation (to me it is vitally exhausting and takes for much longer).
- Best for caning because it retains its form and lasts over time (years).
- Absolute true artist’s colour palette.
- Has a definite scent when baking, however this isn’t a draw back, simply one thing it’s worthwhile to know. [Note: All clay has a smell when baking. Kato’s (to me) is stronger.]
- Draw back:
- Restricted colour palette that forces you to make your personal colour recipes. In case you are not accustomed to colour recipes or colour on the whole, this may be very intimidating.
Pardo
- Good mushy clay.
- Made with a distinct form of materials than conventional polymer clay.
- I’ll write a full evaluation after experimenting with it.
- Draw back:
- Value – this clay is the most costly attributable to sourcing points (see beneath).
- Additionally it is the toughest to search out stateside as distribution within the US is proscribed from Viva decor.
Cernit
- Very good for translucent clay. That is THE CLAY you need!
- Works nice for sculpting if you will get your arms on it; principally needs to be bought on-line on the present time.
- Circumstances with just a little work, however is fantastic to sculpt with as soon as conditioned.
- Downsides:
- Harder to search out in field shops; on the whole, should be ordered on-line.
- A variety of totally different “traces” to familiarize your self with if you’re new to the model.