Polymer clay

Polymer clay is a type of "clay" based on synthetic polymer (polyvinyl chloride). It is not the same as "earth" clay used for pottery which must be fired in a kiln, nor the same as "air dry" clays such as paper clay and many others which dry in the air, nor the same as "modeling" clays (often used by children or animators) which won't dry and can't be hardened).

Polymer clay is sold in many craft, hobby, and art stores (as well as online), and is used by fine artists, hobbyists, children, and anyone interested.

It hardens or cures at temperatures created in a typical home oven (generally at 265-275 degrees, for 15 min. per 1/4" of thickness), and does not shrink or change texture during the process. When properly cured, most clays create items which won't break if dropped or normally stressed.

Leading brands of polymer clay include Premo, FimoClassic & FimoSoft, Kato Polyclay, Sculpey (Sculpey, SuperSculpey, Sculpey III), Cernit, Formello and Modello --some of which are available outside the U.S. It also comes in liquid versions (translucent, opaque, colored), and in a several permanently flexible solid versions.

Few tools are essential for use with polymer clay (and can often be found around the house), but a pasta machine is often used to create evenly flat sheets, mix colors, "condition" the clay (make it smoothly pliable), create patterned sheets, etc.

Polymer clays come in a wide range of colors and also in special effect colors such as translucent, glow-in-the-dark, mica-containing "metallics," "stone" colors, etc. --all of which can be mixed together to create new colors, gradient blends, or other effects. Polymer clay can be colored with other media as well (throughout its body, or only on the surface) with paints, inks, colored pencils, chalks, metallic (mica-containing) powders, metallic leaf and foils, glitters, embossing powders, etc. Various "inclusions" can be mixed into clay (often into the "translucent" color) with materials like metallic powders, spices/herbs, glitters. After baking, the clay surface can be left as is, or it can be sanded and buffed (to a sheen or glossy shine), or liquid or wax finishes can be applied.

Polymer clay can be used in many ways, a number of which have been generalized from other art or craft techniques. Some of the things which can be done with polymer clay include:

sculpting (hand-shaped items can be any size from "miniatures" to quite large, and also be created bas relief; clay clothing & accessories can be made for figures

beads and jewelery of all kinds (pendants, earrings, barrettes, buttons, etc.)

"canes" are logs of clay with a pattern running through their entire length, from which identical slices can be cut and used in various ways --patterns created in canes can be simple, complex, or anything in-between, and pictorial or simply geometric; canes (and therefore their images) can be "reduced" so that the they become quite small, then combined repeatedly if desired to make multiple images

clay can be used to "cover" items made from materials such as glass, metal, porous materials like cardboard and terra cotta, some plastics, etc. --including pens, eggshells, votive candleholders, switchplates... larger items like tables can also be veneered

vessels, large and small (jars, boxes, bowls, container pendants) --created freestanding, over armatures, or over removable armatures

textures, lines or images can be impressed into raw clay with rubber or other stamps, texture sheets, sandpaper, needle tools, other common tools/items

molds can be made with clay and hardened, then raw clay can be used in them to create casts (to duplicate textures, shapes, whole faces) --molds made from metal, glass, silicone, etc. can be used with clay as well

accepts "transfers" of b&w or color images from photographs, drawings, computer-created images/text, etc --or images can be transferred onto freestanding liquid clay films/decals

simulations/fauxs of many natural materials are possible such as ivory, jade, turquoise, wood, granite, metal, leather, etc.... stained glass or cloisonne, etc., can also be simulated

it can be carved after baking (and backfilled, if desired), or drilled

tiles or chips can be inlaid to create mosaics, embellishments, etc.

clay or other materials can be onlaid, & various kinds of collage are possible (a "clay gun" can also be used to extrude uniform rope shapes)

can be painted on in many ways, as well as antiqued or highlighted

"paintings" of various kinds can be made with polymer pastes, bas reliefs tech's, etc.

many other items can be made (frames, games & game pieces, dioramas, toys, as well as mini-books, notebook or other covers, greeting cards, postcards, etc.)

other special techniques...e.g., "mokume gane" (shaving off thin slices from layered but distorted stacks of clays/powders/inks/etc.), techniques involving the mica clays, etc.

clay can also be used with many other media as well (wire, paper, beads, charms, stamps, fabric, etc.)

liquid clays can also be used in special ways

There are many online polymer clay groups (open to all), and also polymer "guilds" or clubs in the US and some overseas.

External links

information and message boards:

• Glass Attic (http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm) .."encyclopedia" of polymer clay info. (1600 pages; 90 categories of polymer techniques; lessons, variations)
• Polymer Clay Central (http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/) offers tips, information, contests, chat, message boards
• Polymer ClayCyclopedia Table of Contents (http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/cyclopedia/contents.html) from Polymer Clay Central
• Polymer Clay FAQ (http://www.jaedworks.com/clayspot/polyclay-faq)
• PC Polyzine (http://www.pcpolyzine.com/) An online polymer clay magazine with articles about artists as well as tutorials and instructions.

more online groups (info and contact)

• GA Online Groups Page (http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/groups--online2.htm); and
• Yahoo Polymer Clay results (http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=polymer+clay&submit=Search)

guilds (info and contact)

• Guilds (http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/groups--guilds.htm)

supplies:

• Polymer Clay Express (http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/)
• Puffinalia (http://www.puffinalia.com/)
• Polka Dot Creations (http://www.clarkesworld.com/crafts/index.html) PC books, videos and magazines
• Tonja's Treasures (http://www.tonjastreasures.com/) Sells supplies to enhance your polymer clay projects.
• GA Suppliers page (http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/supplysources.htm) online suppliers of clay, etc.
• Pier and Penina (http://www.pierandpenina.com/) necklaces, jewelry
• Casa de Clay (http://www.casadeclay.biz/) Artistic Creations in Polymer Clay

sculpture:

• Dinko's Clay Creations (http://www.dinkos.com/) Examples of clay sculpture

Magazines

• PolymerCafe...exploring the art and craft of polymer clay  (http://www.polymercafe.com)
• Jewelry Crafts Magazine (http://www.jewelerycraftsmag.com/)
• Expressions Magazine (http://www.expressionartmagazine.com/)

Books

• Celebrations With Polymer Clay, Sarajane Helm, Publisher Krause Pubns Inc, January 2003, ISBN 0873495217
• Create a polymer clay impression / Sarajane Helm. ISBN 087341988X (pbk.)
• Creating with polymer clay : designs, techniques, & projects / Steven Ford and Leslie Dierks. ISBN 093727495X (pbk.)
• The Polymer Clay Techniques Book / Sue Heaser, ISBN 1581800088
• Creating your own antique jewelry : taking inspiration from great museums around the world / Chris Dupouy ISBN 0810990512 (pbk.)
• Creative Stamping in Polymer Clay / Barbara A. McGuire, North Light Books, 2002, ISBN 1581801556
• Creative stamping in polymer clay / Barbara McGuire. ISBN 1581801556 (pbk.)
• Foundations in Polymer Clay Design by Barbara McGuire, ISBN 087341800X
• Liquid Polymer Clay: Fabulous New Techniques for Making Jewelry and Home Accents ISBN 0873495632
• Making animal characters in polymer clay / Sherian Frey. ISBN 158180041X (pbk.)
• Making gifts in polymer clay / Stacey Morgan. ISBN 1581801041
• Making miniature villages in polymer clay / Gail Ritchey. ISBN 0891349561 (pbk.)
• Making polymer clay jewellery / text and illustrations by Sue Heaser. ISBN 0304346055.
• Modellare con nuova pasta sintetica (Polymer clay basics) / Monica Resta. ISBN 0806971363
• Polymer clay : 20 weekend projects using new and exciting techniques / Irene Semanchuk Dean. ISBN 1579901689 (pbk.)
• Polymer clay : creating functional and decorative objects / Jacqueline Gikow. ISBN 0873419529 (pbk.)
• Polymer clay extravaganza / Lisa Pavelka, ISBN 1581801882 (pbk.)
• Polymer clay for the first time / Syndee Holt. ISBN 0806968273 : 19.95.
• Polymer Clay: Exploring New Techniques and New Materials (Includes Precious Metal Clay) / Georgia Sargeant, Celie Fago, Livia McRee, 2002, ISBN 1564968693
• Polymer: The Chameleon Clay / Victoria Hughes ISBN 0873493737
• The Art of Polymer Clay / Donna Kato, ISBN 0823002780, 1997, Watson-Guptill Publications
• The polymer clay techniques book / Sue Heaser. ISBN 1581800088 (pbk.)

AND MANY MORE BOOKS and VIDEOS (http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/Books_on_Polymer_Clay.htm)