Polymer clay art is colorful, beautiful and unusual. Artists of all ages enjoy working with polymer clay to create jewelry, sculptures, picture frames, boxes and a variety of unique pieces. After polymer clay is properly prepared and shaped, it is baked to create the finished product.

Polymer clay is not the typical clay found in our earth. This unique compound was developed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in 1930 to create an unforgiving, pliable medium for artwork. When unbaked, it can be stored for up to two years or more. It does not shrink and colors remain vibrant during the baking process.

You can buy it in a rainbow of different colors and textures including granite, neon and translucent. Durable pieces made from polymer clay can be polished, painted, sanded or drilled so you have countless design options. It can be mixed with glitter and mica powder to create sparkling metallic effects.

The basic items you need to get started are polymer clay, an oven, your hands and a great idea. Let’s consider the tools you can use to make incredible creations. Some beginners use a designated toaster over or kitchen oven to make their creations but there may be safety issues to consider. A specially designed oven provides the perfect temperature control for baking your creations and is the safest option. A Polymer clay roller machine is used to roll thin sheets for Read the rest of this entry »

Clays have been used since ancient times for everything from art to architecture. Early humans discovered and used clay in prehistoric times. Early artifacts excavated from notable historical sites indicate clay vessels were used for transporting drinking water. These initial pieces were sun dried. That process has become far more advanced in our modern times.

Clays can be mixed with water to create varied levels of flexibility applicable to one of its varied uses. As clay dries, it hardens usually to a point where further manipulation cannot be done. With some clay, you can introduce water a second time to recover some of the flexibility. One has to plan the shape and use in advance to avoid being forced to manipulate the clay a second or third time.

Different types of clay are composed of different types of minerals which affect its properties. Properties include durability and strength over time. The composition of the clay also determines its color. The most common colors range from grey to an orange-red. In addition, the properties of the clay will determine how they are affected when placed in ceramic pottery kilns. Placing clay in a kiln is known as “firing” the clay. By firing the clay, you strengthen the piece and lock in its shape. Once fired, the clay cannot be manipulated even with the addition of more water. Kilns represent the modern version of the sun drying done in prehistoric times. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are some great ideas for hands-on art projects for students ranging from lower elementary to high school, which introduce students to ceramics design without a great investment in equipment. If there is no kiln at your school, there are many places such as other schools’ and universities’ art departments, paint-your-own pottery centers, and local pottery supply stores which will be able to fire your ceramics projects for you at low cost.

Clay art dinnerware is easy to make using low-cost molds. Clay is rolled to the desired thickness over a slab mold. Slab molds are flat and textured with various patterns so that the rolled-out clay takes on the relief pattern of the mold in reverse. While the clay is still on the slab mold, the reverse side (which will be the bottom of the plate) can be decorated with wooden or rubber stamps, or even found objects, to produce a unique pattern. The plate is then peeled from the slab mold and placed on a curved drape mold. The plate is gently pressed down on the drape mold, which changes the plate’s profile from flat to curved. While on the drape mold, feet can be made for the dish from small balls of clay; or else a base can be made by rolling excess clay into a rope and placing a coil centered on the dish. When removed from the drape mold the dish can be fired and then decorated with paints or glazes. Read the rest of this entry »