HOW TO GET STARTED WITH POLYMER CLAY - TIPS, TRICKS & MORE!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Hey everyone! I've been asked to do a getting started video many times and now it's finally here! This is mainly for beginners but anyone at any level of experience may be able to take a few tips away. Even if you don't need the info I hope you find it entertaining. :)
My goal is to help you skip that "WTF moment" when you check out the clay section of your local supply store for the first time; and instead, grab what you need to hit the ground running.
Getting Started Materials & Affiliate Links:
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TOOLS
- Wax Carving Tools (very similar to mine): amzn.to/2DMmiiA
- Small Ball Styluses/Color Shapers (my exact set): amzn.to/2T0Pxbd
- Small/Med/Large Ball Stylus Set (my exact set): amzn.to/2XazC9m
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CLAYS
- Super Sculpey Polymer Clay amzn.to/2GJ5mwF
- White Premo amzn.to/2NjRs5z
- Sculpey III amzn.to/2Sd70sk
CLAY KITS
- Sculpey III amzn.to/2SL66IX
- Premo amzn.to/2GwkTAu
LIQUID CLAYS
- Bake & Bond Liquid Sculpey amzn.to/2TOZmpK
- Translucent Liquid Sculpey amzn.to/2Ii4txh
FINGERPRINT REMOVAL
- Clay Softener (baby oil works, too): amzn.to/2tnrVyS
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ARMATURE
- Aluminum Wire for Armature: amzn.to/2NcMfwd
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PAINT STARTER KITS & BRUSHES
Americana: amzn.to/2SSDD33
FolkArt: amzn.to/2SFvcsH
Brushes: amzn.to/2SUZF5c
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Got questions? See if I answer them in my first Q&A: • My First Q&A! Answerin...
T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE NOW! Get yours here: bit.ly/2JXS65u
CHECK OUT MY ONLINE SHOP: aceofclay.etsy.com
(Unfortunately, I am unable to accept custom orders at this time)
FOLLOW ME:
Facebook.com/aceofclay
Instagram: @aceofclay
Twitter: @aceofclay
Pinterest.com/aceofclay
WEBSITE: aceofclay.com
CONTACT ME: aceofclay@gmail.com
Even though I have worked with polymer clay for some time, I still learned a lot from your video. Thank you for sharing!
That is great to hear! Thank you!
Yes same!
@UCuZtRRydaeU2JsIjhlQYgEw fuck off with your spam on a video someone has put their time and effort into. Everyone knows it’s fake spam.
“I don’t recommend using original sculpey” Me holding the original sculpey clay my mom just bought for my big project👁👄👁
🤣🙏goodluck
maybe you can do a little handprint sculpture
How did your project turn out??
sculpey original is fine
My first mistake as well. Lmao Its SO soft and difficult to work with. In my opinion the firmer the better, but I also do fine detail figures. The soft stuff makes it almost impossible. If you are making very cartoony or low detail projects, it may be fine.
Nice to see a TH-camr who actually knows what they are talking about! Great Information, though I bake Premo for 1 hour rather than 15 minutes to make it much stronger!
PolymerClayTutor thanks! That means a lot coming from you. And I’ll have to try that one day 😁
💖 Thanks! Let me know if you notice the difference in strength!
Hi there!! Can you please tell me why my premo cracks? I bake at 275 for 30 mins
CandasNichole is your oven temp accurate? Sometimes they can be off by quite a lot. In my opinion I would try a slightly lower temp and thinner layers (that’s something I love about polymer clay-the ability to bake over and over). Another issue may be how well the clay is conditioned; some brands take more work to thoroughly blend the clay ingredients, but all take at least a bit of conditioning. Goodwill usually has pasta machines that people didn’t want for good prices...
@@Boredchinchilla good info! So if I baked something that seems like it needs more time, I can pop it back in, even hours after it's cooled?
the wires are the skeleton, the aluminium foil the muscles and the clay the skin XD
Clay anatomy at it's finest.
I cant use wire is that ok?
@@msgriffinhive he be jelly
Do you bake that all inside the clay
@@fairygodmotheremilyjean yes
I used to be obsessed with polymer clay as a young teen and recently I’ve been wanting to get back into it and watching this video there were at least five times where I was like “oh. OH THATS WHAT I WAS DOING WRONG!” And now I’m even more pumped to get back into sculpting. Thanks!!
"Dads can't use Sculpey III." 😆
Dad's are based. They know to use Premo 😎
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha
I'm a dad and I'm 16
(Not really a dad).
@@franciscop.garcia9931 😄
😝
Tbh I just want to make anime figurines since I'm too broke to afford the actual ones , their like 100 dollars!!
🙋🏼♀️Hi, I wanted to say you had some good tips for beginners and I know that you do what works best for you, so thank you for the information. I am a professional clay artist and have been working with polymer clay for over 20 years now. There is something that I ALWAYS tell my students and that is “don’t glaze your work with clear nail polish”. I know you didn’t get into paints and glazes/varnishes so that would be a good idea for your next video. Unlike you I have and a have worked with EVERY clay on the market. Some are better than others. I also like Premo but my go to clay is Fimo because of the strength when baked. You can mix different brands of clay to get different properties of each.
When I want to remove fingerprints and dust I use alcohol or acetone/nail polish remover, or they can be buffed/sanded out with fine grit sandpaper. I also wanted to mention that no one has to buy tools when they start. Toothpicks, wooden dowels, and other throw away items like bottle caps can be used to cut circles and such. Something else I’m sure you just forgot to mention is......if you use a knife or plate to work on or cookie sheet to bake the clay it can not be use for food items again. Also when baking an item if you cover it with foil it will help to prevent burning your clay. I could go on and on but instead I will say if anyone wants any more info on polymer clay I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. I sure that the Ace of Clay has many more tricks up his sleeve he can share with everyone. Thanks for the informative video, I look forward to seeing your next creation. Take care, Dee😁👍
Thanks a lot for the infos! I want to create a funko pop, but I have absolutely no idea how to start! 😅 So every information is well accepted!
I know I must use alluminium foil for the base but have zero ideas on what kind of polymer clay I should use and how, so thanks again.
I just subbed on your giraffe/ dragon video and I am so thankful you put out this video cause I really wanna try this but had no idea how till I saw this so thank you for making this
strangely enough, all the tools you use started out their lives as dental tools! I got some "old" ones from my dentist because the ones at the craft store are expensive. Of course, "necessity IS the mother of invention", and I'm sure the companies that make them for sculpting are "better". At least they haven't been in someones mouth! lol
Mark Woodworth i don’t think the clay companies change them at all tbh. I got a set from the art store as a gift, and i bought a set on a scientific surplus site and the only difference is the company label on the pricier clay version.
It actually still is used for dent but not necessarily in someone's mouth. We do use them for wax carving or sometimes in prostho as well. So I can easily buy those at my school lol
me and my mom are going to (attempt to) make a clay nativity set. wish us luck, please.
How did it go??
We’re still working on it. We should be done by mid summer
how did it turn out?
Idk if anyone else has said this, but if you don't want to add corn starch to your clay to get rid of some of the tacky-ness, you can also just sammich it between some paper and it'll leech out some of the excess oils in the clay, and make it less tacky. :) Just don't do it for too long, or it'll become dry and crumbly.
Mmm...sammich
I want to play with clay but I don't want do commissions. I just want to make stuff and if people buy it then great. If not welp, that's cool, too.
I love your personality! “ Dads can’t use sculpey III “ 😆🙌
aluminum foil has gotten pricey as hell. Can you also use something cheaper like butcher paper then wrap a little masking tape around that? What alts are there for al foil?
It has to be able to withstand the oven without deforming or melting at all as well as support the Clay well. Masking tape is a no no because it will burn. Haven’t worked with butcher paper but I don’t think so.
Dollar tree has foil
Dollaz on m tree foil
The downvoter is the one who baked at too high a temperature...
On topic: do you use a baking sheet, shiny or non-shiny, etc?
Parchment paper!
@@usernamemykel Thank you!
Honestly since watching all of your vids, it really has made me want to try sculpting. I'm a digital artist, but I've always admired sculpting. You make it seem so easy and I'm really inspired every time I watch your vids!
Thanks for all these great videos. I’m just starting to try out polymer clay and your videos are brilliant!
April Christie thanks so much, glad to hear it! Good luck!
Thank you so much for teaching newbie to polymer clay age 63 me! I found your advice very helpful, and you made me aware of some equipment that might help someone who is starting out in polymer clay art! I have thought only to do polymer jewelry, but you have inspired me to also try sculpting! It is so terrific that you mentioned using aluminum foil to prefill sculpted parts of a larger design to help keep the clay supported. Using wire also makes sense, and thank you for saying that it would help keep appendages from sagging or breaking off during the baking process! Congrats to you on making such a helpful video! Thank you for taking your time and expense to encourage polymer clay artistry!! I hope you will have a healthy, happy, and successful year 2023 !!! 🤩💓🐢⭐🎺🦀🌲🌈
I'm new to polymer clay this was really helpful so thank you. have a great day,,hello from Canada...peace...….
Thanks a lot! Glad you enjoyed it!
My dad was arrested FoR UsInG ScUlPeY III
Just discovered your videos earlier today. I've been sculpting with Sculpey for probably 15 years on and off. Love the videos. Tons of helpful tips tricks and inspiration. Seeing a lot of things I've been doing either the hard way or flat out wrong.
I have weak hand strength so to "warm up" my primo I run it through my pasta roller on the largest setting. Having it thinner helps me work it out. Hope this helps someone 💜
Thank you! I'm going to try it.
Putting my first “big” extremely detailed project in the oven. Trying to get it to be 275 inside the oven! Setting my oven to 275 makes it about 305 so I have it set to 250 hoping for good results!
How did it go? How long did you bake it?
@@Jadedgems it ended up surviving! I used this Wire i had lieing around (Saudering Wire) as the Armature, and it bent slowly under the weight of the sculpture breaking the legs off, but i reconnected them with a small layer of clay and baked it, turned out really good! I got better wire now. I baked it for about 2 hours i think then reconnected the legs and baked for another 30 minutes because i was scared to ruin my sculpture after it survived the oven once! I have made 2 more sculptures since, had no problems with my armatures and all that, made a really cool "Jungle Mimic" sculpture using this treasure chest i had lieing around as the base!!!
wish i could post pics on youtube!
@@bingbang7981 I'm making a mimic chest soon, did you put the wooden chest in the oven?
Great tutorial! Please do a tutorial for coulours and painting as well.
Hello. Great video. Thank you. Question. Is the baby oil or softener just mineral oil ? Just curious. Thank you again.
Every time the closed captioning referred to "bake and bond" as "bacon bond" I snickered.
I LITERALLY THOUGHT (because of the captions) that bacon bond was its actual name LOL!!!!! I was wondering about that! 🤣 Now I know 🤣🤣🤣 Now I'll always think of it as bacon bond haha
*me with my off brand polymer clay*
Me too
"And a calendar to schedule your life out..." I knew I was forgetting something...
For real though, I've been sculpting for a few months now and I think I have everything I need but I still learned from this video. This is also good because my best friend wants to get into sculpting too and I'm planning a care package of everything she needs to get her started.
I discovered polyclay in the mid-90's, and it is my absolute favorite crafting medium, I have a couple of tips to add,
Over time, you will accumulate alot of scrap pieces, never ever throw away the uncured junk, it can be used as bulking material, simply create your form, as he did with the foil ball, and cure that, before adding the outer layers and it can be cured in layers,
As for curing, you can also dust the surface of your baking sheet with cornstarch so removal doesn't scar the clay surface in contact with the baking sheet, and it doesn't leave an uneven finish, and can be dusted or wiped off easily,
Also, it helps to have the oven, or whatever you use for curing, preheated and rather that removing the item at a precise time, turn the heat off instead and allow the oven and pieces to slowly cool together, this ensures the piece will fully cure, and the piece will not burn, as it cures a bit further as it cools.
In general, it's a good practice to map out a project before beginning, so any new ideas you have during the process won't interfere with the original plan for the final outcome, instead, make notes of the new ideas, to add to a future project, this saves you from over complicating your process and having a final result that falls short or ends up entirely different than your original goal, and have fun, ❤
thank you, I loved this video, very helpful :)
Ok, I should have watched your first training video instead of scarecrow. My jaw is still hanging. Your amazing. I hope to learn so much from you.
Thank you for taking time to do these tutorials, 🙏
Very helpful! Good, basic advice that was just what I needed. Thanks!
after watching the little nightmares clay video I created my own and now I really want to make it with clay! I love your content and will be making a sculpture soon!
The subtitle says “Bacon bond” 🤣
The best thing I ever did was to buy myself an electric pasta machine. I bought it a while ago
and paid around $100 but it was worth every penny.
I’ve been using sculpey living doll for years now and it’s a great product to use ..💕🏴
Absolutely right about needing to schedule your life LOL I started sculpting recently and here it is 3:12 AM and I just put the clay down 😂 . Love your videos such an inspiration thank you for sharing your talent!
Great video :). I just discovered aluminum foil tape-love it for putting it on my armatures
Thank you for the advice sir, this video was VERY helpful 😋☺️
Hwb mrsuper clear sealant 4 printremoval????
I learned a lot thanks now I know how to sculp better thanks
Thank you sooooooo much for this useful information
This video inspired me to pick up sculpting with fimo again...thank you! Keep up the great work, I love all of your videos and your amazing artwork!
Thanks! Super nice video! :)
Lmao, when he pulled out the calendar at the end because we all end up with no lives once we discover polymer clay 🤣🤣
I'm thinking about starting to sculpt with polymer clay instead of traditional clay because it's a lot easier to bake, but in your videos you've used toothpicks and stuff to support your sculpture. is there like, risk of them catching on fire or anything? (I think in terms of like 2000 degrees so it confuses me haha)
same question; you've used tape and plastic (I assume) bases for your sculptures (which are super cool btw!) and i don't get how it survives an oven
Thank you, thank you! I just started with polymer clay and you’ve answered so many of my questions thank you for doing this video.
I absolutely love the work you do. It’s so addicting to watch and I envy your skill wishing I could do this!
Have you ever thought of doing super heroes?
Ace of clay
If you ever consider this
Could you make a “Holy/Dark Dragon “ (preferably holy dragon)
This was really helpful, thank you. Do you know how to tell when a pack of clay was produced by the numbers on the
pack?
I just have to note that all your previous videos, I always thought the liquid clay was "bacon bond"... not realizing you meant "BAKE & bond"!!!
Hahahaha!! 😂😂😂
Love your videos and you have encouraged me to.continue my adventures with clay!!
premo! sculpey has my heart! 💗 for those looking to just start out with sculpey III-buying a block or two of translucent premo! clay will be super useful in giving your sculpey III clay a firmer, more workable consistency until you invest in more premo!~
What do you call that tool that you use for making nostrils? The one with the small round end?
But what to I do about bumps? My sculpture is littered with imperfections and no matter how much I try to make it smooth, it doesn’t work
Is it air bubbles? If so poke it with a needle and then dip a q tip in alcohol and wipe the surface down.
Just bought my first poly clay, Sculpey Firm. So soft and relaxing to use compared to smithing steel.
Wondering what you use to bake the clay on? Is glass better then a metal baking pan as they flex or does metal heat more evenly?
Hey man, thanks for what you do. Your work and the teachings by Alphonso Dunn have sincerely helped me improve my artwork over the last few weeks. I really do appreciate it beyond what I could post.
Charles
Me watching him peel the actual row of super sculpey perfectly: “Damn he’s good!”
Subscribed :) just picked up sculpting for a hobby and I love your style... great work 👍
What kind of lost soul dislikes this?
Thank you so much for these very useful tips
Thanks for the tip! Will keep them in mind next time I'm working with clay!:)
Can’t wait to see more, so helpful. Thankyou 🙂
Amelia George thank you! Glad you liked it!
I love your work. It's wacky and beautiful! My kind of style.
Ha! That last bit mentioning the calander..so true! Just started with clay and cant stop 😂
Thanks great vid, thanks for the info!
I'd male a joke about the guy who left the only dislike, but honestly sometimes you just have to let the unholy algorithm know what you are and are not into.
Great video just what I needed!
Hi, could you please tell me about prebaking/layer baking? Also on how to actually make armatures? Ive been wanting to get into sculpting for a very long time and ive tried little projects but i must have neber done it right because they all cracked or fell apart.
Thank you kindly
Thanks I am a Beginner...
I just discovered you today because your duck/angler fish video was in my "recommended". I've never been so happy with TH-cam algorhythms or whatever it is. I sincerely think you have a knack for this and you have the potential to make a very successful channel. You can count on my support, that's for sure. Keep up the great content! If you ever begin doing giveaways (for supplies or your pieces etc.) I will be ALL OVER IT. haha
wish i had of seen this before i bought 2 pounds of original...lol cause i draw. but i really wanted to bring some of my characters into the 3D world. so my first go at sculpting....YAY...and well i also forgot the bake and bond.. funny thing my mom had a old pasta roller for making PASTA...and works great for kneading the clay.. but so not to break her antique pasta machine i got one of those "clay kneaders"
Clay does get hard and dry even if not baked... sure it takes a while but it happens. It can be saved though unlike when it is baked. That is why clay softener is a thing and there are lots of videos on how to recondition hard clay. :P
Good tips. I was gun-ho about sculpting for a long time but lately I just can't get motivated. It's not just with sculpting either - it's with everything. I do keep trying but the passion I had just isn't there. I put it down to the loss of one more family member and now realizing that I have lost more family than I have left...
- Heidi
It's a very useful video. I learned to remove fingerprints. :)
The calendar part made me laugh so hard 😂 cant wait to test that theory!!!
I used to love making charms from polymer clay and I honestly forgot why I gave it up :D Today I remembered... whatever I did dust and fibers just appeared out of thin air and stuck to it T_T Another thing I hated was that every fimo block I got was dry af and i had to put a ton of oil to soften it. Since mu hands hurt and it's very hard for me to condition clay, I couldn't take it.
Now that I bought a pasta machine, I'm thinking of trying it again.
Great video. Thanks. Looking to get into polymer caly--a lot of neat, little things on Etsy and hoping to be listing some stuff on there. The pasta maker thing is great. I'll just have to keep it away from my cook girlfriend or I'll be eating polymer clay bits in my dinner. 2 thoughts: If your clay is old return it to the store and tell them. Ask them to return the old clay and request newer blocks. No reason we should spend good money on bad product. Last thought--turn up your recording volume, dude! :) But if I get going I'll send you a free piece for your help. It won't be a masterpiece but it'll be yours. Thanks, again.
Thank you. I'm new to using polymer clay. I saw jewelry made from it and now I want to do this. Your video has really helped me understand what I need to do. Good job. Plain and simple!!!👍👍👍👍🙌
I am addicted to sculpting now. Really struggling to find super sculpey in South Africa. Is there another brand you can recommend? I know u mentioned you only work with this brand though...
Firefox 1990 try fimo
Hey mate, I watched your greg the grim reaper vid (okay I know he isnt greg xD) and was hooked, I was wondering tho, do you bake your clay? I didnt see it in that vid (I watch with no sound though because using a phone) and it got me wondering about baking clay and how you do it?
Also made me wonder if you can just leave it not baked, or would that cause the apocalypse?? End man kind as we know it??? I did it with some hands before that broke off after boiling my clay, just remade them with more sculpey and put some super glue over them, stayed hard as a rock xD
I would like to hear your opinion on cured and uncured clay pieces, and the best method for baking them. (I boil them because I dont have an oven atm that I can use for clay)
Great video for me who is just starting out. I messed up the face of a wood carving I did and just hollowed it all out. I was thinking of sculpting a face and neck and inserting it in but dont know if the clay would stick to the wood. I know Apoxie Sculpt would but since I`m new I want to try a clay I can practice with and do over and over until I get it right like Sculpty then bake it. Probably wont stick to the wood though. Anyways I`ve watched a lot of your videos and you are so talented!
Is supersculpey beige expensive?
3 days till Super Sculpey :D Can't wait to create something..
Thank you so much for sharing this video! I just started working polymer clay to make my own beads for my jewelry business. I know it’s not what you do and your work is beautiful but I learned so much!
Wow...! That was the best video I've watched in a long time!! Thanks so much. Great info and thoroughly engaging presentation.
Hiya! Great video- I’m a total newbie to polymer clay, but I have a fairly large sculptural project I want to try with it- I’m talking a character face plant pot about 30cm H x about 18cm Diameter (at the top, but decreasing towards the base). What’s the biggest thing you’ve tried- and any problems?? (I’m thinking of moulding around a form and removing once baked) - any help would be great 😉👍
Thank you for the tips!! I'll be buying supplies soon.
The calendar bit was so funny!
You're eyes are super cool.
Well thank you for helping me start my dream! I am a 2D artist and I’ve done some fiberglass sculpture… been dying to create Jin Sakai figurine and I have to say… you have answers most of my questions on this quick vid. I would be honored to show you what my first creation looks like when done! Keep creating awesomeness my friend. 💕
I've been watching your videos since the start of the year and just came across this for the first time. The technicalities make so much sense now. I thought bulking was to save on clay but it's also to make sure the clay bakes all the way through instead of using a whole block of clay. Mind is officially blown. lol 😅
you can also use large paper clips for the armature
Online news -> Woman’s Protective “Alien” Facehugger Mask Goes Viral (12 Pics) -> Super Sculpey -> TH-cam -> HOW TO GET STARTED WITH POLYMER CLAY - TIPS, TRICKS & MORE! by Ace of Clay
Excellent intro to polymer clay. This will make a nice stay-at-home hobby for my 5-year old granddaughter who is beyond her years in knowledge and abilities with, of course, some oversight by her Mom and Dad. Will conduct online shopping for these materials after submitting this comment.
2:55 "... it says great for beginners, kids, and moms. Just moms, not dads. Dads can't use Sculpey III." Everyone knows that, to interest dads, the project must require the more powerful Binford 6100 range of tools. Awre-awre-awre!
Thanks, Ace of Clay, for this well-presented intro to polymer clay and tools.
I came across your channel through NerdECrafter and I'm so glad I did! Your work is amazing! The way you sculpt drapes and folds is awesome! I used to play around with Fimo when I was a kid but haven't done any sculpting or modelling since. But..... You have inspired me and I've just taken delivery of my first brick of Super Sculpey! Thank you for the inspiration. :)
Could you please share the model and brand of the oven you use?
Wanna buy my first one and I don't know where to start.
Thanks a lot for sharing your knwoledge.
I use the tip of a fingernail clipper handle as a sculpting tool. I just started using it years ago and it works for me. I saw a great sculptor named Tom Clark using tooth picks as tools. He made Gnomes and other kinds of figures.
Let's see you at the oven.
Do the figures lay down ?
Are the figures suspended in the oven ?
Plz do a video on that .
Thank you.
YOU are such a help. I SO appreciate your guidance and good info!
Very informative.
This was super helpful. Can you do another "beginner" video with more supplies that you currently use?
I laughed way harder than I should have at the calendar bit. xD
This was very informational and encourages me to go out and pick up another artistic hobby!
Ps - Would you be willing to show us how you make a switch plate?
So glad to see you back x
Alright man, I started my first sculpture today. I started at around 3PM. as I kept going and started getting hungry, I realized it was now 8:PM at night. Where did the time go???? So, Yeah, I can see this as becoming addictive.