There’s something incredibly satisfying about being able to work in 3D. Perfect for a wide variety of projects, from concept work to making sellable hand-made items, sculpting, molding, and casting are an excellent way of transforming your ideas into tangible objects that you can hold in your hands and view from all angles.
But with so many options available, it can be a little difficult to work out the best materials to use. Here are some things you should know about clay, molding, and casting materials to make the right choice.
Polymer clay is a unique kind of modelling clay that’s renowned for its versatility, pliability, and ease of use. Polymer clay is designed to be hardened in the oven, making it an excellent option for hobby sculptors who don’t want to buy a pottery oven or pay for kiln firing services.
Polymer clay is man-made from a plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) base, rather than from natural clay. However, the techniques for working with this clay are not dissimilar to ceramics and sculpting.
The beauty of polymer clay is that it stays continually soft until baked in a home oven. This means you can continue to shape your clay without having to worry about it drying out and becoming unworkable. Polymer clay also doesn’t shrink or expand, is great for detailed work, and takes alcohol-based colours or powdered pigments well.
This unique clay is popular with children, hobbyists, and professional artists alike.
The precise instructions for baking polymer clay may vary between brands, though most polymer clays will harden somewhere between 110-135°C. Most clays from Sculpey or Clay Studio, for example, require temperatures of 135°C, while Fimo only requires baking at 110°C.
The standard baking time is 30 minutes, though always be sure to consult the packaging before putting your polymer clay in the oven.
As the name suggests, air drying clay is clay that hardens and cures at normal room temperature. Highly versatile, air drying clay is a great option for children and beginners. This is because it’s light and soft in the hand, making it incredibly easy to shape and manipulate.
Air drying clay has a tendency to shrink during the drying process, and hardens to a porous and spongey texture. This means it may not be suitable for highly detailed work. The air drying properties also give you less time to work with than polymer clays.
Many air drying clays can be dissolved in water or heat, though you can combat this by sealing the clay after it’s hardened. This type of clay takes acrylic paints very well, making it easy to colour once it’s had time to cure.
How long it takes your air drying clay to dry depends on many factors, including the temperature and humidity of the environment, as well as the size of the model you’ve made.
Generally speaking, most air drying clays will take between 24-48 hours. We recommend waiting an extra day to ensure the sculpture is fully cured before applying any paints or sealants.
There are an incredible variety of sculpting tools available on the market, and what tools you’ll need will typically depend on what you’re trying to do. Here are some of the most basic sculpting tools you may wish to purchase.
If you’re completely new to sculpture, you may want to buy a sculpting tool kit, which comes with a variety of tools to help you shape your clay. You can then begin to fill out your collection of tools as you work out what else you need.
There are a wide variety of mold-making techniques, and the best one for you will depend on the size and complexity of the piece you’re trying to mold.
One-part molds: One-part molds are perfect for casting single-sided objects with a flat back (think of ice cube trays).
Two-part molds: Two-part molds are for casting more complicated objects that need to be viewable from all angles, such as a figurine.
Multi-part molds: Multi-part molds are for larger sized models and more complex shapes. Objects with more detail or deeper undercuts may require multipart molding.
There are a wide variety of mold making materials available, and what you need will depend on the size and complexity of the piece:
Once you’re made your mold, the next step is to make a cast. There are so many casting materials available to you, though what you can safely use will depend on your choice of molding material. We wouldn’t recommend casting molten metal in a rubber mold, for example!
Here are some of the most popular casting materials:
We love seeing what amazing creations our customers make from our products. Please be sure to share your latest Riot Art & Craft masterpieces by tagging us on Instagram @riotartandcraft. And don’t forget to include what materials you’ve used in the description!
