translucent polymer clay as glaze alternative

TRANSLUCENT POLYMER CLAY AS GLAZE ALTERNATIVE HOW TO

I recommend acrylic paint, though tempera works as well. Once completely dry, you can paint the air-dry clay project. In humid environments, projects may take longer to dry. Environmental conditions may affect the dry time. The clay begins to lighten as the water evaporates, and the surface becomes more porous. How Long Does Air Dry Clay Take to Dry?Īir-dry clay takes at least 24 hours to dry but may take up to a week for thicker, larger projects. Allow it to dry completely before adding paint or sealant. Once you’ve created a sculpture with air-hardening clay, set it on a raised screen or cookie rack to provide even airflow on all sides (this reduces cracking).

TRANSLUCENT POLYMER CLAY AS GLAZE ALTERNATIVE HOW TO

How To Paint and Add a Gloss Finish to Air Dry Clay Technically, you don’t even have to paint or seal air-dry clay! However, many makers prefer painting and sealing to add vibrancy and shine to their projects. Because of this, you’ll have to explore different ways to add shine to air-hardening clay projects - but fortunately, many products are available to do just that! When exposed to air, air-hardening clays begin to dry they cannot survive the high heat of a kiln. Kiln-Fired ClayĪir-dried clay differs from earthen clays (i.e., stoneware, ceramic, porcelain, etc.), as the latter requires heat to harden. Then, I’ll detail how to paint and finish air-dry clay projects to create a beautiful, glossy finish. In this article, I’ll talk about air dry and earthen clays to explain why you can’t use traditional glaze on both. Each of these finishes adds an extra layer of durability and produces a lustrous, glossy sheen.

You can make air dry clay shiny with epoxy resin, clear spray paint, Mod Podge, or a high-gloss clay varnish. You can even seal your sculptures to create a beautiful, glossy shine.

The clay is easy to work with and doesn’t require the use of an expensive kiln to finish projects. Air-dried clay is an excellent sculpting medium for beginners.

Translucent polymer clay as glaze alternative