Polymer Clay for Beginners: Inspiration, Techniques, and Simple Step-by-Step Projects for Making Art with Polymer Clay
By Emily Chen
5/5
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About this ebook
Polymer Clay for Beginners introduces artists, art hobbyists, and polymer clay enthusiasts to the versatile, accessible polymer clay medium. Because polymer clay does not require the use of a kiln and needs only baking in the oven, it is an easy, approachable art form for even the most inexperienced artist to learn, as well as kids, families, teachers, and anyone else looking for a fun, boredom-busting hobby or craft.
Professional artist and owner of Cat Bear Express, Emily Chen, demonstrates how to make adorable animal figurines, flowers, cookies, cakes, beads, and more through easy step-by-step projects. Each project features colorful, styled photographs demonstrating how finished pieces can be used, displayed, and gifted. A comprehensive tools and materials section and detailed information on techniques, baking, and glazing guide artists in their quest to become polymer clay pros.
A modern approach to sculpture art, polymer clay is the perfect choice for beginners and crafting enthusiasts.
The Art Makers series is designed for beginning artists and arts-and-crafts enthusiasts who are interested in experiencing fun hands-on mediums, including embroidery and papier-mache.
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Reviews for Polymer Clay for Beginners
3 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Art Makers: Polymer Clay for Beginners: Inspiration, techniques, and simple step-by-step projects for making art with polymer clayby Emily Chen is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This gives you a list of tools and tips the reader will need to make a lot of fun projects including food, little animals, and other things like unicorns! I fell in love with the cute little pig the size of the first section of my index finger! So cute and small!Instructions on colors, mixing, making, baking, and coloring your project is included with corresponding pictures. Delightful! I had played with polymer clay before and this book made me want to get back into it! Loved how clear and simple the directions are and all the wonderful projects with pictures!
Book preview
Polymer Clay for Beginners - Emily Chen
POLYMER CLAY
FOR BEGINNERS
Inspiration, techniques, and simple step-by-step projects for making art with polymer clay
Emily Chen
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Tools & Materials
Techniques
Baking Guidelines
Troubleshooting Tips
Finishes
Projects
FOOD
Macaron
Chocolate Chip Cookie
Fruit Canes
Fruit Tart
Rainbow Cake
Swiss Cheese Charm
ANIMALS
Pug Charm
Cat
Pig
Cow
Unicorn
PLANTS
Succulent
Cactus
Rose
Cherry Blossom
BEADS
About the Artist
INTRODUCTION
I remember the day I discovered polymer clay. This was before video tutorials became so accessible, and search engines were still working out their kinks. I found a Japanese website with a simple image gallery full of tiny, realistic-looking foods arranged in various scenes, and I fell in love. The next day, I went to my local art and craft store and picked up a couple of packs of clay.
My first pieces were not pretty. They honestly weren’t much more than lumps of reddish-brown clay meant to look like loaves of bread, but I didn’t let that deter me. I made things because it was fun, and over many years, I came to develop a style and techniques of my own.
In this book, I hope to share some of the things I’ve learned and inspire you to make some wonderful creations of your own.
Let’s get started!
One of the best things about polymer clay is how easy it is to use. You don’t have to be formally trained to make some wonderful pieces out of clay!
TOOLS & MATERIALS
One of the things I love most about working with polymer clay is that it’s possible to make amazing creations using only your hands. However, having a few additional tools will make your polymer clay projects easier to accomplish. We’ll discuss them here, along with the different types of clay that can be used.
POLYMER CLAY
Let’s start by exploring your main material, clay, which is available in art and craft stores and online. Polymer clay comes in different brands and colors and varies widely in durability and ease of use.
Some of the types of clay you may find at your local craft store include Original Sculpey®, Sculpey® III, Premo! Sculpey®, FIMO®, and Kato Polyclay™. I like to use Premo and FIMO, and all of the projects in this book are made using these two brands. However, there is no one best
brand, so the clay you choose will depend on the purpose and project you’re working on.
TIP
When purchasing clay in a store, you might want to try feeling the clay to ensure its workability and softness. Some brands start off quite hard and require more kneading.
ADDING COLOR
Polymer clay comes in many wonderful, vibrant colors, but it also provides a good base for adding colors using materials like chalk pastels and water-based acrylic paints.
LIQUID POLYMER CLAY
Polymer clay in liquid form is more flexible than regular polymer clay. It can be used to embellish or seal clay pieces and is baked the same way as regular polymer clay.
TIP
• Use chalk pastels on your clay prior to baking to add soft, subtle color to