Live streaming shows are now set to Friday morning at 8 am Arizona time. Go to YouTube.com/LearnSculpture to ask questions in real time and watch me demo my latest project. Hope to see you then!

I was planning to follow up my completed plasteline clay sculpture models with mold making, a necessary step in producing permanent sculptures from temporary oil-based (plasteline) clay sculptures. However, I had just moved to a new home with much less space and nowhere to “get messy” with plaster and rubber mold making materials. As a result, I spent months researching and exploring sculpting techniques using polymer clay. I happily discovered that polymer clay solved all the challenges I faced regarding performance and permanency of my completed pieces. I can now create a permanent display sculpture, but still section it for mold making later to cast in bronze or resin if desired.

Polymer clay can slump or crack during baking without a supporting armature. In fact, you often need an armature for just about any kind of clay sculpture but with polymer clay it is especially important. You’ll also aim to keep the final clay layer relatively thin (not thicker than ¼ to ½ inch) covering oven-proof bulking material like aluminum foil surrounding a wire support.

Not really—but…
If you can buy a pasta machine you’ll say to yourself: “why did I wait so long?” It really speeds up the time to condition the clay and form it into sheets for covering armature fast. They average about $50. I use the Makins Clay Machine (same as a pasta machine) and like it a lot.