How to choose a clay for sculpting?

The use of modeling as a great developmental activity for small children has long been appreciated by specialized specialists, and adults are increasingly choosing this activity as a hobby, creating true little masterpieces.

Modern industry has developed dozens of different substances that are suitable for modeling figures by hand, but even for children's creativity they often choose not classical clay, but even more classical clay for modeling.

Naturally, for creativity, at least for children, not quite the clay is used, from which our distant ancestors molded household items. More precisely, natural clay may be present in the composition, but it has long been no longer the main ingredient there. The mixture, today called clay for modeling, thanks to various additives, has received completely new properties and an unusual appearance.

Since even plasticine today does not always correspond to the original recipes, clay for modeling can also be called a kind of plasticine, but, as a rule, it is designed to solve professional problems, and in skillful hands it allows to create real art.

For their first creative searches, children can successfully use good old clay, but clay is also receiving more and more attention, especially at subsequent stages of development. There are several reasons for this:

• More features. Nobody argues that for newbies such material is not necessary, but if the child squeezes the maximum out of clay, and he obviously likes to make modeling, it is necessary to switch to clay as early as childhood. Plasticine, as a rule, always visually remains plasticine, but modern polymer clay in a frozen form can resemble almost any other material. It is possible that at a certain stage such a children's hobby will not only be able to feed the grown-up baby, but also make it famous, allowing you to earn a decent amount of your favorite activity.
• Effective storage of figures. Even if the child will never engage in such a professional, but makes some progress in modeling, some of his works really want to save - at least in memory to parents. Most other plastics are designed for relatively short shelf life, and only clay with a careful attitude is able to hold the form for decades.

• Increased plasticity in the orientation of the kids. Plasticine is often criticized for being quite hard - they say, until the child kneads him, he can completely lose the desire to actually sculpt. For preschoolers, pieces of plasticine of domestic production may seem altogether invincible, and on their background clay for modeling seems incredibly soft, because even the consistency of toothpaste for her is not fiction.

Needless to say that such a mass is also absolutely safe for the child. Of course, there are also unscrupulous manufacturers who are able to add useful additives to the composition, but harmful to health, but the brands tested products are definitely safe.

Modern polymeric clays are distinguished by a huge variety, which is reflected, naturally, in their compositions, so one can say with confidence only one thing: the word “clay” in the name is used rather symbolically, because of the general similarity in properties, but the real natural clay in the composition either does not exist at all, or its quantity is very small.

The basis of most mixtures is polyvinyl chloride, although some other similar polymer can act as a base. To give the mass plasticity, special plasticizers - both artificial and natural (for example, wax).

A very important role is played by those components that determine the appearance of the mass. In colorless, such may not be at all, but, as a rule, at least pigments are added to the mixture, which are responsible for imparting a certain color to the clay. A small amount of kaolin or white porcelain may even give the mixture transparency, at least partial. In addition, the mass is added sparkles, the tiniest metal crumb or other additives that help mimic in a frozen form a variety of materials.

Today there are so many varieties of polymer clay, that even among professionals it is difficult to find those who would try absolutely all kinds. Nevertheless, you need to have at least an approximate idea about them, because only this way you can choose a well-suited material.

The first option hardens, just drying out in the open air, this process does not require any technological tricks, but it lasts a very long time - the products dry up a maximum of a centimeter per day; This means that it is practical to make such figures except flat figures.

Clay for firing provides mandatory heat treatment, which significantly speeds up the process of hardening, but requires strict adherence to instructions - in particular, maintaining the temperature indicated on the packaging. The masses for baking also include natural ceramic clay, which is still used by lovers of timeless classics.

Any clay requires kneading, but in the process small air bubbles that do not contribute to increasing the strength of the finished products get into the mixture. The equipment that makes it possible to knead the mass with air suction is expensive and inaccessible to most amateurs, however, in the shops, vacuum clay is sold, allowing all beginners to appreciate all their advantages.

Usually, the mass is designed for a one-time formation of products with the purpose of their subsequent freezing to preserve the shape, however, in the case of children, it is not very practical if they are new to modeling. In this regard, children's multi-use clay is produced, it is clay-clay, which can be repeatedly reformed before baking, or even not baked at all.

In addition, the clay can be completely different in consistency. Plastic mass can be quite solid, to better keep complex shapes, but for children need something soft, more supple. The usual weight is more often reminiscent of mush or plasticine, but dry clay in powder is sold, and the consumer already decides how much plasticizer to add in order to achieve perfect density. Finally, there is the opposite - a completely liquid mixture, which is used as an adhesive for solid clay parts.

Clay can also be selected according to the criterion that is planned to be made from it.For example, special varieties are used for modeling flowers, which even in baked form, being very thin petals, are able to bend and restore their original shape again, which really resembles flowers, and certainly not clay.

Individual grades of clay have their own characteristic features. For example, the so-called cold porcelain really imitates this material, although it is not, and can be used to create dishes, and Cambrian (blue) clay is in many ways similar to natural and developed as an improved version of it, to create dishes and classical folk figurines.

In the end, many types of clay are not sold in sets, but individually. Even if the material is painted in a specific color, or created with the maximum similarity to some other material, then most often it is sold separately. However, children in modeling are often attracted precisely by the color and picture of the possible result, therefore, color kits are produced for them by analogy with clay.

There are two fundamentally different approaches to coloring clay for children's creativity. More simple is, of course, pre-painted material, when each piece of mass already has a certain color. In children's sets most often come across red, blue and green, but the choice can be expanded up to 24 shades. It is possible that colored clay will be sold and individually - then you can buy only those colors that are needed for the conceived crafts.

White or transparent colorless clay is useful in the event that you need some special shade, which is not on sale in finished form. Most mixes are normally mixed with watercolors, and they can be mixed in such a way as to obtain the desired tone.

By mixing the resulting dye with the purchased mass in specific proportions, it is possible to achieve the perfect balance of color, brightness and contrast.

At the same time, multi-colored clay is perfect for situations where each individual detail of the figure is made of a material of a different color, but masterpieces that are complex in color filling will not work. They are easier to perform from a monotonous mass, which will then be painted with ordinary acrylic paints over a frozen surface.

To learn how to paint white polymer clay in bright colors, see the following video.

Due to the tremendous variety of textures, real craftsmen today make virtually anything from polymer clay, although this is mostly, of course, souvenir products. If we talk about children, then they probably will especially like something that would visually resemble toys - Especially since they can really play in a frozen form.

From the fact that it looks very cute, and, indeed, the insanely like kids - this food. Yes, the toy food, which will allow the game with real toys to turn into the most realistic action, because they will eat not imaginary food, but almost real, only very reduced. They usually sculpt vegetables and fruits - this is a task that is available for even beginners, and on more difficult levels you can go out on small pizzas, cakes and pies.

In addition, the girls will seem very close flower theme - Moreover, the special polymer clay allows you to sculpt truly flexible, very believable parts. In the best possible way, such a product can be mistaken for a real flower, and only those who know the subject will be able to guess its “clay” origin.

For older children, plausible figures of various kinds will be more interesting. characters from movies and cartoonsAs well as various stylish key chains. In general, there are no restrictions - you can make vases, jewelry, dishes, literally, whatever.

Clay, designed specifically for children's creativity, usually does not provide for any special preparation before the start of formation - it is initially ready to be created from it. Usually it is only necessary to mix it again with your hands, or touch up, if it is colorless, or dilute it if it is purchased as a dry powder.

However, as there are varieties of clays, so many ways to prepare them for work, therefore, the application instructions will best answer this question. In order to avoid unpleasant situations, it is better to read such instructions before buying the mixture, because its preparation may require conditions that you do not have at home.

In general, the same applies to, in fact, use. Each clay has individual characteristics that must be considered in the process. For example, self-hardening clays are designed for drying - this is how they become hard, therefore inaccurate storage with access to fresh air to the mass will lead to material damage, because it will harden earlier than it will give the desired shape.

If the material is bought by children, special attention should be paid to the composition of the mass. Adults are advised to work in gloves, just in case, but children are unlikely to observe the safety instructions exactly, so there should be nothing harmful in the composition.

It is necessary to choose the mass, starting from the current level of skill of the child. A beginner buys only multi-color kits - he must be interested, his crafts should be bright immediately, otherwise the hobby will be immediately abandoned. The material must be extremely simple to handle, do not require any complex skills.

If the kid has already reached the level when his works acquire the outlines of masterpieces, you need to choose the material according to his ideas as carefully as possible - this will allow you to fully reveal the creative idea and not disappoint the little master by saying that his ideas are not realizable. For complex experiments it will be better if he chooses the material himself.

See the next video for a master class on sculpting roses.