Painting Polymer Clay (Step By Step Guide)

Polymer clay is an art intermediate that is widely recognized for its flexibility and simplicity work with.

It is used in a variety of crafts, such as pottery and home beautification.

Painting polymer clay requires a special procedure to enable it to produce a quality and attractive outcome.

Here are important stages to follow on how to paint polymer clay

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Step 1: Choose a Quality Paint

A quality paint gives the polymer clay a softer and homogeneous look.

Likewise, it persists longer than the cheap paint; hence you will save a lot of money because it does not require regular repainting.

Acrylic paint is recommended because it offers a smoother touch, enabling you to add another colour to your work.

Step 2: Select Correct Tools

The apparatus you use to paint a polymer clay will greatly determine the final look.

There are various paint brushes with different forms and sizes to enable you to select the best depending on your project.

Always use an excellent brush that will not shed hair on the polymer clay and make undesirable texture in your paint.

Step 3: Allow the Clay to Cool

It is advisable to permit polymer clay to cool before adding any colour.

This step is essential because paint can alternate uniformity and adhere wrongly to hot surfaces of the project.

The bigger or thicker your polymer clay is, the more time it will require to cool.

Step 4: Sand the Surface

Some paint and clay types may not combine appropriately because they become smooth for the paint to stick on after curing.

If you realize the surface of your polymer clay does not allow penetration of paint, lightly roughen it up with the use of sandpaper to give it a better grip.

Step 5: Make Texture with Paint

I prefer polymer clay with a snapped finish because it gives the final work a beautiful appearance.

Acrylic will help you achieve this because it does not stretch rapidly once it dries.

You can always design special shapes and colour blends using a sheeter to roll on the paint once it dries.

Metallic paint is the best for a sparkly and crackled outcome.

Step 6: Enhance a traditional Finish

An antique appearance increases the measurement and age of your polymer clay.  

All you are required to do is dilute or begin with thin acrylic paint.

Always remember to wipe off the entire residues that are on the elevated regions before the paint dries.

This procedure works better on well embossed or curved projects in polymer clay (learn how to harden clay here).

Step 7: Cover the Final Product

After you have finished painting your polymer clay, allow it to dry completely before sealing.

This final step stops exterior blistering of your decorated clay work, therefore, maintaining its original shape.

How Do You Paint Polymer Clay?

The key factor of achieving a quality polymer paint is following the simple procedures in detail.

Ensure you use quality paint, correct tools which blend correctly with the surface you are working on.

Finally, always remember to cover the final product to prevent scorching.