How do I Purchase Sculpting Clay?

Clay can be used to create many projects.

Sculpting clay can be purchased from several different outlets. The choices are as varied as the projects you can create with sculpting clay. You can also purchase an assortment of colors and textures.

Stores

You can purchase sculpting clay from many major chain stores, such as Wal-Mart or Target. Craft stores, such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby, will have a larger variety. Sculpting clay can also be found through specialty art stores online or through catalogs.

Types

Polymer clay comes in several different colors and some artists use it to create fashion accessories or molds. Water clay is perfect for creating pottery on a wheel. The finished product of oil-based clay can be very fragile, but some artists prefer it to water-based clay because it will not dry out mid-sculpture. These clays all require firing to finish the project. Air-dry clays are also available.

Considerations

Weigh your options before purchasing the clay for your project. Beginning sculptors may wish to start out with cheap polymer clay purchased from a retail chain. As your abilities progress, you can experiment with other types of clay until you find the one that suits your projects best.

References

• Somerset Life: Polymer Clay Basics
• Abraham Lincoln Art Gallery: Sculpture Materials and Methods
• Air-dry Clay Tutorial Directory