The Best Clay for Making a Small Doll Sculpture

Polymer clay is excellent for making small doll sculptures.

Polymer clay is excellent for making small doll sculptures, whether they be fantasy characters or dolls that are more realistic-looking. Because the clay will harden permanently when baked, you can make durable pieces that will not fall apart or change shape and that can also be painted in whatever style you choose.

Characteristics

Polymer clay has several desirable characteristics that make it a good choice for artists. It comes in many colors and also in a flesh-like translucent finish. Although it can be somewhat firm out of the box, the clay warms up readily and can be worked with quickly, unlike very hard oil based- clay that takes much longer to shape. It also takes details extremely well, so that intricate designs or features can be sculpted easily. The clay also can be smoothed out to a perfect finish with a small amount of effort.

Conditioning

Polymer clay can vary in initial hardness. Some clay brands only require that you hold the clay in your palm for a little while for it to become pliable, while others may require that you use a lamp or heating pad. Once the clay is soft, knead it thoroughly to get rid of any dry spots and make it uniform. Apply polymer clay over an armature, generally made of wire and aluminum foil, in a layer that is about 1/4-inch thick.

Smoothing Polymer Clay

When you are done sculpting, clean the piece and smooth out the clay. The most straightforward method is to use isopropyl alcohol at 91 percent concentration, which is available in drug stores. Use a makeup sponge to apply some alcohol to the clay surface and rub gently in a circular motion. You can also use your fingers if you need to apply more pressure. The alcohol will dry the clay somewhat, so only use it when you are done sculpting.

Baking and Finishing

Polymer clay needs to be baked to harden. Bake the clay according to the manufacturer's instructions given on the packaging because different brands may require slightly different temperatures to set properly. Clay pieces can be baked in a toaster oven dedicated to the purpose -- don't use the same toaster over for preparing food. A baked sculpture can be painted using acrylics -- you can use thinned-down paint to apply washes of color that will lend a realistic look to the piece.

References

• "The Complete Book of Polymer Clay"; Lisa Pavelka; 2010