A therapeutic pastime, sculpting clay is like magic and you have the possibility to bring even your craziest of ideas to life in 3D form. Sculpt to your heart's content at home, and with the best clay behind you, your ideas will soon become tangible art.
Sculpting is one of my favourite forms of art, it allows me to bring indescribable thoughts to life. So if you’re struggling to say something out loud it can be so much easier and more fun to build it. A great hands-on skill to have, sculptures are powerful physical means of expression and a great way to fill your home with 3D art you can boast about.
If you loved playing with Play-Doh and polymer clay when you were young, then getting into sculpting shouldn’t be too difficult. Now it’s also important to remember, there’s no good or bad sculpture. If it conveys the message or idea you had in your head, then it’s perfect!
Related: The pottery gear you need if you’re inspired by The Great Pottery Throw Down
The pandemic has brought out everyone's inner artist, with celebrities like actor Seth Rogen sculpting some beautiful vases which he shared on Instagram.
What you need to know about types of clay you can use:
Oil-based clay
Oil-based clay is made up of a wide variety of oils, wax and clay minerals, their malleability is dependent on temperature so will involve a lot of hands-on work. Oil-based clays do not dry out like water-based clays making them perfect for longer projects that require more detail. They’re great for kids as they don’t stick to any surfaces or skin.
Types of oil-based clay include polymer clay, plasticine and epoxy clay.
Water-based clay
Water-based clays, like the name suggests, are mixed with water to make them malleable and workable. They dry out fast as the water evaporates making them perfect for short projects, they can be air-drying or kiln fired. Water-based clays are some of the easiest clays to work with and the most budget-friendly.
Types of water-based clay include air-dry clay, modelling clay and pottery clay.
Ceramic clay
Ceramic clays have to be kiln-fired or heated to retain their shape, this makes it a popular choice for large-scale projects and outdoor sculptures. These clays are much more durable than oil and water-based clays as they are treated with heat to withstand temperature changes.
Types of ceramic clays include stoneware clay, earthenware clay and fire clay.
We’ve selected the best clays on offer to help you turn your ideas into physical art, take a look:
The best clays for sculpting
1 of 6DAS 1kg Modelling Clay – White
Really easy to work with, this air-drying modelling clay by DAS is the perfect place to start if you're a clay newbie. It balances the perfect amount of malleability and structure to make it perfect for sculpting.Pros: Easy to smooth, can take paints and varnishes, dries solid and strong, can be used with wood, cardboard and terracotta.Cons: Takes a lot of softening and water to be malleable (will require sprays of water constantly throughout sculpting).
2 of 6Glorex 6 8073 005 Pottery Clay Unchamoted 5 kg
With the option for air-drying or kiln-fired, this clay is like pottery clay without its troubles. Suitable for use on a pottery wheel, this clay is ideal for making tableware and hollow sculptures. Pros: smooth, easy to work, suitable for the pottery wheel, can be air-dried or kiln fired, no grain texture, can be finished and decorated with paints and varnishes. Cons: long drying time without a kiln.
3 of 6Monster Maker Clay Premium Grade - 2.05kg
Trusted amongst professional sculptors, this oil-based clay allows for the highest of detail to be used in your creations. Amazing quality and entirely non-toxic, Monster Clay offers ultra-smooth formulation with high plasticity to capture even the finest of details. With a low melt temperature, this clay can be re-used and re-melted indefinitely for unlimited sculpting. Pros: reusable, perfect for detail and texture, low tack, non-toxic and sulphur-free, non-oxidising formula. Cons: very low melt point can be difficult to work with in humid and hot environments.
4 of 6Pebeo White Modelling Clay
Perfect for modelling and sculpture, this clay has high malleability and a fine texture to make it ideal for projects that require perfectly smooth surfaces. Pros: very malleable, dries a nice white, easy to use.Cons: needs to be kiln-fired at high temperature, can be messy to worth with.
5 of 6Crayola Air Dry Clay White, 5 Pounds
Got an idea you want to quickly bring to life? Then this clay is perfect, easy to mould and clean, trusted for any project, big or small. Pros: dries in 2-3 days, can be carved or painted, easy to clean and non-sticky.Cons: can crack if too thin, will dry quickly so best for quick creations.
6 of 6Arteza Polymer Oven Bake Clay Kit, 42 Unique Colours
The perfect set to get children into sculpting and bringing the wildest of ideas to life. Non-toxic and easy oven-bake, this soft and pliable clay is easy to sculpt and won't stain any little hands. Bake in the oven for minutes and you'll be amazed at just how vibrant the colours stay.Pros: large selection of vibrant colours, includes five modelling tools, non-toxic, easy to mould, dry with just a couple of minutes in the oven.Cons: contains small amounts of colour making this best for small creations.
These clay products have been hand-selected by What's The Best shopping experts. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching, so you can choose the best one. Plus, we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in. Find out why you should trust us here.
Watch this video for some great tips and tricks to get you started with clay:
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Angelica Daujotas is a Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media where she tests products for What's The Best, Yours and Mother&Baby.
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