Can you put gloss on air dry clay?

While it's not possible to glaze air dry clay in the traditional way using a kiln you can use varnishes and sealants to create a glazed pottery effect. Unlike traditional clay, air dry doesn't need to be fired to set hard.

What kind of glaze can I use on air dry clay?

If you're looking to glaze a polymer clay craft (like Fimo or Sculpey) I recommend using the Sculpey Studio Glossy Glaze or the FIMO Soft Liquid and Gloss Varnish.

What gloss do you put on clay?

The best glaze to use for polymer clay is a water-based polyurethane glaze. It is durable, safe, and non-reactive to the clay or any mixed media. It will not corrode the poly clay, cloud its appearance, or go sticky with atmospheric changes.

How do you make clay look glossy?

Polymer clay is not glossy after baking. You can sand, buff, and polish the clay itself (see below), or you can apply a glossy varnish. To make your clay project less shiny, you could apply a matte varnish. Note that adding a glossy varnish can make translucent polymer clay seem more clear.

How do you paint and seal air dry clay?

Most air-dry clay and other clays are porous, so the paint can soak into the surface. Applying gesso can provide a more even distribution of the paint. The gesso helps to create a barrier between the clay and paint, so it slightly seals the clay from moisture.

How to Glaze Air Dry Clay Bowls

What is the best paint for air dry clay?

Water-based pigments or colors are best for painting air dry clay. Acrylic paint, tempera, and guache cover projects well, but watercolors, ink, markers, and pens are also suitable to add design to clay items. Keep in mind that you must seal water-based paint after drying.

Can you glaze air dry?

Since air dry clay isn't fired, you won't be using any glaze. Avoiding glaze saves you a lot of money, but removes the magic of things like colorburst glazes. Just as with regular clay, encourage your students to experiment with different ways to add color.

Can you add paint to air dry clay?

The best paint to color air dry clay is tempera. It's easy to incorporate into the clay and gives rich color. The only reason I picked tempera and not acrylic paint is being washable. Acrylic paints are as good as tempera, but make sure you protect your clothes, table, and hands.

Can you prime air dry clay?

There are several ways to seal air-dry clay. The easiest way is using varnish or acrylic sealer. For a more robust seal, you can also use liquid epoxy. All of these sealers will make the clay water-resistant and protect the color underneath if the clay is painted.

Does clay need to be primed before painting?

If you've done any kind of DIY-ing, you're likely familiar with prepping a surface. Priming is not just about sealing the material, but also creating a stable exterior for your paint. In this case, your substrate is clay and it should be primed (ideally) with gesso.

Does air dry clay need to be sealed?

After your creations are completely dry, it's time to seal them! Clay is porous, the air dry clay will become pliable again if exposed to water or moisture. Sealing the clay will prevent this from occurring.

How long before you can paint air dry clay?

You have probably picked up on this already, based on the details discussed above. But you should wait for the air-dry clay to dry completely before you paint it. The drying period dramatically varies depending on the size of the sculpture. But I say give the clay 24 hours before testing its dryness.

How do you keep air dry clay from cracking?

Be sure to store your air dry clay in an air tight container. I use gallon sized zip lock bags to store all my clay and keep it staying as fresh as possible. I have also seen many people using tupper-ware or other air tight type containers to store and hold their clay to help stop it from drying out too quickly.

Is air dry clay strong?

Air drying clay crafts are not as strong and durable as fired and glazed pottery. It's not the best material to create outdoor decorations. However, it's perfectly fine to make decorative objects for your terrace or balcony, just make sure to apply a specific outdoor sealant like Mod Podge Outdoors or Yacht Varnish.

What kind of paint do I use on clay?

Acrylic paint is one of the most suitable paint types for air-dry clay modeling. It will hold up best compared to other types of paint, such as Tempera. Next to it being durable, it is also budget-friendly in most cases, which is a big win!

Can you seal air dry clay with Mod Podge?

Mod Podge on Air Dry Clay

It's really easy to use Mod Podge and clay together (including polymer and air dry). Mod Podge is a great sealer for clay, which is what makes it so perfect for these charms/gift tags. Before we dive into the tutorial, let's go over a few basics of this project.

Can I add PVA glue to air dry clay?

The best glue for gluing air-dry clay is PVA glue. It is easy to use and it can be bought in almost any crafts store or hardware store. The pieces have to be clean and free from any dust before applying the glue. A thin layer of glue is more than enough to securely bond air-dry clay together.