Acrylic paints for polymer clay. How to paint polymer clay at home. About polymer clay

A reasonable question immediately arises: why paint polymer clay if it is sold in literally dozens of colors in the store.

Well, firstly, for real artistic creativity even these two or three dozen are not enough.

Secondly, paint provides many more possibilities for artistic design made from clay.
Well, thirdly, when you throw yourself into the creative process, you can’t stop it; you want great impressions, searching for new things, experiments, and this is perhaps the most important thing. And I must say, this search more than pays for all the efforts expended.

But before you start working with polymer clay, you need to clearly understand what kind of material it is and what its capabilities are.

About polymer clay

The presented version of clay is nothing more than a type of plastic that is easily molded right in your hands like plasticine, but under the influence of elevated temperatures (usually in the oven) hardens. It is no coincidence that the material has another name – thermoplastic.

Among the advantages of thermoplastic:

easy modeling of products of almost any size;
large range of colors;
the convenience of mixing samples of different colors and obtaining new shades, for example,

red and yellow will result in orange;
red already with green - brown;
red with blue – purple;
and gray can be obtained by the usual kneading of black and white.

the ability to fix what is done for a long time after baking.

Polymer clay can be classified according to the ease of working with your hands:

soft and
tough.

This material is represented on the market by no less than a dozen companies, but the two most reputable are:

Eberhard Faber produces several types of clay under the Fimo brand:

Soft– soft, which will not always suit the master of small parts, which turn out to be too fragile after baking;
Classic– more rigid.

Polyform Products - with Sculpey brand products. This clay is more suitable for professionals; beginners may be put off by the too much flexibility of this clay when sculpting.

About colors and ways to influence them

Thermoplastic itself is available in a large palette of colors, and this is the most important thing if you are going to actively work with color, and not stop at one large single-color piece ().

At the same time, the following techniques are at your disposal:

You can mix clay of different colors and create new colors.
You can add acrylic paint, water-based paint of any color to a white clay sample, knead it thoroughly and get any suitable color.

You can also use the above addition, but “play” with the sculpting without being too zealous, then the paint will not spread throughout the entire volume, creating absolutely amazing stains for new ideas.

Helpful advice! Working with any material for artistic creativity is always an experiment. Therefore, we strongly advise you to immediately set yourself up for a search.

Strictly speaking, there are no ready-made recipes for creating works that will be exhibited in the Hermitage literally the very next day. Some do not limit themselves to adding paints to the kneaded clay, they even add lipstick and are delighted with the results obtained.

After all, you have acrylic paints at your disposal after creating and fixing the composition.

Acrylic painting

What is necessary

As a matter of fact, you can create such paints yourself, you just need to mix:

with gouache or watercolor acrylic varnish - and you get absolutely incredible delicate colors that you can control by changing the volume of mixed components;
acrylic varnish already with PVA glue - as a result, the palette may not suit you too much, but you will get incredibly white paint of very high strength after hardening.

However, there is no great need to create your own paints. The market offers an incredibly wide selection of ready-made acrylic paints.

To work you will need:

a finished clay product, not yet baked;
acrylic paints - and this is the most suitable answer to the question of how to paint polymer clay;
brushes, the bigger the better, of different sizes and of the highest quality possible, hair should not come off under any circumstances;
palette – you can’t do without mixing colors and selecting them;
a rough plan, a drawing in color of your future creation - this is already in the realm of creativity and ability; some people simply keep this plan that they dreamed of in their heads.

Immersion in work

Presenting the work itself is both easy and difficult.

Just because:

we take the finished product in our hands, even before the oven, and begin to paint it, according to the idea, and constantly preparing the necessary paints;
Let's not forget, after baking the colors will become a little darker;
You can apply paint after the oven, but in this case it is best to pre-polish the surface;
if you want to create a metal effect, you can mix acrylic solvent with pearl powder, apply the mixture to the product, let it dry and varnish;
if clay is supposed to be painted, then it is chosen in a snow-white color, but we advise you to play with colors here too, because artists often do not paint it to create the main background, but simply use a primer of a certain color, on which the necessary strokes of paint are then applied;
If the work takes place on a flat surface, then it is very convenient to first apply the design through a stencil.

But it’s difficult, because the world of creativity:

does not tolerate fuss and indifference;
requires the ability to draw conclusions from one’s achievements and failures;
requires being consistent and patient;
and again, it requires learning and grasping new ideas on the fly.

Helpful advice! And again from the category of experiments. We advise you to try using watercolor paints for coloring, but in this case, be sure to apply it over a primer. Let's say - under no circumstances use oil paints, they will never dry completely.

But on the other hand, he still encourages – experiment! Try using ink, they are also used. And to create a beautiful gradient, some experienced craftsmen use an aerosol.

Secrets of the masters

Over time, each master develops his own techniques for solving the problem of how to paint polymer clay.

Here are some of the most famous:

If you want to make a doll or a product of similar complexity, then use Living Doll clay, which is the leader of preferences among professional dollmakers. It is a little expensive compared to other options, but it is incredibly convenient to use and incredibly durable after firing. Specially produced only in light shades, counting on future painting.

If your goal is colored mosaic, then the best choice would be Premo brand clay. It does not crumble when working, it is often used for decorations. One very useful feature of Premo is that it is competitively friendly and can be easily mixed with other types of clays, increasing their strength.

conclusions

When electrically conductive paint Zinga is in use, fire-retardant metal paints Polistil will not help. It is common to work with polymer clay using acrylic paints.

But if you are not ready to search, if you are only going to go back and forth, according to the recommendations given to you, then it is better not to take up paints. In the end, clay already has many colors, and beautiful albums called “Do It Yourself” will tell you step by step how to use them and what you can do.

Be sure to accumulate your knowledge and experience, which the video in this article can help you with.

Some craftsmen prefer white self-hardening clay. This is very convenient, first of all, because it does not need to be baked. What is the easiest way to paint small items made from such clay? In this master class we will look at how to paint polymer clay at home with acrylic paint.

We will need: 2 jars of yogurt, a nail.

Yogurt containers must be selected according to size and one must be completely inserted into the other to the very bottom. It is very important. This way the coloring will work better and you will need much less paint.

We take a smaller container and use a nail to make holes along the entire surface of the bottom.

This is the mini sieve we have.

Now everything is ready for painting. We insert our sieve into a large one. We take our small ones. We dilute 1x1 acrylic paint with water and make the color we need.

We place a small amount of parts in our homemade sieve.

We fill our bowls with paint; it is advisable that the entire surface of the products is covered with paint. Let's shake our paint cans for a couple of seconds. The main thing is not to overexpose the clay in the liquid, otherwise it may begin to melt.

We take out our sieve from the main jar. The paint should all flow into the large one.

Now we turn our sieve over and pour our products onto polyethylene or foil. This must be done to allow our crafts to dry.

After drying, use a thin brush to paint over the folds.

This makes painting very convenient and quick.

Now you can make all kinds of beauty.

Hello dear sculpting lovers!
Sometimes it is not at all profitable to buy polymer clay of a color that you do not use at all. After all, some products require very little clay, but you can’t do without this color at all! Some clay is sold at 100 grams. from which you will spend a small part of it, and where is the extra?? After all, it is not needed….and will dry out over time…it’s a pity!!! So what should we do??? In the article you will see a short video clip that clearly shows how clay is colored in different ways.

Painting clay with acrylic and oil paints

To prevent this from happening, in this article I will tell you how to very simply paint clay, the amount that you need. This method can be used to paint both polymer clay and cold porcelain.

We will need:

Polymer clay with which you will work;
acrylic or oil paints

It can be oil paints, acrylics, pastels, anything that has dye, even lipstick)))

Let's get started!

We take the required amount of plastic (you can use a little more, because if there is not enough, then it will be very, very difficult to achieve exactly the same color).
To get delicate tones (light), then add a small drop of paint, but if darker, then without sparing, add a lot of paint. I prefer to paint with acrylic paints. It is advisable to buy bright colors, then the finished products will look very beautiful.

If you apply paint to the clay and knead it quite a bit, you will get clay with dark tint stripes. This color is also very often used. Well, to obtain a uniform shade, you need to knead the clay well enough. Some types of clay become very soft after coloring and begin to stick to your fingers. In this case, you just need to wait until the clay hardens (dries) a little.

When painting, other incidents are possible - for example, BEBIK brand clay begins to crumble if you add a lot of paint to it.

Mixing two different colors of clay

For this method, you need to have several different colors of polymer clay of the same brand. Mixing occurs as with classic mixing of paints. Below I will give a small cheat sheet.

It is very important to use the same type of clay with this coloring method, so that after mixing you can end up with a material. which will differ in its properties from mixed types.

Adding dry pastels to clay

I use this method most often to color white clay. First you need to rub or scrape, for example with a scalpel, pastel powder of the desired color. Don't scrape off a lot of pastel at once. First, take a small amount of powder and mix with clay. You will see what color you get and, if necessary, you can add more and get the desired result.

In this video you will see all the methods described above.

Pastel tinting

Oil tinting

Painting with acrylic paints

Now you can easily make polymer clay of any tone and shade.

Polymer plastic is used for sculpting small sculptures, products and decorations. With the help of self-made sculptures you can add uniqueness and exclusivity to any interior.

Ceramic products help to complement and dilute the interior with elegant figures or decorations in any color scheme, emphasizing the individuality of the room or space. And to create unique polymer clay products that would perfectly suit your style or fit into the interior, you need to know how to use paint to add an attractive look, because the plastic itself is white.

Clay for interior decorations made at home is divided into two categories:

the first option hardens by air drying;
the second option is a material that needs to be exposed to high temperatures; it is baked.

However, any type of work requires accuracy and caution in the manufacture of the product.

Rules for working with plastic

To ensure that the creation process delivers only pleasant sensations, follow these rules:

It is advisable to wear gloves when working with clay.
Upon completion of use, plastics, hands, tables and other objects that were used must be thoroughly washed.
It is not recommended to use plastic or polymer boards.
All additional tools for working with plastic cannot be used for other purposes (boards, knives and other tools should not be used for cooking).
When working, take into account all the rules and advice from the manufacturer regarding the storage, hardening or baking of clay.

Using paints to work with clay

Despite the fact that there is polymer clay in the desired color, and you can do without additional coloring compounds, it is the paint that allows you to make the product brighter and improve the quality and appearance of the product. Several types of dyes can be used for coloring:

acrylic;
oil;
ink;
aerosol;
crayons and pencils;
powder.

The amount of paint used depends on the desired color. In order to give the product a delicate and pastel color, it is necessary to use a minimum amount of material, and in order for the color to be bright and saturated, the amount of material can be safely increased.

After adding the coloring material, the clay must be thoroughly kneaded, otherwise the product will end up with uneven, colorful stripes; such variations are also used in jewelry and products.

When using several color options, paint must be selected from the same type and manufacturer in order to avoid combining different densities, colors and different characteristics. Manufacturers provide tables that help achieve the desired color by combining and mixing available paints.

Characteristics of coloring compositions

Paint products are distinguished by their light resistance, which the paint labeling will help you understand. The lightfastness of paints is indicated by asterisks. The most suitable dyes are those with two or three stars.

For the base of the product, markings with a black square or a half-filled square are suitable - such colorful materials can get rid of the transparency of polymer clay. The white square indicates transparency, which will give the product the properties of cold porcelain. A crossed out white icon indicates that the colorant is translucent.

Preparatory stage

Before working with polymer clay, you need to prepare all the tools you will need to paint the material:

palette for paints;
brushes;
container with water;
napkins or paper;
sponge.

Before applying coloring materials, a primer must be applied to the clay. Priming the surface will allow you to achieve a more uniform and high-quality color when applying paint.

Acrylic paints

Painting with acrylic products has the widest application. As a material for painting, it is necessary to use high-quality artistic acrylic paints. It is better to take them for working with clay that does not require baking. However, if such material is available, several staining experiments can be carried out.

It is important to take into account the peculiarity of acrylic paint - darkening after drying. When you first experience working with plastic and paints, you need to practice using dyes on paper, paying attention to the color and the time spent on drying.

The main disadvantage of acrylic painting is that it dries quickly. However, there are options and work opportunities to help avoid this:

The first option is a drying retardant. Additional tools for the job can be purchased along with the paints.
Using a small amount of pigment on the palette to save drying material.
To prepare more color, it is recommended to use jars that can be closed for the next use.

Oil paints for polymer clay

Oil paints are great for working with any type of polymer material. When choosing a paint, you need to pay attention to reviews of this product, the paint base (oil) and test results. To experiment, you can apply a small amount of paint to baked clay and leave the material to dry. A positive result will be the absence of stickiness of the paint a month after application.

Oil painting options allow you to create amazing details and jewelry elements:

A small amount of material is used to make products in bed and delicate tones;
Using a sponge or cloth, you can create the appearance of an antique surface. To do this, you need to apply paint to the product and remove most of the material using a cloth;
The paint will help create an imitation of precious stones in the product;
To create a “marbled” product, a colorful substance is mixed with clay before baking the decoration.

The main disadvantage of using oil-based dyes is the drying time. The complete period can take up to six months, depending on the size of the product and the amount of material used.

Ink for coloring clay

To color polymer clay, you can use special colored inks. A wide range of inks allows you to paint the product in a translucent or transparent color, draw designs on the details, tint them, and give them a marbled look.

When using ink for coloring, it is necessary to study its properties, rules of use, drying time and interaction with clay. Reviews or independent experiments will help you with this.

Powder, crayons and pencils

You can create a metallic effect and additional colored elements that highlight the product using powder or crayons for coloring polymer clay.

Pearlescent powder gives details the effect of radiance and shine. Powder dye can be mixed with acrylic or oil paint base. The big advantage of using powder is its quantity, and you need to use very little material to get the job done.

Crayons and pencils are also used in small quantities. However, they require additional work. To use them, you first need to grind the coloring materials to a powder state. Pencils are used to create additional drawings and decoration elements.

Aerosols for coloring clay

Aerosols as dyes allow you to paint clay in a variety of colors with smooth and neat transitions. Before using the aerosol, the clay is polished and coated with an acrylic base.

The main disadvantage of this coloring option is the price of aerosols. Therefore, this method of painting a product is used only by professional firms and specialists.

Working with polymer clay requires extensive preparation and time. To do this, you can study video tutorials and understand the basic rules and features of clay products.

The effort and time spent will reward the “sculptor” with exclusive jewelry, original accessories and unique interior details.