Polymer Clay Desk Figurines

Brighten up your Workspace

Whilst under the surge of creative expression, all writing was temporarily postponed for the welcoming of a new found hobby. Polymer Clay can be moulded into anything you please, then baked in the oven to keep its’ shape. There’s endless colours to pick from and mix together to create, or you could pick the standard grey colour and paint on your chosen colours.

Character and world building that can be enjoyed within storywriting can also be an outlet within clay sculpture. Building characters that stick and adapt with experimentation and playfulness to grow their being. Also the art of creating something that is entirely your own is a profoundly validating habit to get into, opening up your creative lense to be ready for anything.

Likewise, copying well-known characters is also a fun option with polymer clay, try making your own Aardman characters like Gromit, who’s simple enough in design to replicate and would make a brilliant gift once baked in the oven, or try a Studio Ghibli character like No Face who again is simple in design to follow depending on which scene you depict him from.

When it comes to supplies you will obviously need the clay itself, which comes in many different formats – hard, soft. etc – and under many different brands, I would recommend FIMO by STAEDTLER as it’s nice and soft, but not in the British Summer, it gets slightly too soft in the heat. The tools for sculpting can be found on Amazon or at your nearest craft store, and cake making tools can be equally as effective. Tools needed are dependant on what you’ll be creating, a nail buffer tool can also be used for those just starting out.

When it comes to glazing there’s the best way and the easy way, the best way, that’s most raved about, is to use liquid resin. However, as this can be toxic and the use of safety equipment such as a heavy duty mask and gloves are needed I opt for the easy way. FIMO and I’m sure other brands as well, has gloss varnish available for after baking the clay, let it dry and then glaze over the varnish with a brush onto the clay, being sure to even it out and, as I’ve learn’t the hard way, be sure to go easy when going over the crevices as they will collect the liquid and dry white, which you don’t want.

I enjoy sculpting clay on the top of a small box or tub as this makes it easier to see the clay you’re building as opposed to it being on a table and you having to bend down to try and see the smaller details. If you have a small moisturiser tub or a tub of gum you could use that to build on. Lastly is storage, clay wants to be out of the heat and sunlight and it would benefit you to keep them each seperate to one another in their packaging so it’s easier to get the individual colour you need, if you are collecting coloured clay and not painting the colours on instead.

The relaxing hobby can be done anywhere and it’s so fulfilling to see the finished product after all the hard work is done.