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In my last newsletter, I talked about the materials I always keep on hand. I mentioned polymer clay and moved on. But "just buy some clay" isn't terribly helpful, is it? So let me break down exactly what I buy and why.
This is my personal strategy. Your clay lineup may be different, of course! But here's what I do and how I think about it.
Where to Buy
Find a good online retailer that specializes in polymer clay or craft supplies. These small businesses tend to have better selection, fresher stock, and staff who actually know the product. Big box chain craft stores are convenient, but the selection is limited and the clay has often been sitting on the shelf for a long time.
My Core Palette: Premo Primaries
I keep a set of Premo primary colors on hand for color mixing. These aren't just the basic three you learned about in school. I stock warm and cool versions of each primary, which gives me a much fuller range when mixing. With just these colors, I can mix just about anything.
Here's what I keep stocked:
- Zinc Yellow (cool yellow)
- Cadmium Yellow (warm yellow)
- Fuchsia (cool red)
- Pomegranate (warm red)
- Cobalt Blue (neutral-ish blue)
- Ultramarine Blue (reddish blue)
- Turquoise
Color mixing with polymer clay is a big topic. If you're new to it, we have an entire unit on color in Blue Bottle Insiders. For now, just know that this range of primaries is what gives you full color-mixing capability.
Black and White
I buy these in large blocks because I go through them constantly. Either Premo or Cernit, depending on what I'm doing and where I'm buying. These are workhorses, not glamour purchases.
Translucent
For translucent clay, I go with Cernit. It handles well and bakes without a color cast. I also keep Cernit translucent colors on hand to use for tinting my bulk translucent.
Metallics
Cernit Metallic uses synthetic mica, which gives more shift than other brands. Their Pearl line is even more sparkly.
Cutter Earrings
If you're making cookie cutter earrings, I recommend Souffle. Full stop. It's lightweight, has a nice matte texture, and comes in a good range of colors. For that specific application, nothing else comes close.
What About Sculpting Clays?
Clays like Super Sculpey and Living Doll are made for highly detailed sculpting, and that's a topic for another time. But it's worth noting that if you're making whimsical characters or chibis, you don't necessarily need a specialty sculpting clay. Regular all-purpose clay (Premo or Cernit) works well for that kind of work.
Mixing Brands
Brands that bake at the same temperature are completely interchangeable. I regularly mix Sculpey and Cernit brands together with no issues. Don't overthink it.
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