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Polymer clay is one of the best mediums to be used
for a hobby. It is an amazing medium because it is a pliable, blendable
polymer compound used by most Indian artists and crafters. It's really
not true clay because clay is fine particles of silicate suspended in
water, whereas polymer clay is fine particles of polyvinyl chloride
suspended in plasticizer. But the good part is that it can be used
pretty much like clay.
And what makes polymer clay special and even better than clay itself is
its versatility. It is available in most of the Indian cities in dozens
of colors. In fact you can blend it together like paints to make your
own colors. Since the color is inherent in the particles, you can also
work two or more colors together without blending them.
The polymer clay's pliability and ductility lets you use techniques from
glasswork, textile arts, and sculpture. And the best part about polymer
clay is that it doesn't dry out. This gives you the freedom to sculpt
and form it without worrying about a time limit. You can use this clay
to cover anything as long as it won't melt or burn at the low firing
temperatures: wooden boxes, picture frames, mirrors, tableware.
In fact one of the most popular application of the polymer clay is
jewelry. It can be used to make beads, pendants, bracelets, and
neckpieces. Small sculptures and buttons are other possibilities from
this versatile and amazing medium. Some clay artists have even developed
techniques to give polymer clay the appearance of granite, jade, amber,
coral, turquoise, and ivory. Again, it is its flexibility that enables
you to make pieces in shapes and sizes that wouldn't be possible using
actual stone.
In India today, polymer clay is undergoing a surge in popularity. It is
much more widely available here than it was a few years ago. It is
easily available in local craft stores, art-supply stores, and bead
stores. In fact some of the toy stores and general stores in most of the
Indian cities also carry polymer clay, although the selection of colors
is sometimes limited. In fact now, there are even several manufacturers.
Each of them offer a different brand which is a little different in
softness, strength, and so on, and each one offers its own selection of
colors. Polymer clay is generally available in small and large packages.
Author M. Hemdev copyright
data 2004 Indianchild.com
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