how do you get your figurines so smooth?
First things first - this applies to polymer clay. I know nothing about ceramics or air-drying clay.
Let’s start with the truth: my figurines are not completely smooth. I don’t use airbrush and I don't varnish them with UV resin - which is how you’d get the smoothest figurines. I do what works for me and you’ll find out what works for you.
I don’t strive for perfection and I quite enjoy that you can see the tiny flaws in my work. I also prefer using matte varnish which leaves the texture of the paint more exposed than a glossy varnish would. That being said, here are the things I do to make my fun-sized friends pretty smooth.
I believe these tips apply to all brands of polymer clay, but it might be useful to note that I use Fimo Professional and I don’t have experience with other brands.
To be transparent, this post contains affiliate links and as an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You don’t have to click on any links though, feel free to just find the tips you’re looking for and apply them to your work :)
Sculpting: heat is your enemy
The warmer your clay gets, the easier it is to leave fingerprints and dents while sculpting. This might not be a big issue when it’s cold out, but it becomes a real struggle in summer.
To combat this:
Store clay in colder places - if you were to enter my studio you’d find that it’s pretty chilly in here and i wear sweaters most of the time. I understand that not everyone will want to go to these lengths so you might want to pop your polymer clay in fridge before sculpting for 5-10 minutes instead. Or find a colder spot in your house to store your clay.
Make sure your hands aren’t sweaty - a neat thing to do is place your hands on your freezer for a couple of seconds. Or, I dunno, hold a bag of frozen peas for a minute. Whatever works!
Be patient. Let it cool down - the longer you hold your figurine while sculpting, the warmer the clay gets. After some time, you will most likely start leaving fingerprints. Take mini breaks whenever that happens - I put the figurine on my table and usually take this time to look at what I’m making from all sides to see if anything needs to be fixed or smoothed down. Or I get a snack. I love snacks.
2. Post-baking: sand it like your life depends on it
If you’re careful while sculpting, this step won’t be necessary but sometimes it can’t be avoided. If you see (or feel) any bumps or tiny particles on your figurine, gently sand it down. You can use a piece of sandpaper, but I personally prefer electric nail file - it’s the perfect size and there’s different bits you can use to get to the hard-to-reach places.
3. Painting: What you use matters
I used to think I could get away with buying the cheapest paints. Boy, was I surprised when I finally switched to high quality acrylics. If you have good quality paint, you won’t need as many layers to reach full opacity of the color. Less layers of paint = less brush strokes = less undesired texture. Plus, it will save you time and your sanity. I use Liquitex Basics and Vallejo Model Color.
When it comes to brushes, I find that the brand or price doesn’t really matter as long as you know when it’s time to replace your brush. Even if you take great care of it, there comes a time where you need to part ways. You can tell it’s time if your brush starts fraying or you see visible brush strokes on your figurines. I like to use flat brush to apply the base color and then use round detail brushes for everything else.
4. Finish: Varnish is pretty magical
Varnish is important as it seals your figurine and acts as a barrier to protect it from the outside world. But it’s also an extra layer that is transparent, which means it can help conceal some of the texture of your figurine. I use Cernit Matte varnish as I prefer the matte look, but if you use glossy varnish, you’ll get more of this magical property. I let the varnish air dry - I don’t bake it even though the instructions say to do so because I find that it reacts with my paints and discolors some of them.
Bonus: Things i don’t do/use, but you might
Wear gloves - this will help eliminate fingerprints. I absolutely hate wearing them and it’s not very eco-friendly but it still is a great tip.
Use acetone or mineral oil - you can put some alcohol on a cotton swab and gently go over your figurine to get rid of any prints or small dust particles. (do this step after you finish sculpting but before baking.)
Paint with Airbrush - using an airbrush instead of a regular brush will eliminate any brushstrokes leaving you with very smooth paint application and also beautiful gradients. From my research and from what I’ve seen other artists use, I’d say that any Master Airbrush is a great option but obviously do your own research if you want to go down this route.
Varnish with UV resin - this gives a very professional finish and provides the best protection for your figurine but it's a pretty annoying process that requires some research.