In my series of articles on frugal hobbies, I break down an individual hobby for people who want to have fun without breaking the bank. The overview will include the details of the hobby itself, how to go into it with a frugal mindset, and the best ways to make use of your money. Not all of the hobbies covered are cheap or easy to get into, but I find ways to help you save money while still being able to partake in your favorite pastimes.
Sculpting
For those who don’t know, sculpting is a great hobby where you create a physical representation of some object or place through the use of just your hands, some basic tools, and some clay. The sky is the limit when it comes to sculpting, so it’s all up to your imagination and skill. In several ways, it overlaps with building model kits – although that hobby is a little less “free form” most of the time.
Picking Your Clay
First off, there is no “best” clay for sculpting. It’s all about finding the right tool for the right job. In this article I’ll focus on general use polymer clay, but the specific one you choose should probably be picked based on the type of project you’re working on.
Popular Lines
If you like colored polymer clay, I’ve seen generally positive reviews of both Fimo Professional and Kato Polyclay. They’re good for a lot of projects and allow you to create lovely details in your sculptures, but it is firmer than some other kinds of clay – which can be a positive or negative depending on your needs.
Super Sculpey Firm is a great clay to work with, and it’s great for getting the details into your sculpture so you’re happy with the final piece.
Sculpey Premo is a good clay for the average person. It’s good for a lot of different types of projects and many people find that it isn’t too firm either.
Craftsmart Premium seems okay overall. It’s not a favorite of many, but is perfectly passable and does the job.
Original Sculpey is great for larger projects and structures. It isn’t great for details, so sometimes it gets some hate, but it’s great at what it’s intended to do – in my opinion.
Infamous Lines
Craftsmart Regular gets negative reviews all the time. I haven’t actually tried it – but that’s because its infamy is widespread and I’d rather avoid it.
Fimo Soft is, in my opinion, the worst option from Fimo. The issue I see with it is that it’s too soft and almost mushy. In my experience, it’s a terror to work with but I do see cases where it’d still be valuable on certain projects.
Sculpey III gets a lot of hate. I don’t necessarily agree with the attitude most people have about it, but you can usually find better anyway.
Tools
There are a lot of neat tools you’ll potentially want for sculpting. While some spend an incredible amount on these, it’s perfectly fine to keep it cheap.
Generic Sculpting Tools
Just do a quick search on “polymer clay tools” and you’ll soon see what I’m talking about. When you sculpt, your best tool is your hand and all the fingers that come with it. However, there are certain things that are hard to sculpt with just your hand – some of those fine details – and that’s where the tools come in. There aren’t expensive, and honestly you can just get creative with it. Think of things you want to do with the clay that are hard to do with your hands, and then think of small objects and tools you already have that you can use for it as well.
A Platform
It’s wise to set up a platform or a dedicated area for your sculpting hobby. Sometimes clay can get all over the surface you’re working on, so it’s a good idea to work on top of something you’re okay with messing up or something that’s designed to be worked on like that.
A Food Processor
Okay, you don’t necessarily need a food processor. Sometimes when you work with polymer clay, specifically when it gets shipped to you or the store, it can get too hot and become hard. If that happens, there are multiple ways to fix it. Some people just roll it in their hands until it becomes malleable again. Some people add oil to help soften it up. Others take a little more of an extreme measure and dedicate a food processor for it. You don’t need to do it out the gate, but eventually a cheap food processor may come in handy for your sculpting hobby. Just make sure you don’t use the food processor for your clay for actual food!
An Oven Or Other Heating Element
Last, but not least, you need a heating element to harden your clay when you’re done sculpting. The most common method for hobbyists is their oven. It doesn’t matter terribly which route you pick, but once you pick one be safe and tweak your methodology as needed to end with the best quality sculpture.
Getting Deals
Deals are everywhere. With so many online stores, you’re in no shortage of finding quality clay at the click of a button. I will had a single caveat though – be careful what brands and products you buy. Some of the generic polymer clay is exceptionally low quality and should be avoided in its entirety.
Amazon
Amazon is…interesting, to say the least. Often, sculpting supplies will be far more expensive on Amazon. However, there will occasionally be amazing deals on specific items, so it’s not a bad idea to keep an eye on anything specific you’re looking for. Beyond that, they run amazing sales on tools. While they’re not always the best way to resupply (other retailers are likely better for that), they have bundle packs with exceptional value. For example, for only $20-30 you can get all the equipment you need to start the hobby!
Starting
Beginning is simple – just get to it! I’m kidding, but only partially. If you’ve decided you want to start sculpting then all you really need to do is start. Buy some clay and start working with your hands. You can check out this video series if you need help learning some of the basics. You don’t even have to buy any of the tools until you’ve gotten a handle on things and decide you really enjoy the hobby!
On top of all of that, you can always take a local course. There are usually tons of groups that enjoy the arts – like sculpting – in your area.
Conclusion
Hopefully this gave you everything you need to start sculpting – without breaking the bank. If you think I left out an important tip, brand, or retailer, then let us know in the comments!
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