I love God and my family, but my passion is for ART. I dabble in all forms of art, including sculpting, painting, yarn crafts, multi-media crafts, and even a little sewing, but I am mostly drawn to sculpting. My choice of medium is polymer clay, but every now and then I enjoy creating with paper clay and even making some projects with resin. This channel is just me enjoying myself as I create fun pieces out of clay. I will share some tips and tricks that I've learned over the years of sculpting. These tips are things that I had to learn by trial and error, so I'm here to share them with you all to maybe help with your own sculptures if you venture a try at sculpting. So, grab some clay, a little paint, and come Clay Along...
`Great researching and breakdown of pricing. I hadn't really taken overheads into my pricing. Like you I add the materials and what I would like per hour. Will need to rethink. Thanks for sharing. Cx
@@corinnerichardson9093 the extra expenses that incur from making these wonderful little treats for people should not just be eaten by the artist. Your time and money is valuable too. Anyway thank you so much for watching and commenting. It means so much to me
@@Addiep03 thank you so much… I actually have a video of the making of the scarecrow in one of my earlier videos… and I try to be as reasonable as possible. With all the inflation and the higher costs of everything I try to be as fair as possible
Awesome tips for beginners! I frequently mix the Sculpey coloured clay with Super sculpey beige, it's more cost efficient. Oh my gosh! You picked out my favourite sculpting tool and I've got a lot but I like a range of choice, i also like making my own texturing tools, I love scrunched up foil or bits of bent wire. Oh gee! You found my marbles, I was wondering where I left them 😁
Thank you so much for the great advice on the purchasing of tools and clay for all of us complete novices. I do wonder if a colored clay ( such as gray) and also a white or tan version would be adequate for making small animals like your elephant or perhaps baby birds. I am pretty good at mixing basic colors like I used in painting plaster figurines back in the day. So I would definitely buy the better quality paint in fewer colors. I’ve seen Temu’s small beginners clay crafting items for less than $10.00 that includes the rubber tool and the small ball tool , etc…would that be worth the money? Also would using powered eye shadow work for giving cheeks color before baking or is painting the better choice?
@@terrieseverson6346 I’m so glad this could help 😊 I would definitely just get a couple colors of clay and mix them to start off and you can definitely come up with tons of things you can make with the same couple blocks of clay. Also, any cheap tools work well. You do not have to spend much on tools. Put your money in the clay and paint. And I definitely prefer the eye shadow for giving blush accents over paint. I wish I would have thought of that to add to the video. That’s a great tip
@@arealworm I do that as well. It’s a good strategy and if you’re going to invest money into making polymer clay a consistent hobby then this will work well for a softer, more delicate look. This video was more about being a complete beginner and trying it out for the first time. If you don’t like it or it’s not your choice hobby then it’s good to not put a ton of money into it when first starting out. These are tips on how to start off with as little money as possible… but thanks for the feedback. I’ll definitely have to show this technique in a video soon
Great video. Love the way you turned less than 5 dollars into saleable items. I started with a clay kit and now I buy the small blocks of colour but larger 1 lb blocks of black and white. My hand isn't steady enough for paints but keep gold and silver on hand, Also, I have some coloured marker pens I can use. You're right about knitting needles and tooth picks for detailing. As always thanks for sharing hon - loving your style Cx
@@corinnerichardson9093 you are a dream 😊 every time I see you in my comments my day gets so much better. Thanks for your feedback and happy claying my friend
Since elephants 🐘 , especially the babies, are my new favorite animal I’m saving this video as my first project after your new beginners tutorial is finished. ❤❤. So stinking adorable, thanks😊
@@terrieseverson6346 I’m so glad you like it and the tutorial is being worked on now and hopefully will be out next week. Thank you so much for your support 😊❤️
@@corinnerichardson9093 thank you so much and I’m sure your fairies are gonna love it. this was my favorite project I made from the watermelon cane and theme.
Awesome insights! Commissions aren't my favourite, i spend far too long trying to make it perfect, which is almost impossible. I also like to create whimsical or fantasy pieces, with the aim of minimising criticism, and when I do get criticised, I'm still puzzled by it 😁
To me being an artist is a person who sees an image in their head and creates it with their chosen medium to bring it to life. Personally I love baby elephants and when I see one that has been created to my likeness I purchase it. Not being on commission seems like a very sensible decision and one that works for you. See you on your next video😊😊
@@terrieseverson6346 also… the video that I have coming up in a couple weeks (the tutorial, not the art talk) is an elephant. It’s already uploaded and scheduled. And I am working on my art talk about using more economical tools and how to make a quick and easy starter kit for clay.
Yes you are, and your work is amezing! I feel the same way, I have to work my creativity back up again because i lose the joy of creating. And im never happy with what I delver to the consumer. Keep creating for you, and let it take your stress away.
I agree with loving what you make, if you don’t like it it’s easy to put on the shelf of shame “incomplete items”, I use commissions to force myself to create larger and different forms of art. Most important thing as a artist to have fun and enjoy the process. Even if you do take commissions you can tell people no. I have had to refer people to other artists before because I wasn’t feeling what they wanted. Enjoy the process and have fun.
@@corinnerichardson9093 you should give the cane a try. And thanks 😊 but next week I have my favorite project I made with the watermelon cane… saved the best for last
I never was a serious crafter until I started doing crystal diamond paintings….I made many from flowers to famous stars. Never sold them, just gave them as gifts. Now I’m 80 and my crippling arthritis keeps me from holding the instrument correctly precisely when setting the beads. I’m hoping to start using soft clay that I can correct errors that my fingers may cause. I’m able to hold small instruments for a short period . Could you steer me in the right direction so I will have the proper materials without spending a fortune before I know how I do this craft properly? I love watching you craft and hope I can join in on the fun 🎉
@@terrieseverson6346 of course I can help. There are so many things you use as tools with clay that are just normal household items. The only tool I live and die by when doing clay is called a clay shaper and it has a pointy flexible rubber tip. If I had to start over that’s the tool I would start with. I started with humble beginnings and I understand where you’re coming from. I will make a video all about the things you really NEED to make successful clay pieces and the things that are just convenient and how you can substitute those things. It may be a couple of weeks because the filming and editing of a video takes quite a bit of time and I have a full time job and a family, so it ends up taking me a week to film and then another week to edit and upload so please be patient but I will make a video just for you. Its a great idea for a video anyway Thanks for the idea and I hope we get to clay together soon 😊
@@clayalongcreations I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read my message and respond in such a positive way. I will be awaiting the special video and know it will be of a great help to me and so many others. 🥰❗️ Terrie
So cute. I love your whimsical characters. I just found your channel today and cant wait to continue browsing your projects. Yes, i used to watch the Carol Duvall show too. I dabble in so many things and styles. I need to take a step back and figure out what brings me the most joy. Where do you get the eyes for your characters? Do you make them yourself?
@@TheInkinGardenSpot oh great 😊 I’m so glad you’re here!!! I miss the carol duvall show. And I order glass cabochons eyes from Amazon but sometimes when I’m wanting a specific look I paint the eyes onto clear glass cabochons. I do my own eyes a lot bc Amazon options can be limiting.
@@Crafted_By_Alex you should give it a try… I have been playing with them and I’m coming up with so many interesting things you can do with them… and none of it is earrings lol
@@netamorton4832 oh yay 😀 I’m so glad you’re here!!! And thank you so much you’re too sweet. I just want to share my art and help others appreciate and love clay as much as I do.
@@robbieseibert1281 they are glass cabochons… you can either buy them already made eyes on Etsy or Amazon or you can buy clear flat glass beads (plain glass cabochons) and paint the eyes on yourself. I do both. It really depends on the look you’re going for… fun fact about using the glass cabochons eyes, they follow you and maintain eye contact wherever you go when you’re looking at them lol 😊
She's adorable. Little girls everywhere will want one. I'm sure my grand daughter will. She had a Unicorn 3rd birthday party last January. I'm ok hun. Hope you and yours are too. I've been making lots of earrings LOL xxx
@@corinnerichardson9093 aww thanks 😊 well you should try this watermelon cane. It would make adorable earrings for little girls to love. Happy claying my friend
Hello Jessi, I ran across your channel by just entering clay in youtube, i was looking for a different "type" of clay. Let me start off by saying: We as im sure others feel/felt the same as you by stating IM AN ARTIST, I started in art at age 9, & have not put it down since, as i got older (20's) I had to make a living...art was not doing it. So I took corporate america jobs (hated it but was good at it, made good money) BUT...my heart was still in art. I started to look into Jobs that would hire artists, this was before graphics-digital arts. Worked as a 3D parade float designer, painted large murals for people & businesses, made good money while those jobs lasted. Then started making unique yard art, on & on. But this still was not paying my bills because of its temporary-sporadic nature. Then graphics-digital art came about, it was quick & fast, this is what the world wanted, not a painter, creator of all sorts of mediums, but not having a degree in Art put me at the end of the line as I found out because people wanted a degreed artist so I went to school 4 years & tried to learn graphics I hated it but stuck it out & graduated, even though the institution i went to failed to provide us students the education we were paying for. Now I owe this huge amount for a worthless degree, which I will never pay for something I didn't get. Anyway my instructors saw that I had an exceptional ability to illustrate & the style is called "photorealism", they had said I should move to New York that I could definitely get a job in art retouching of the masters works that there was a demand for it. (Nope I never did), I dont know if its an artists thing or not, but I just didnt have enough confidence in myself that I could do it even though I have (as im sure you have) people whooing & ahhhing over your work. Most people just dont want to pay unknown artists for their art, & they want to know more about the artist & whats the piece called, how did you come up with that name, describe the brush strokes...blah blah blah.. BUT.... if your works in a gallery, they'll pay good money for it. I guess my point is this: All an artist needs is to just get a few followers with deep pockets (of course) that just love your work & only want your type-style of work, once you've got that your in. Another sure fire way to make it big is to get a gallery to carry your work. Marketing-advertising is a MUST at all times along with all this. * Create yourself a website, have some business cards (that are eye catching) so it's not just thrown in a drawer along with all the other business cards. A really good craft show to attend is in Canton, Texas its one of the largest around massive amount of foot traffic, you can camp out there if you have an RV & and there's lodging nearby, you dont have to have a tax ID#, vendors take cash only, & some take credit cards. www.firstmondaycanton.com/frequently-asked-questions Having confidence in yourself, being able to take criticism (they call it critiquing in the art world) in art school its a part of its curriculum to teach one to know how to take it, learn from it & improve. Having a portfolio on hand to take with you (good quality professional looking photos of your work, ready & available to show) Also everything you make always keep one for yourself (to have as inventory to show, but not for sale.) You'll have to make another one for sale. I'm sure you've created pieces just as I have that you just thought looked like yuk, well....people are people what we may not like others love. I've sold things to my standards that were not finished. Dont throw away anything....show it. Bottom line: Dont lose face, keep following your God given talent, keep producing, try different things, keep getting out there amongst art buyers & start to know some established degreed artists most are happy to share what they know & did to get where there at. It's a constant ever changing evolving thing to be an artist, you have to create things that people WANT, not what we like or want, so I had to incorporate my life like illustrations/paintings with a twist, something totally different & unique that no one else has & once it starts selling.....GET IT COPYRIGHTED immediately. A tip for you if you dont already know it...to save you lots of money on copyrights, you can do what's called a "poor mans copyright" (look it up) Hope this helps...
@@streetsmartintelligent thank you so much. This was so informative and I have done hours and hours of research on “how to be a successful artist” and stuff like that but this comment has more AND BETTER info in it than the articles I found online and the videos I’ve watched. I truly appreciate your openness and honesty. This gives me hope and a jumping off point. I am grateful for you taking the time to share this with me. Thanks again and I hope you have an amazing day
@clayalongcreations You're very welcome & I appreciate the compliment.... I've learned A L O T from age 20 to now 65!! Feel free to reach out anytime & keep on truckin...
The painting of the canvas, (if that what it was) was very good .❤ What kept the polymer clay secure before you baked it? Also where did you find this tan looking clay, what's it called?
@@streetsmartintelligent yes it’s an acrylic painting and if you blend the clay to the canvas it pretty much adheres and stays nicely but using a small amount of bakeable medium under the clay can add a little extra security And the clay I’m using is called super sculpey. You can get it by the pound online from Amazon or any craft store. It is the best and most professional clay to work with in my opinion.
@@IndieAnnieJones1 oh great 😊 I’m so glad you’re here!!! There’s tons of easy beginner friendly projects great for learning here. Enjoy and happy claying
