Polymer clay first came to popularity in the hands of doll and miniature
makers, and it remains a favorite. In fact, the rise in its use for model
makers, jewelry artists, animators, collage and sculptural works of many
kinds continues to put this wonderfully versatile clay into the reach of
more and more artisans all the time.
Kato Polyclay is one of the newer formulations, joining Premo, Cernit,
Modello, Sculpey and Fimo along with other brand names from manufacturers
around the world. Kato Polyclay and Premo have given the strongest results
in our testing, which is ongoing because formulations and products do change
over time, sometimes with notice from the makers, and sometimes quietly.
Products need to be re-evaluated now and again to check for continuing
chemical compatibility.
A good example of this is that spray finishes were widely believed to
all be unusable with polymer clays because of the propellants---but experiments
have shown that some are indeed usable with no ill effects showing after
two and a half years.
One such spray finish is the Rust-Oleum Varathane
water based formula. The liquid version is a mainstay in our studio, used
as a protective sealant coating, a glue, and the basis for stains.
Stain made using it to dilute black and gold acrylic paints was used
on the faux wood portions of this miniature bedroom set. It really brings
out the details and contributes to the "antiqued" look.
Created in "fashion doll scale",
where 1 foot in real life size becomes two inches (1'=2"), this vanity
is about 12 inches tall. The bed is approximately
15 inches long. This is also refered to as 1/6 scale, where one doll inch
equals six human inches.
Kato Polyclay in white, translucent, gold and a smidgen of black was
used to create the faux marble tops on the vanity and the drawers---which
are made by covering small cardboard match boxes.
Each drawer is painted inside with gold Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS)
for strength and color.
The faux golden tone wood trim is made with a mix of gold and black
clay. Gold clay, with varying amounts of black or copper added, can mimic
wood tones of all sorts. The faux ivory/white wood details and leg pieces
are made using the rest of the clay left over from the original faux marble
mix, but now completely color blended.
The mirror, brush and comb set use gold clay, white clay and a small
mirror set into the clay (it is facing down and not visible in this picture).
The gold leaf finish is createdby using a Krylon Gold Leaf marking pen
after baking. This gold pen also forms the edge of the two miniature trays,
and is used on the handles and the cosmetic and manicure pieces.
It is available in gold and silver copper and metallic red, and though
it may not be durable enough for some jewelry purposes where there is a
lot of contact, it works beautifully for display pieces.
Carefully selected beads are used to create the perfume bottles. Small
glass, porcelain, metal, and plastic beads are chosen for their shapes
and colors, as well as size. These are glued together with Zap-a-Gap cyanoacrylate
glue.
Here's a close up of the items on the vanity table.
To keep the scale in mind, the back of the hand mirror is a little over
an inch across.
To get the textures and patterns into the clay, I use molds made from
buttons, created using Miracle Mold RTV 2 part
silicone mold compound, and rubber stamps and matrix trays that I design
and get from Ready Stamps in San Diego. All of
the "molding" details are made using these trays, which were
created for use in making the rubber stamps. These particular designs are
formed using dingbats, as referenced in a previous
article here. There is more information about these products at my web
site, linked here and also listed at the end of this article.
Shown in the pan at right are baked and stained pieces ready
to be glued into place.
Much of the bed and vanity table and settee are made of illustration
board, silk, and fabric braid trims, and a purchased oval mirror. The rest
is polymer clay and some assorted beads.
The beads on skewers will become the legs of the vanity set--the legs
of the bed are gold, and were stamped and then draped over skewers for
baking, which were removed for ease in staining.
This fold will be slipped over the edges of the head and foot board.
The faux ivory feet are made using a button mold, and then poking a hole
in the center, as is done for bead caps.
The oval shape of the vanity trim was acquired by baking around a cardboard
cutout of the shape. This allows the piece to be easily fitted into place
when gluing. You can see how many of these components were put together
on the bed as shown here in the picture below right.
The bedroom set is not yet completely finished...but
its all coming right along!
The best way to achieve a realistically sumptuous look is to keep adding
more and more layers of detail.
Antique lace, like that on handkerchiefs are just the right scale to
use as bedding, giving the look of soft ivory linens.
The pillows shown here are not even sewn yet---but the fabric gives
it the right "look" already.
When all assembled, there will lots more in the way of details--- pictures
on the wall (and I'll have to add walls!) along with flowers in the vase,
candles, and everything that a Lilliputian lady could desire in her bitty
boudoir.
Eventually I will include the lady herself, and certainly there needs
to be a selection of beaded jewelry and accessories! A box of little necklaces,
some tiny earrings....they'll go with the bracelets you can already see
on the makeup tray.
Behind the headboard you can see the side of the vanity from another
angle. Zap-a-Gap super glue and high heat glue gun adhesives were both
used in making this---clay to clay adhesion is best with super glue. Fabric
and illustration board both do well with hot glues used carefully. Its
important to use several different glues, matching each to the materials
being affixed and the results desired. One kind does NOT fit all purposes!
These pieces will be part of a Miniature Bedroom how-to book
that is scheduled for release in 2008
click here for a page of links
to doll artists and supplies for making dolls and miniatures
click here for a page of links to books
about making dolls, miniatures, costumes and accessories
More information about the products used in this
article can be found at:
http://www.polyclay.com/varathane.htm
http://www.polyclay.com/molds.htm
http://www.polyclay.com/ready.htm
http://www.polyclay.com/dingbats.htm
http://www.prairiecraft.com
http://www.sculpey.com
