How to Dry Non‐Hardening Modeling Clay

Co-authored by Natasha Dikareva, MFA and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: December 1, 2022 References

Non-hardening modeling clay won’t dry out when you leave it exposed to the air, which makes it great for reuse. However, if you make something really cool out of clay, you might be wondering how you can preserve it forever. If you are working with polymer clay, you can harden up your sculpture to preserve it for life. Unfortunately, if you are working with plasticine or other oil-based clay, you won’t be able to harden it.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing Your Sculptures

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Check the package for the baking temperature, then preheat your oven. Every brand of polymer clay is slightly different, so double check what yours says before you turn on your oven. Usually, the temperature is between 220 and 300 °F (104 and 149 °C).^{[1]
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- If you don’t have the original packaging for your clay, look up the manufacturer's website to find the right temperature.
- Unfortunately, polymer clay and plasticine clay look and feel almost identical. If you aren’t sure which one you have, don’t try to bake your clay in the oven. Plasticine clay will melt and could start a fire.^{[2]
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Tip: Different colors of polymer clay can also have different baking times. If you are baking multiple colors at one time, use the average temperature between the 2 by adding the temperatures together and then dividing the sum by 2.
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Place your sculpture onto a piece of parchment paper. Polymer clay can stick to baking sheets, so it’s important to put a small layer of protection in between them. Cut out a small square of parchment paper and set it underneath your sculpture.^{[3]
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- If you are baking more than 1 sculpture at a time, give each one their own piece of parchment paper to keep them separated.
- Try not to use aluminum foil to bake your clay with, as the foil can heat up in the oven and scorch your sculptures.^{[4]
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Set your sculpture in the center of a baking tray. Polymer clay won’t expand when it’s heated up, so you can put as many sculptures on a baking sheet as you’d like. Make sure they aren’t touching each other, and try to center them as much as possible.^{[5]
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- Centering your sculptures will ensure that each one gets an even amount of heat.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Baking the Clay

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Place the baking tray on the center rack of your oven. The center of your oven gets the most even amount of heat to ensure that your clay won’t get burned. Make sure the rack is in the exact middle of your oven and situate your baking tray in the center of it.^{[6]
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- If you have to choose between the top and bottom rack, go for the bottom one. This will keep your clay away from the heating element so it’s less likely to get burned.
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Bake your sculpture for the amount of time indicated on the package. Just like the temperature range, each package of polymer clay has its own time frame that you should bake it for. Look on your package and set a timer on your oven or your phone so you don’t forget about it.^{[7]
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- The bake time may also depend on the thickness of your clay. Generally, the baking time is for a sculpture that’s ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm) thick, so you may need to add on more time if yours is thicker.
- For example, if your sculpture is ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) thick and your bake time is 15 minutes, you’d multiply 15 by 2 to get 30 minutes.
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Take your sculptures out and wrap them in a kitchen towel. Use an oven mitt to grab your baking tray out of the oven and set it on your stove. Grab your sculptures and immediately wrap them in a kitchen towel to slow down the cooling process so they don’t crack.^{[8]
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- You can also turn off your oven and leave your sculptures in there to cool down instead.
Warning: Use caution, as your sculptures will be super hot.
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Wait 10 to 20 minutes for your sculptures to cool completely. Try not to handle your sculptures until they are completely cool to avoid cracking them. Once they’re finished, you can add a glaze, paint on a decoration, or leave them as they are!^{[9]
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- Once you bake polymer clay, you won’t be able to rehydrate it again.

References

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When I'm making clay figures, how do I keep the limbs and heads from falling off?

Natasha Dikareva, MFA
Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor
Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College.

Natasha Dikareva, MFA

Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor

Expert Answer

I work from the bottom up so you have to wait a little bit between the layers. That way by the time I come to the head, which is usually the last part applied, the body is pretty sturdy. Then the head will not fall. You could also make some supports. For example, if your limbs are sticking out, then you can create a support either out of blocks of clay, which will support the part so it will not fall down, or you use sticks and make sure the support is sturdy enough so it will not fall down.

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What have been some of the ways you've been able to get people interested in purchasing your work?

Natasha Dikareva, MFA
Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor
Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College.

Natasha Dikareva, MFA

Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor

Expert Answer

If you see a person who is really interested, just have a nice conversation with them, so they can find out who you are. Then they fall in love not only with your work, but with your personality. When they have a piece of yours, they have a memory of who the artist is. That's very important for people who buy my art. We have a connection on a personal level.

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Warnings

Never bake plasticine or oil-based clay in the oven. Unfortunately, it will probably melt into a puddle, and it could even catch your oven on fire.^{[10]
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