Whether for a school project, play, or hobby, clay is a popular medium for expressing our artistic side. We have always been fond of clay dough as childhood toys that we could mold in unlimited ways. However, if you prefer your clay artworks to be more permanent and durable, air dry clays are the better material.
Hobbyists and skilled artists love air dry clays because they can be used to craft various projects, from trinket dishes to jewelry and figurines. The best part? They only need air exposure to harden – no kiln or oven-baking needed. Now, if you can't wait to get your hands on them, we'll help you pick the best ones from brands like Jovi, and we've also prepared a buying guide to aid you in your purchase.
Quick List - Top Air Dry Clays
Das
Features a Smooth, Even Texture That Even Beginners Wouldn’t Struggle With
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Table of Contents
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Air dry clays can be classified as either paper-based or resin-based. Both types are easy to mold, even to kids and people with a loose grip, because of their sponge-like texture. Hence, choosing will all boil down to your purpose, preference, and budget.
Since paper-based air dry clays are affordable, they are more preferred when doing larger crafts. Upon opening, they are easier to manipulate, and when pulled apart, they resemble cotton candy or a gooey marshmallow freshly out of the campfire. When dried, they become hard but remain lightweight.
Resin-based air dry clays, also known as porcelain-based, are more expensive as they produce denser projects almost similar to polymer ones. Like paper-based ones, they are relatively easy to shape as wellーthink of a chewy caramel when breaking them off. Since they become like plastic when dried, they are ideal for creating small decorative pieces, like miniatures, trinkets, and clay jewelry.
Initially, air dry clays come in neutral, earth colors, including white, gray, or brown, and it is up to you if you'll stick with them or paint them with bright-hued dyes once dried. However, many manufacturers nowadays offer air dry clays in sets of different colors, with mellow pastels and eye-popping shades.
Remember that whatever your choice is, always have a clear vision of the final output and stick to that. No matter how many color sets you have, the clay art's beauty depends on your interpretation and artistic expression.
There is one caution for air dry clays: they easily dry once opened or left uncovered. Thus, with this in mind, it is crucial not to expose your clay to even little air unless you are already drying up your finished product. To do that, you have to envision your craft's size and estimate how much clay you need, so there will not be too much excess.
Should you allot an extra amount of air dry clay to avoid the hassle when you run out, make sure to secure them in an airtight container or zip-lock plastics, then press and release the air inside. They will still be usable, but it would take extra effort to mold them.
Although airdry clays start to dry as soon as they're exposed to air, they may take some time to set fully. Some air dry clays claim to have the ability to dry as fast as 6 hours, while some may take more than 24 hours. However, do note that the actual drying time will still depend on the thickness of your project.
Another thing to consider is the clay's paintability. Most clay projects do not end with sculpting. After the clay has dried, you have to sand, gloss, and eventually paint it. Thus, it is best to check whether the clay you're buying is safe to paint. Be sure to confirm what types of paint are safe to use as well.
You can craft air dry clays into limitless designs, but you'll need tools like rollers and shaping tools to do that. These tools are convenient if you're not that used to using your hands when kneading and molding. Thankfully, some sellers air dry clays with included tools like these.
Some air dry clays even come with free shapers and patterns to aid you in making intricate designs without any difficulty. These molders add more artistic value to the artwork without additional time and effort. Whether large or tiny crafts, they can surely come in useful. As they say, great items include something extra!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jovi Air Dry Clay | ![]() | Non-staining Earth-Colored Clays That Are Also Easy to Knead and Shape | |
2 | Mont Marte Air Hardening Clay | ![]() | A Slow-Drying Clay Ideal for Sculpting and Pottery | |
3 | Das Modeling Air Drying Clay | ![]() | Features a Smooth, Even Texture That Even Beginners Wouldn’t Struggle With | |
4 | Focus Air Hardened Clay | ![]() | Has Fibers for Added Strength Perfect for Model Figurines | |
5 | Hearty Super Lightweight Modeling Clay | ![]() | Super Lightweight Clay Ideal for Creating Delicate Objects and Intricate Jewelry | |
6 | Padico La Doll|Air Dry Stone Clay | ![]() | Extremely Pliable Air Dry Stone Clay Best for Fine Detail Work | |
7 | Sakura Air Dry Clay | ![]() | Extremely Light Paper-Based Clay That You Can Mold Into Almost Any Object | |
8 | Hulma Air Dry Clay | ![]() | Comes in a Wide Range of Colors for All Kinds of Project | |
9 | Flynntastic Air Dry Clay|Classic | ![]() | Cold Porcelain Clays That Come in a Palette of Colors and Are Safe for Kids | |
10 | Super Lightweight Air Dry Clay | ![]() | Bulk Air Dry Clay That’ll Last for Your Future Projects |
Jovi has been a leading Spanish art product manufacturing company for over 70 years; hence they are trusted by many clay artists. This air dry clay is of premium quality, so you can be assured that it possesses a soft texture that is easy to work with, regardless if you're a total beginner or an experienced one.
Another thing you'll love about it is that it does not stick or leave a stain on the hands, which means more comfortable molding and kneading. Although limited to three natural colors: white, gray, and terracotta, no worries, since it can be painted with your desired color. You can also apply varnish to it for a glossy finish.
This air dry clay from Mont Marte is perfectly suited for clay carving and sculpting that requires fine detailing and several refinements. This is because it is slow-drying, which allows you to take your time and refine your detailed masterpieces longer than usual.
It is heavy-bodied but has an evenly fine texture, and with enough kneading, it becomes soft and malleable. It comes in white and terracotta colors, but you can apply colored paints, varnish, and other decorative materials to make it lively and glossy. You can also drill, stamp, and use pottery techniques and tools to mold your finished artworks.
If you're a total beginner with air dry clay crafting, you'll love this one by Das. It features a pliable, smooth, and even texture that allows you to shape and mold intricate details easily. You can use it to create sculptures, dolls, jewelry beads, and even trinket dishes for your jewelry.
It has a drying time of about 24 hours, but it's all worth the wait. Once fully solid, the clay concludes in a crack-resistant, smooth surface that can be painted straight even without sanding. You can finish it off with acrylic paints, and art markers without a worry, as it absorbs them well.
If you need an air dry clay that is perfect for creating sturdier projects, like figurines and decorative plates, Focus Air Hardened clay might be ideal. This clay is not like your usual ones. It is formulated with added fiber to ensure you create projects that are more sturdy, durable, and resistant to cracking once dried.
You can also paint this clay with varnish to further strengthen your project to make it water-resistant and give it a ceramic-like glossy finish. Whether you're a budding hobbyist or a skilled crafter, you'll surely have a great time working with this, too, as it is very easy to mold and clean. It also adheres well to other materials.
Want to try your hand at crafting little embellishments? You can never go wrong with this air dry clay! Since it's super lightweight and malleable, it is effortless to work with, especially when you're crafting delicate objects like jewelry, miniatures, charms, and even tiny magnets.
You would also totally love working with it, as it is odorless and does not stick to your fingers. It also adheres well to wood, glass, wire, paper, and plastic materials. In terms of drying time, it can settle into a flexible yet firm consistency within 24 hours. It is also safe to paint with acrylic or oil paint and be sealed with lacquer or gloss!
For the experienced ones who are moving on to more complex projects, this air dry clay by LA Doll is an excellent choice. Formulated with highly refined pumice, talc, and paper pulp with binders, it is highly pliable, and you can work with it for an extended time; simply keep it moist so it doesn't harden!
Aside from that, it adheres to any core material, including wire mesh, paper, glass, wood, styrofoam, and even rigid wrap. And unlike other ones, this clay dries with little to no shrinkage. Once dried, you can even carve and drill it. Thus, it's perfect for creating fine detail work required in dioramas, figurines, miniature houses, and even dolls.
If you want an extremely lightweight and versatile one, Sakura offers an air dry clay that weighs only 12.5% of the typical paper clay when wet and only 5% upon drying! Hence, its softer and smoother texture makes it more manageable to shape into different objects. And once dried, it sticks well to a plastic or glass surface.
In terms of color, although it only comes in white, you can add drops of watercolor or poster paint to it, then knead it before molding it into your desired figure. Once dried, you can enhance the design by applying acrylic paints or water-based markers. It does not leave your hands a sticky feel, tooーa product worth considering!
Whether you're working on little charms, earrings, keychains, or sculptures, this air dry clay by Hulma can come in handy. Coming in a wide range of colors, you can use it for all kinds of projects. But since it's a cold porcelain type of clay that dries to a lightweight and rubber-like texture, it's best for creating charms and miniature sculptures.
If you have an artistic little one, you can also bond over this medium, as it is non-toxic and made of food-grade ingredients, making it safe for kids. Even their little hands won't have difficulty working with it because it is soft and does not require pre-conditioning. As a bonus, it also has a fruity melon scent!
This air dry clay by Flynntastic is another good choice if you're working on several projects or crafting something that requires different hues since it comes in a broad palette of colors, from neutrals to bright ones. Like other air-hardening clays, it doesn't need baking to dry; simply put it at room temperature, and it can harden in as fast as 6 hours.
After curing and when it's time to finalize, this clay can be painted with acrylic paints or even watercolor to achieve your desired design and finish. More than that, this can also be a suitable option if you're looking for a clay that you can introduce to your child because it's non-toxic and safe for kids at least five years of age.
If you are fond of stocking art products for future use, this light air dry clay is for you! With proper sealing and storage, its shelf life can last up to three years and will remain pliable. You can build various figures with it without worrying about hazardous substances, as it is toxic-free!
It is grease-free as well, allowing you to knead and mold it comfortably. Moreover, it is available in different colors, including green, yellow, red, blue, black, and white. Despite its affordable price, it comes in a large block, so it is very cost-efficient.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Since air dry clays start to dry as soon as they're exposed to air, they can harden although still unused. To avoid this, proper storage is crucial. It is best to store your air dry clays in a zip-lock bag or an airtight container where air cannot pass. You can also wrap them with a cling wrap before storing them in a secured lunchbox.
Air dry clays can resist a certain heat level, but not high temperatures. Remember, they are not designed to be heated or baked, unlike traditional clays. But if your purpose is to create heat-resistant projects, you can apply some sealants that may help.
Cracking in air dry clay is typically caused by shrinkage or using too much water. If your project is too thin, this can also happen. To avoid this, you have to ensure that you dry all sides of your clay simultaneously. You can use cooling racks to enhance the airflow. If you notice cracks midway, repair them right away, too, before the clay completely dries.
Relieve yourselves from dull quarantine moments and replace them with productive, colorful activities to produce visual artworks. Who knows? This can be a source of extra income for you or fund-raising activity to help less privileged people!
Author: Roel Pillas Malubay
Re-editor: R. Victoriano
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Jovi |Air Dry Clay
No. 2: Mont Marte|Air Hardening Clay
No. 3: Das|Modeling Air Drying Clay
No. 4: Focus|Air Hardened Clay
No. 5: Hearty |Super Lightweight Modeling Clay
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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