Last Updated: June 2026
Welcome to my favorite little corner of the studio! These are the tools that help turn blobs of clay into characters, blank surfaces into color, and simple ideas into something a bit magical. From trusty clays to paint and markers that add the final spark, these are the supplies that make creating feel like play.
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| Paint
Clays & Sculpting Materials
If you’re working on sculptures, mixed media pieces, or craft projects, the type of clay you choose makes a big difference in how your project turns out. Some are better for beginners, while others are made for strength, detail, or finishing work.
Here are the sculpting materials I actually use and why.
🥇 Apoxie Sculpt
⭐ Best for strong, durable sculptures and detailed work
Apoxie Sculpt is my go-to when I want something that will actually hold up over time. It’s a two-part sculpting compound that air cures into a very hard, stone-like finish.
Why I use it:
- Holds fine detail really well
- Cures extremely strong
- Great for mixed media projects and repairs
- Sands, paints, and drills easily once cured
Best for:
- Detailed sculptures
- Repairing or reinforcing pieces
- Projects that need durability
🥈 DAS Air Dry Clay
⭐ Best beginner-friendly clay for simple sculpting
DAS is one of the easiest clays to work with if you’re just getting started. It air dries without needing an oven, which makes it very approachable for quick projects.
Why I use it:
- No oven needed
- Smooth and easy to shape
- Great for larger, simple forms
- Affordable and widely available
Best for:
- Beginners
- Practice sculpting
- Larger, simple shapes or base forms
🥉 Sculpey Polymer Clay
⭐ Best for small, detailed baked clay projects
Sculpey is a polymer clay that needs to be baked to harden. It’s great when I’m working on smaller pieces where I want control and detail.
Why I use it:
- Holds detail well
- Stays soft until baked
- Great for small figures and accents
- Comes in many colors
Best for:
- Small sculptures
- Detailed accents
- Jewelry or miniatures
Quick Guide: Which Clay Should You Choose?
Want something strong and permanent → Apoxie Sculpt
Want something easy and beginner-friendly → DAS Clay
Want small detailed baked pieces → Sculpey
Paints & Paint Markers
Finishing a sculpture or craft piece is where everything comes together. The right paint or marker can completely change the final look whether you want smooth coverage, bold color, or clean detail work.
These are the paints and markers I actually use in my projects and what I recommend them for.
🥇 Acrylic Paint (my goto is CraftSmart)
⭐ Best all-purpose paint for most projects
Acrylic paint is the foundation of most of my work. It’s versatile, easy to use, and works on a wide range of surfaces including clay, wood, and mixed media pieces.
Why I use it:
- Works on almost any surface
- Easy to layer and build color
- Dries relatively fast
- Great base for larger projects
Best for:
- Base coating sculptures
- Background colors
- Layered painting and blending
🥈 Acrylic Paint Pens / Paint Markers
⭐ Best for clean details and controlled lines
Paint markers are what I reach for when I want precision without dealing with brushes. They’re especially helpful for adding small details or clean highlights.
Why I use them:
- Very controlled application
- Great for fine details and outlines
- Less mess than brushes
- Works well over dried paint or clay
Best for:
- Eyes, outlines, and small accents
- Clean graphic details
- Finishing touches on sculptures
🥉 Oil-Based Paint Markers (Sharpie is my favorite)
⭐ Best for bold, opaque finishes on almost any surface
These markers are more intense and opaque than standard acrylic paint pens. I like using them when I want strong color payoff and smooth coverage.
Why I use them:
- Very bold, solid color
- Works on difficult surfaces (plastic, clay, mixed media)
- Smooth ink flow
- Great for finishing details that need to stand out
Best for:
- Final detailing work
- Bold accents and highlights
- Mixed media finishing touches
🎨 Oil Paint
⭐ Best for rich blending and slow, flexible working time
Oil paint is really fun to work with and blends very easily, making it great for smooth transitions and more painterly effects. One downside is that it’s harder to clean up since it requires special cleaning agents like mineral spirits or other solvents. It also takes a long time to dry, but that can actually be a benefit because it lets you keep working and refining the same area the next day.
Why I use it:
- Easy to blend and manipulate
- Great for smooth gradients and rich color mixing
- Long drying time allows for extended work sessions
Best for:
- Blended backgrounds
- Layered, detailed painting
- Work that benefits from slow refinement
Quick Guide: Which Paint Should You Use?
Need an all-purpose base → Acrylic Paint
Need clean detail work → Paint Pens / Markers
Need bold, opaque finishing → Oil-Based Paint Markers
Need rich blending + extended working time → Oil Paint