Today I tried the Jovi Air Dry Clay. As the name reveals, it is a clay that dries without the use of an oven or any other curing equipment. Air drying clays can be beneficial for smaller projects or for those who wish to produce figures with a clay-like quality to them, without having to invest in or procure a kiln. Even compared to polymer clays and its likes, it holds the upper hand in those fewer necessary steps required from opening the package to having a cured and finished piece.
Air drying clays can, however, also offer some challenges depending on the makeup and core constituents of the mass. Jovi Air Dry Clay follows a popular formula found among air drying clays, namely a plant based one. Jovi’s website does not state this exclusively, but a prior safety regulation report shows this to be the case (← click to see the report)
As seen in the constituents list, cellulose and thickeners are two main components.
Clays using the aforementioned formula are good in that they are non-toxic and once dry, the clay becomes very solid, even harder than papier-mâché! One downside, on the other hand, is that these types of formulas make for a clay that is more difficult to work with if the maker is more used to tractable and flexible clays such as polymer, ceramic clay, super sculpey, or similar. Cellulose, the main component in Jovi’s clay, is a fibre. Fibres tend to stick together, which is ideal for the end-product. Depending on one’s technique, however, it can become difficult to work with when still wet. This is a type of clay where removing and reapplying pieces is not easy, as the fibres tend to want to stick together and not merge.
Jovi’s clay outside the package. As can be seen in the picture above, the surface tends to crack once shaped. The cracks are not easily smoothed over. The best way to smooth and tend to the surface, is applying water. When working, I used a spray bottle and applied frequent and plentiful amounts of water. Water is not only useful for working with the surface, but also when working with small details.
This was the first attempt to making a head. In the first try I wanted to make the head hollow. I used a pinching technique with my thumb placed inside the lump and pinching it until the walls became thin. Then I shaped the back of the head by gently patting it with my hand or a ruler. This technique did not work with this clay, however, as the structural integrity of the clay made it near-impossible to keep the head in the same shape while hollow. This meant I had to scratch the idea and start over with a new design.
This is the final result of my trial. Once I worked with the clay in a solid state, it performed much better. I was able to shape a basic head and give it facial features. The process required some patience and frequent sprays of water. I was surprised at how satisfied I was at the result, as working with this type of clay can feel very laborious and not always rewarding – especially when making detailed objects. Compared to other plant based clays, this felt slightly easier to work with. I found that metal tools worked best with Jovi’s clay.
I am not sure if I would use this clay again. While being happy with the result, the process felt messy and compared to other clays, there were some aspects to be desired. I could, however, see myself making larger pieces with less detail using this clay. For now, I will give this doll’s head a post-cured treatment using a knife for removing protrusions and things alike, followed by evening paste (if needed), and paint.