The ‘Skinner Mix’ is among the fundamental constructing blocks of polymer clay methods. Named after the polymer clay artist Judith Skinner, it makes use of a pasta machine to create a easily gradiated mix of two or extra colors. The steps beneath show easy methods to create a fundamental Skinner mix.

You have to:

Step 1

Create a sheet of purple clay on the thickest setting of your pasta machine after which trim it right into a triangle form. Do the identical with the white clay. Be part of the 2 triangles collectively to create a rectangle or sq.. The width of the oblong sheet ought to measure roughly the identical because the width of the rollers of your pasta machine (e.g. if the rollers are 16cm huge, the sheet needs to be 14cm to 16cm huge).

Observe – It is necessary that the rectangle needs to be roughly as huge as your pasta machine’s rollers as a result of the clay will naturally unfold sideways as it’s rolled out. Beginning with a a lot smaller width signifies that the outcome will likely be very unpredictable.

Step 2

Ship the clay sheet by your pasta machine on the thickest setting.

Step 3

When the clay sheet comes out of the underside of the pasta machine, fold the sheet in order that the underside edge meets the highest edge. Then with the folded finish going into the pasta machine first, ship this sheet again by the pasta machine.

Every time the sheet comes out of the pasta machine, fold the underside edge up so it meets the highest edge after which ship it again by the pasta machine. Observe: The sheet ought to all the time be folded backside to prime (not aspect to aspect), and may all the time be despatched by the pasta machine with the folded finish going by first. The photographs beneath present the folded clay sheet going by the pasta machine, and the colors being steadily combined.

Tip: To hurry up the method, after the fourth cross by the pasta machine strive altering the machine’s settings in order that the sheet is rolled by on a thinner setting, and stick with it folding and rolling as earlier than.

Simply preserve folding and rolling the sheet till you might be completely happy that the colors have been correctly combined. This normally takes between twenty and thirty passes by the pasta machine.

The tip result’s an exquisite blended sheet of clay prepared to be used along with your undertaking.

Kay Vincent – December 2011

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