Sometimes I also lose patience with my air dry clay projects. We are in 2026 and this god damn piece takes days to dry. How unfair that is. We have so many sh*ts going on in our lives, we need to find a way to make it dry faster so we can paint faster or we need to find a way to paint before it actually dries.

But let me tell you. We are not that advanced yet. I’ll tell you exactly what happens when you paint air dry clay before it dries and why you will never do or even think about that again. Lol. 😅

Can you paint air dry clay while wet?

Never ever paint air dry clay while wet, because your paint will peel, crack, and flake off. Excess moisture in the paint will weaken the clay and create a mushy core, increase the drying time, and make the paint not stick properly. It will actually become a mess totally.

Now you’re wondering that won’t happen if I use acrylic paints, right? Nah, actually I was talking about acrylics, which are considered the best paint for air dry clay. Other ones are even worse for wet air dry clay.

Basically, you should not even think of painting wet air dry clay. Your project will be ruined.

Still don’t listen. Ok, wait! I’ll explain in detail.

What actually happens if you paint wet air dry clay?

Based on my experience after making a lot of trinket trays and a few home decor items with air dry clay, I never apply paint over wet clay because here is what happens if you do,

The paint will start to crack

As we know air dry clay is a highly porous material with a lot of moisture inside. When the clay is drying, the water inside will start to evaporate to the outside air.

But what if we block the doors that water evaporates from air dry clay using paint while the clay is wet? That’s when the problem occurs.

Do you really think water stays trapped inside and won’t even try to release to the air? Nah, water is a fighter. Because of the low moisture content of the air compared to the wet air dry clay inside, water will try to evaporate and release one way or another to the air.

Finally, due to the increasing pressure from the moisture inside, moisture will crack the paint layer you applied over wet clay and release to the air through the cracks.

Warping of clay

When you apply paint over wet clay, the moisture of that paint will absorb into the clay and increase the moisture amount of the clay. So when the clay is drying after you paint it, the area you painted while it was wet dries much slower because of the high moisture concentration inside.

Areas that aren’t painted dry and shrink faster, while painted areas dry and shrink more slowly, causing uneven shrinkage. This uneven shrinkage builds up tension between the surfaces, which can cause your air dry clay piece to curl, which is known as warping.

The paint won’t stick properly

Wet clay does not stick to the paint like dried clay because moisture pushes the paint away, stopping it from sticking to the air dry clay layer outside.

Therefore, the paint will start to peel off, form bubbles, and flake.

You won’t get the nice and smooth look by painting over wet clay.

Actually, what’s the point of even doing that? Running your project?

Moisture trap inside and form mold and mildew

As I told you earlier, you basically block the moisture evaporation of air dry clay by putting paint over wet clay. This traps the moisture inside the clay, which is not good.

Trapped moisture will become a mushy core over time and it will start to rot from the inside out, forming molds and mildew on the clay.

Your air dry clay will smell so bad and look so ugly.

Increases drying time

Since you add more moisture to the clay by applying another wet material (wet paint) over already wet clay, it will take weeks to dry fully.

Plus, the drying time of your piece will increase because you block all the areas of air dry clay which work as doors to evaporate the moisture inside.

When the water evaporation happens much, much slower, the drying time also increases drastically.

Honestly, painting over wet clay is a foolish thing that can lead to many many issues you can’t even control.

The one and only method to color air dry clay while wet

Don’t try to paint the wet air dry clay after you finish shaping or sculpting it. Instead, color wet air dry clay while you’re kneading it, I mean before sculpting it.

Here’s how to do that,

1. Take a fresh piece of air dry clay from the package.
2. Add a few drops of acrylic paint in the middle of the clay piece.
3. Knead the clay piece so well using push and pull method until the clay becomes soft and the color spreads evenly across all the layers of the clay.
4. Now take the colored air dry clay piece for shaping, rolling or sculpting.

By doing this, you do not apply paint over the outside surface of the wet clay, you make the whole clay piece the same base color. The color pigments will mix with the clay and moisture inside without blocking moisture from evaporating.

No block for moisture evaporation means no issue.

But here you may have to use a lot of paint because you need to turn both the inside and the outside the same color. Plus, you’ll have to knead and attach air dry clay piece by piece when you want them in different colors.

Honestly, based on my experience, it is always better to wait until the clay is fully dried to start painting.

How to tell when your clay is 100% ready for paint

Usually I let my air dry clay projects 24-48 to dry completely. Here’s how I check whether my air dry clay project is completely dry before applying paint.

The color test

Wet Air dry clay surface has a grey color. When the clay is fully dry it will turn into an opaque white color.

After 48 hours I check for grey patches. If there’s any I’ll let the whole project dry for another 24 hours and check it again before applying paint over it.

The temperature test

If the clay is cold to touch the water is still evaporating. Once the clay is fully dry it is not cold to touch like before. That’s when you should move into the painting step. 🎨

Final thoughts

Now you exactly know why you should not rush while working with air dry clay. Let it dry fully before applying the paint. Applying paint over wet clay completely ruins your project.

Once the clay is fully dried, check the surface as I told and paint with acrylic. That’s how you do it! Cheers! 🤟🏾

But when it comes to the acrylic paint drying time of carved air dry clay textures, you need to be careful because you may get microcracks on the surface. Acrylic paint dries at different rates on carved air dry clay textures compared to smooth surfaces.

I experienced this when painting my latest pineapple trinket tray project because I carved diagonal lines to mimic the fruit’s natural appearance.

Let me tell you how I manage the drying time of acrylic paint in those recessed areas without ruining the finish and weakening the clay underneath.

I know, friends, this sounds difficult. But trust me, it’s not. I’m also a beginner air dry clay artist like you and able to get a nice and smooth finish with no issues with really simple techniques.

Let’s dig in!

Challenges of painting deep textures on air dry clay

As we already know, air dry clay absorbs moisture of the acrylic paint too quickly compared to other materials. 🎨

But not all the surfaces of air dry clay dry equally. Basically, flat, smooth and exposed acrylic paint on air dry clay surfaces dries faster than carved textured surfaces. 

If you did not handle this correctly when painting, you might have to face 3 challenges. They are:

Paint volume and drying rates

When you apply acrylic paints on air dry clay, they naturally flow into deep carvings and pools, forming a gummy texture. This means more acrylic gets collected in carved areas, forming a thick coat.

On the other hand, carved areas lack air circulation like smooth flat surfaces. Therefore, acrylic paint on those carved areas dries more slowly than the other areas. 

Usually I wait for acrylic paint to dry 1-1.5 hours before sealing the project. But during my pineapple trinket tray project, I had to wait for 2 hours because acrylic paint trapped inside those deep textured areas was not fully dry within a 1-hour period.

Micro cracks

Now we know acrylic paint traps differently on carved, deep textures compared to smooth, flat surfaces. 

In deep clay textures, more acrylic paint means more water inside. The top layer of acrylic paint dries first due to the evaporation of water. The bottom layers of acrylic paint dry slowly because there is no air circulation and water evaporation is blocked by the top dried layer. This causes tension between the layers of acrylic paint.

When this tension surpasses its limits, microcracks will start to form in your acrylic paint because moisture will find its route due to evaporation one way or another.

Chalky finish

Forming a chalky finish can happen even for smooth surfaces, not only for deep textures. As I told you earlier, due to high porous nature of air dry clay, it sucks out the water and all the binders inside acrylic paint too fast.

After all the moisture inside is gone, acrylic paint leaves just the raw, dry pigment sitting on the air dry clay surface without enough binder to keep it cohesive and vibrant. This results in a dull and chalky finish.

Why you should control the drying time

1. Preventing acrylic paint pooling in deep textures: Never apply too much acrylic paint on deep carved clay textures as you do on smooth flat surfaces. The thickness of the coat you apply on deep carved textures should be less than the thickness you apply on flat surfaces because the paint flows naturally, creating a thick coat. 
2. Avoiding uneven drying and cracking: Uneven drying and cracking happen due to uneven shrinkage of acrylic paint. So you need to make sure the moisture evaporation rates of all the acrylic paint layers in deep textures are almost the same, with no drastic difference that can form cracks.

I know you can’t get an equal drying rate everywhere, but you can try to control the difference. If the drying rate difference is too high, the cracks are more likely to form. That’s what I did.

How to manage acrylic paint drying times

Here I’m going to share with you guys my top strategies I followed when painting my pineapple trinket tray with lots of deep textures to achieve a nice and even finish everywhere with no gummy textures. Don’t worry, they are easy! Anyone can copy!

First, I made sure my pineapple trinket tray project was bone dry before applying acrylic paint. Applying paint on wet clay causes it to peel off.

Method 1: Apply thin, controlled base coats

There are two ways you can do this. One is applying a Gesso before painting your air dry clay project with acrylic paint. Another one is applying your first coat of acrylic paint as a primer. I followed the second way because I don’t have gesso or a dedicated primer to apply before acrylic paint.

I applied a thin and even coat of acrylic paint all over my pineapple trinket tray, covering all the smooth, flat areas and deep, carved areas. Used a flat paintbrush for flat areas and a thin, fine brush for the deep areas.

It’s like clearing the path before applying the paint on air dry clay.

Applying gesso or primer creates a smooth, non-absorbent barrier and helps acrylic paint layers to dry at their normal slower rate. No micro cracks and no bulky or chalky finish.

Method 2: Pre-seal the surface

Sealing the air dry clay surface before acrylic painting is also an ideal method to stop air dry clay from sucking the moisture from acrylic paint. 

A thin layer of sealer works as a barrier between the clay and paint. You can use gloss varnish, varnish or even nail polish as a sealer. Make sure to apply a thin and even coat.

It does not need to offer top-tier protection to the air dry clay. Its only task is to work as the middleman between the clay and acrylic layer.

Apply a proper sealer after painting the air dry clay project with acrylic for long-term protection.

The above two methods address the porosity of air dry clay and stop acrylic from drying instantly on contact.

Now let’s talk about methods you can control the drying time of acrylic.

Method 3: Use an acrylic retarder

Apply an acrylic retarder before applying the acrylic paint on air dry clay surface. Acrylic retarders slow down the drying time of acrylic paint. 

It gives enough time for acrylic paint to blend with air dry clay instead of drying instantly on porous clay.

Slow drying of acrylic paint means a better glossy finish.

Method 4: Control your environment

After applying acrylic paints on your air dry clay project, do not keep it under a fan or place it outside under sunlight or contact direct heat sources to avoid flash drying of air dry clay.

Air dry clay dries faster when the humidity in your area is low, so it’s better to keep the project in a controlled humidity room.

Method 5: Use a fine tip paintbrush for deeply carved textures

When applying acrylic paint over air dry clay, use a flat paintbrush for flat and smooth surfaces and a fine paintbrush for deeply carved clay textures for a thin and even coat.

Make sure not to let acrylic paint get trapped and collect inside those carved textures. Collected acrylic paint causes uneven shrinkage when drying, forming micro cracks.

I pushed paint over the geometric cuts of the pineapple leaves without filling them.

Method 6: Let it dry slowly for several days

After applying acrylic paint, usually let it dry for 1-1.5 hours before sealing. But if your air dry clay project contains deeply carved textures, let it dry for 2 or more hours. Those deeply textured areas take a lot of time to dry completely because of high acrylic paint concentration.

Apply a sealer and protect your air dry clay project for the long term once the paint is completely dry.

I apply gloss varnish as the sealer, which offers a glossy ceramic like finish. Or you can use UV resin, polyurethane or epoxy resin for a glossy like finish. ✨

How to fix thick, wet paint trapped in a deep cut?

If you notice a thick collection of acrylic paint is trapped in a deep cut of your air dry clay project, you can either remove the excess paint of it using a dry paintbrush carefully without spreading it out to the surrounding areas, or let it dry slowly for hours.

Never ever rush the drying process. 

If you can’t remove the excess paint using a dry brush, wait for the gummy like substance to completely dry. Yes, it may take hours, but that’s the punishment you get for applying acrylic paint too thick on deeply carved areas. 😂

Final thoughts

Now you know exactly how to manage the drying time of your acrylic paint, especially when there are deep cuts in your air dry clay projects. Fast drying can cause a lot of issues and you may end up with ugly, chalky and dull looking finish. 🖌️

Patience is the key to success when you’re working with air dry clay. It is porous and gets messy pretty quickly. So you need to be careful. 🧘

I’ll see you again with more useful beginner tips and techniques. Cheers! 👋

Since air dry clay is a porous material, wet paint tends to bleed across lines and colors start to muddy together.

As a beginner air dry clay artist, I have faced a lot of issues when painting my air dry clay projects.

For example, when I was painting my latest watermelon trinket tray project, I painted seeds separately and attached them later after painting the tray base because darker paints normally ruin the appeal of a lighter background. The same happened when I was painting the dark green strips around the light green tray rim. 🍉

I’ll explain to you in detail what methods you need to follow to get the best out of your painting job and to avoid making mistakes when combining darker colors with lighter ones.

Let’s dig in!

Can you paint air dry clay without sanding or a base coat?

Yes, you can paint air dry clay with no sanding or applying a base coat. The best example is me. ✨

I don’t sand with a fine grit sandpaper like many online gurus tell because most of the time, when sanding, the fine details you gave on your air dry clay project get ruined and erased.

I don’t want that to happen.

Plus, people recommend applying a primer like Gesso before painting air dry clay projects. I don’t do that as well because when you’re painting with acrylic paint, the first coat of it works just as well as a primer. It covers fingerprints, tiny imperfections, and rough edges.

Plus, acrylic does not cover the texture of the air dry clay surface like primer (Gesso) does. Texture is what makes air dry clay projects look unique and aesthetic.

But you have to be sure 100 percent about one thing. Your air dry clay project needs to be fully dried before you paint it. ⏳

After making the project you want, let it dry in the air in a well-ventilated cool area for about 48-72 hours before painting. This drying time can get longer if your project’s thickness is high or if the humidity is high in your area.

After about 72 hours, check if there are any grey patches on the clay, which are an indication that the clay is still wet. If the clay is pure white all around, you’re good to paint. ✅

Why do I use acrylic paint on air dry clay?

Acrylic paint is the best paint for air dry clay because it dries in the air, dries quickly, comes in vivid colors, makes a water-resistant coating and provides a glossy finish.

I directly apply acrylic paint on raw, dried air dry clay and achieve beautiful, vibrant results. It saves time and helps to keep the rustic, handmade charm. 🌟

Usually, I apply 2 coats of acrylic paint. The first one works as a base coat. It helps to cover all the fingerprints, small bumps, cracks, and porosity on the air dry clay surface and makes it smoother. Actually, it does what primer does even better because it provides color as well.

After applying the first coat of acrylic, I let it dry for 1 hour before applying another. From the second coat onwards, you’ll start to notice the shine on the surface. But don’t go for more than 3 coats of acrylic because the surface may get tacky and muddy.

Supplies for crisp painting

Use the supplies and methods to get crisp painting with ease. Don’t worry, it’s not hard. 😊

• Acrylic paints: Easier to use and give a vibrant finish.
• Flat Paintbrush: Use for blocking colors and to apply over a large surface like tray base and rim.
• Fine liner brush:  Use for detailing tasks like applying thin strips over an already painted surface or adding figure details like eyes, mouth, ears.

How to paint tiny, crisp details

If you have already painted your project and it is time for details, use a fine liner brush.

Acrylic paint straight from the tube or bottle is too thick. So, put a little on your paint palette and spread it.

Dampen the fine liner brush very slightly so the paint glides over the textured clay. 🖌️

You need high patience for detailing because there is no or very little room for errors. 

I detailed my watermelon trinket tray with dark green strips over the tray rim to make it more realistic. 🍉

Plus, I painted watermelon seeds separately because I didn’t want to ruin my bright pink tray base surface with black marks.

After painting, I attached them using PVA glue, which was easy.

In the watermelon tray, the line between the bright pink and yellowish green was drawn carefully with a fine brush. 

Freehand drawing is recommended because watermelon is an organic thing that does not have perfect straight lines.

How to layer colors on air dry clay

For painting in layers, use flat brushes. Use one brush per color. Start with lighter colors and then eventually go to the darker ones because it is easy to cover mistakes later of the lighter colors.

Let each layer you painted fully dry before applying another layer of different color over it to avoid forming muddy areas.

When I was painting my watermelon trinket tray project, first I painted the tray base middle and bottom areas with bright pink acrylic.

Next applied yellowish green to the top of the tray below the tray rim. 

I didn’t have green acrylic on hand, so I had to mix yellow and blue to get the slight green I wanted for this area. Mixed more yellow with a little blue to get the yellowish green color. 🎨

Then, as I told you earlier, the line between the yellowish green area and the tray base pink was drawn with a fine brush.

Finally, mixed around equal amounts of yellow and blue to color the top tray rim in green.

After the base painting part is done, yellow was mixed with more blue to get the dark green color for the strips on the tray rim.

I’m not an expert painter, but I like to do experiments with colors, and I advise you to do the same. Then, you’ll have the freedom to select and make the color you want.

Don’t worry about the colors you don’t have. Always try to mix several colors together and achieve your result.

Don’t forget to seal your clay art!

After painting with acrylic, let the project dry for 2 hours. Then you must apply a proper sealant to offer long-term protection and improve the glossy look. ✨

I apply gloss varnish to seal my air dry clay project. Gloss varnish protects the clay from water, which can weaken the clay if it gets inside. 💧

Or you can use UV resin, polyurethane or epoxy resin if you want a glassy like finish.

Gloss varnish dries in the air and is easier to apply. Let it dry and cure for 24 hours after application for maximum protection and look.

Final thoughts

Now you see you can achieve incredibly vibrant, distinct blocks of color without a white base coat underneath just by using acrylic paint properly.

If you do have a fine grit sandpaper and a primer like Gesso, I highly recommend you try them out and do the experiment yourself. Sometimes it is easier to get the knowledge by trying rather than listening to someone. 💡

If you are able to get better results with them, keep using them, but I’m telling you you can still get the same result just by applying acrylic. Keep the clay fully dry and super smooth before painting.

I’d love to see the air dry clay project you painted with acrylic. Be sure to tag @clayandmestudios in your projects. Cheers! 🤟🏾

We all love to give a nice eye pleasing look to our air dry clay projects. Some love ultra gloss, some love medium gloss, and some love matte. 

As a beginner air dry clay artist, the look of the final result we made for hours is so important to me because that’s what motivates me to do my next project. We do this for fun, right?

As of now, I have made 4 trinket tray projects and one koi fish pond with air dry clay and am able to give them all a glossy, ceramic-like finish, except one, which is my first project lol. I’ll tell you about that. It was funny.

Ok, enough chit chat. So, let me tell you what beginner friendly tips I follow to give my air dry clay projects a glossy and ceramic look I want.

Don’t worry, friend! No expert or guru here. I’m also a beginner like you and don’t like to follow hard methods, which makes the process boooring. Let’s go! 🎨

How I make air dry clay look like kiln-fired ceramic

As we know, air dry clay is one of the best clay types for beginners. It is easy to shape with a little bit of water and is budget-friendly. Most importantly, no kiln is needed like traditional ceramic clay and no baking is needed like polymer clay.

But what if I told you I know an easy way to get the ceramic look for my air dry clay projects? I can give a juicy-like ceramic finish to your air dry clay projects with no professional kiln, just by sealing the project so well.

If you do the sealing part correctly, you can get a glossy ceramic finish with ease. I’ve tried several methods and found my own way of achieving this after many trials and errors. Stay with me. I’ll show you.

What I’ve tried: the good, the bad, and the messy

I have tried to seal my air dry clay project with 3 types of sealers (one is not actually a sealer lol). They are gloss varnish, epoxy resin, and my wife’s nail polish. You know the worst one already, I think lol.

Let me tell you how I used them and how I picked the best one from them to achieve a glossy ceramic finish for my projects.

The quick fix: clear nail polish (why I stopped using it)

I used nail polish for sealing my first air dry clay trinket tray project. Actually, I forgot to buy a proper sealer before starting the project and ended up secretly sneaking into my wife’s cosmetic collection.

My wife still doesn’t know I used her nail polish for my trinket tray. I thought if nail polish can seal nails, why not air dry clay? But I was wrong! As a nail polish thief, I was not happy with that robbery because the result I gained with nail polish was awful.

My acrylic-painted trinket tray project started to peel off due to harsh solvents in nail polish and it started forming bubbles. It started yellowing, cracking, and reacting poorly with the acrylic paint.

The whole sealing process was ruined, and I kept in mind not to touch my wife’s things again lol. Never try nail polish as a sealer for your air dry clay project. Yes, it does seal and might be able to give the glossy look. But zero protection and no ceramic finish. So avoid that at any cost!

The heavy-duty option: epoxy resin

The next option is epoxy resin. I tried epoxy resin for sealing my air dry clay koi fish pond project and the result was amazing. So much better than I expected.

With epoxy resin, it gave a water effect to my koi fish pond and made a hard shell around the project. I’m 100 percent sure the project is completely waterproof because the sealer itself is so thick and no moisture can get inside.

Preparation is the hardest part when you seal with epoxy resin. You can’t just pour epoxy resin over your dried painted air dry clay project. Epoxy resin comes in 2 bottles which is known as two-part epoxy. One bottle contains epoxy and the other is its hardener.

First, you need to take a measuring cup and mix equal amounts from epoxy resin and hardener to it. Then mix them thoroughly. Now you can pour that mixture you made onto your air dry clay project for sealing.

With a paintbrush, spread out the epoxy resin you poured all over the surface without letting it form bubbles.

If bubbles were formed, the final look of your project will get ruined. Formed bubbles can be removed using a heat gun.

I poured 2-3 layers of epoxy resin. After sealing the project completely, let it dry and cure for 2-3 days or longer which depends on the thickness of the epoxy resin layer. 

Epoxy resin gives an ultra-shine, super smooth look to your air dry clay projects, but I doubt it’s like a ceramic finish, more like a glassy, hard-shell-like finish.

Because the preparation process itself is messy, and drying and curing take so much time, I kept in mind only to use epoxy resin when I want my air dry clay project to get that watery effect. It’s best if you’re planning to make a pond, pool, or lake or something. 

As beginners, we need a sealer that protects the air dry clay project long-term from moisture and, most importantly, gives a glossy ceramic-like finish with ease.

So, I kept researching until I heard about the GOAT: The glossy varnish.

My go-to choice: glossy varnish

Gloss varnish is one of the best sealers for air dry clay because it is so much easier to use, dries in the air, seals and water resist air dry clay projects, comes in vivid colors, needs little water for mixing, cures quicker, and most importantly gives a glossy ceramic-like finish.

Glossy varnish does not yellow and form bubbles like others. Because of the above reasons, gloss varnish is my favourite sealer for air dry clay.

If you apply it properly, you can easily get a brushstroke-free glossy finish with a ceramic look, with no kilning needed.

After epoxy resin which is messy, I tried glossy varnish first on my avocado trinket tray project and never looked back.

From there onwards, I used glossy varnish for sealing my papaya trinket tray project and strawberry trinket tray project. And I’m willing to use it for my future projects as well.

How to apply gloss varnish for a flawless, bubble-free finish

After painting your air dry clay project, let it dry fully before applying the sealer. I paint my projects with acrylic paints and let it dry for 1-2 hours before applying the gloss varnish as a sealer.

Once the project is dry completely, follow the steps below to apply the sealer properly,

Step 1: Pick the right brush

Use a soft-bristle brush to avoid leaving brush marks and to apply thin, even varnish layers on the clay surface.

Step 2: Add gloss varnish

Pour a little bit of gloss varnish all over the surface in drops. Don’t apply too many because a white cloudy thing can be formed.

Step 3: Apply the first coat

This is the base coat. Apply a thin and even thickness gloss varnish coat in one direction. Cover the whole area.

Step 4: Let it dry

After applying the first coat of gloss varnish, let it dry around 1 hour. After one hour, check the tackiness of the surface by touching it gently. 

If you feel any spot is cool, soft, or sticky, wait a bit longer before applying the second coat. The thickness of the coat and humidity can affect the drying time of gloss varnish.

Step 5: Apply more coats

I usually apply two coats of glossy varnish for my air dry clay projects. But you can even go for the 3rd coat. But make sure the previous coat is fully dried before applying another over the top. Apply thin and even coats along one direction. With the second coat, the shiny gloss will start to appear.

Step 6: Let it dry and cure

After applying 2-3 coats, let the project dry for 24 hours to dry and cure. Once the project is fully cured, you’ll start seeing the glossy ceramic-like finish on your beautiful air dry clay project.

Trust me, that’s the feeling that motivates you to make a new project.

You can’t get the ceramic finish if you applied only one coat. Go for 2 or a maximum of 3 coats for the ceramic-like finish.

Congratulations, guys and gals! Now you know how to apply gloss varnish properly to get the look you want.

3 pro tips to avoid brush strokes and bubbles

Let me share with you tips and tricks I follow to avoid forming brush marks and bubbles because they ruin the look of our beautiful piece.

Don’t overapply varnish

If you feel a particular spot is tacky while applying varnish, don’t apply another coat of varnish over it. Applying a fresh coat of varnish over a half-drying one makes the tacky spot even worse.

Simply leave the tacky spot alone. Trust me, it’ll eventually vanish when drying.

Pop bubbles quickly

Usually, bubbles don’t occur with gloss varnish but there’s a possibility because this is a thick sealer. If the bubbles occur during the application of gloss varnish, quickly pop them using a toothpick or needle.

Waiting for too long to remove bubbles makes them stick to the sealer and hard to remove. They become permanent bumps on the sealer.

Keep your brush wet

Apply sealer quickly. Don’t go to the bathroom or have lunch in the middle of the sealing process lol. I’m talking about the drying time between the coats.

I mean when you’re working on one coat don’t waste time, just finish it quickly.

If you wait for so long between each application, the varnish will start to dry on the brush and make the brush hard to move.

FAQ

Final thoughts

Now you know how to get the glossy ceramic-like finish on your air dry clay project with gloss varnish. Follow the method I told you carefully and don’t forget to mention things you know about sealing air dry clay in the comments section. I’d love to hear.

Plus, tag @clayandmestudios in your next air dry clay project after sealing with gloss varnish. I sure love to see them when you do. I’ll see you next time with more useful tips! Cheers! 🤟🏾

I didn’t plan on sealing my first air dry clay trinket project. When I read online that sealing is a must, I quickly grabbed nail polish from my wife’s cosmetic collection and applied it over the painted trinket tray. 

I was a fool. The paint started to peel off due to its harsh solvents and the lesson was learned. The hours I put into making that beautiful trinket tray all went to nothing due to the ugly result. All because of my careless mistake. 

Don’t be like me! Sealing and waterproofing are just as important as making and painting your air dry clay project because air dry clay is water-soluble and tends to react with outside moisture.

I think moisture is the biggest enemy of air dry clay. So you need to stop moisture from reaching it. Apply the barrier! Sealing is a must! 

Let me tell you how I do that as a beginner air dry clay artist like you. Let’s go! 🎨

Can you actually make air dry clay 100% waterproof?

Yes, you absolutely can make air dry clay 100% waterproof by applying polyurethane varnish, UV resin, or epoxy resin.

I use gloss varnish for sealing my air dry clay products, which makes air dry clay water resistant. It is an acrylic polymer-based product. It is water-based. 

Air dry clay is a water-based, highly porous material. It means it dissolves in water. Eventually, it weakens and breaks down with moisture. Therefore, you cannot use it to hold liquids, such as coffee mugs, or submerge it in liquid.

You can use air dry clay trinket trays for holding jewelry or keys, not for any particular activity connected to water.

Remember, any water-based product should be sealed with a waterproofing or water-resistant sealant to protect it from outside moisture. It can be paint or clear varnish. 

I use acrylic paint as the paint for my air dry clay projects and seal with gloss varnish as said. So, the acrylic paint layer works as the primary barrier for the moisture and gloss varnish is the ultimate shield. 

But I’m happy with gloss varnish because it protects air dry clay trinket trays from moisture, application is easy and it cures within 24 hours.

Water resistant vs. waterproof

I have to say this: gloss varnish protects your air dry clay items from moisture, but it is not waterproof. It is water-resistant only. 

If you submerge your air dry clay in water or leave it in heavy rain, water will definitely penetrate the acrylic layer and ruin your air dry clay project, making the varnish layer have a cloudy finish and making it sticky.

Therefore, if you really want waterproof ability, not water resistance only, go for clear varnish or liquid resin.

Basically, water-resistant sealers protect your air dry clay from moisture. They stop the penetration of water to some degree, handling splashes, light rain, or a quick damp wipe without damage.

But waterproof sealers are completely impervious to water. You have nothing to worry about. But there is a saying, glass is glass and glass will break. Likewise, air dry clay is air dry clay and it breaks when it is exposed to moisture for too long even after applying a waterproofing sealer.

Let me show you a performance comparison of sealers you can use on air dry clay projects:

Why you must seal your clay trinket dishes

Sealing your air dry clay trinket dishes is a must to protect them from outside moisture and they give a nice and beautiful appeal.

When your trinket trays are unsealed, moisture will penetrate inside, dissolve the air dry clay, and weaken it.

Plus, sealer helps to stop paint from chipping due to high humidity. Basically, sealing your air dry clay trinket tray protects it from outside moisture and gives a nice and beautiful appeal.

Since I use gloss varnish, it gives a glossy, shiny look to my trinket trays.

Supplies you will need

Here are the tools and materials I use for sealing my air dry clay trinket trays:

• Gloss varnish
• Acrylic paints
• Cup of water
• Paintbrushes
• Paper towels
• Fully dried air dry clay trinket tray (you must need this lol)
• Fine-grit sandpaper (optional)

How to seal and waterproof

1. First take your fully dried air dry clay trinket tray and clean it. You can sand it with fine-grit sandpaper. However, clean the surface well before you start painting.
2. Next paint the trinket tray with acrylic paint after dissolving it with a little bit of water. Apply thin coats of paint in one direction.
3. After painting, let the trinket tray dry for 1-2 hours in a well ventilated and cool area.
4. Next, pour a little bit of gloss varnish on the base of your trinket tray and apply 1-2 thin coats evenly along one direction. Try not to leave brush marks or bubbles on the surface. Use a soft brush.
5. After sealing, let it dry and cure for 24 hours.

Optional way to seal air dry clay

I sealed one of my koi fish ponds, not a trinket tray, with epoxy resin. In that case, first you need to mix the epoxy resin and hardener in a 1:1 ratio and then pour it over the painted clay piece. 

Apply as layers and leave bubbles using a heat gun. After sealing, let it cure for 2-3 days. 

Epoxy resin gives an ultra-glossy, glass-like look to air dry clay projects. Yes, glossier than the gloss varnish I use now.

Final thoughts

I think now you know how to seal and waterproof your air dry clay trinket trays properly. Make sure to wipe and clean the sealed trinket trays regularly to avoid moisture contact. Please dont run it under sink, lol. 

If you have any other questions regarding the sealing process, I’m happy to answer. Please leave them in the comments section. 

Be sure to tag @clayandmestudios in your sealed trinket tray creations.Cheers!🤟🏾

It makes a hard shell around your project, not like other sealers like varnish or polyurethane. It waterproofs your project and improves the overall structural strength. 🛡️

I made a miniature air dry clay koi fish pond and sealed it with epoxy resin, and it gave me such an amazing result. The water looked so realistic. 🐟💧 I was so happy because I’m a beginner and this was my third air dry clay project after my first one was ruined completely due to my faults. I know you can imagine how that feels, right? Haha. 😂

But you just can’t simply apply epoxy resin over your freshly made air-dry clay project. If you don’t do it right, hours of work can be ruined because sealing with epoxy resin can easily go wrong. There is a pre-preparation.

Don’t worry, the procedure is easy. Let me tell you why and how to do that based on my experience. 💡

Do you actually need to seal air dry clay before resin?

Yes, you need to seal air dry clay before resin to avoid epoxy resin reacting with moisture inside and starting to peel, surface pitting and forming bubbles. Plus, it will give a dull look with dark, wet-looking stains to your project.

As we know, air dry clay is a porous material. It contains a porous structure that has air bubbles and moisture trapped inside. 

When you just apply epoxy resin over that surface with no sealing, those trapped air bubbles and moisture release into the curing epoxy resin layers.

This will form bubbles inside epoxy resin layers, and also, it won’t bond evenly with air-dry clay because of the moisture that does not let epoxy resin absorb evenly. 🫧

What sealers do?

When you apply sealer over air dry clay projects before applying epoxy resin, it works as a barrier between air dry clay and epoxy resin. It won’t let moisture and air bubbles from the air-dry clay sneak into the epoxy resin layers. 🧱

Think if your air dry clay hasn’t dried properly. Everyone on the internet says to let your air dry clay project dry for 1-2 days. But what if those days were rainy or high in humidity? Sometimes even though it felt like clay dried from the outside, it may not from the inside. Which means moisture is there right? That moisture quickly reacts with epoxy resin and causes trouble. 🌧️

But when you apply a sealer over it, it won’t stop that moisture from reaching epoxy resin even when your air dry clay project hasn’t dried fully.

But I recommend you check everything fully, whether your air dry clay project is completely dried before applying the sealer, because wet clay can ruin the performance of your sealer as well.

Because of above reasons, you must air-dry clay projects before applying epoxy resin. Never forget that guys and gals! Otherwise, all the work you put on that beautiful air dry clay project can be ruined. 🙅🏽‍♀️

Best sealants for air dry clay (before epoxy)

When you are selecting a sealer for your air dry clay project, don’t go with watercolors because they require too much water which can dissolve dry air-dry clay and weaken the clay. Plus, they won’t block moisture.

So, you basically need a sealer that can block the moisture, resists water, and gives beautiful appeal right? Here are the best ones:

• Acrylic paints: Acrylic paint is the sealer I use before epoxy resin. 🎨 It provides a water-resistant coating, beautiful vibrant appeal, and is available in lots of colors. Plus, colors are easy to mix and get the color we want. I highly recommend it.
• Mod Podge: Mod Podge is the popular one among clay artists as a sealer. 🖌️ It does not provide colors just acts as a protective layer. It is water-soluble and dries clear. Plus, it creates an excellent barrier.
• PVA Craft Glue: PVA glue is the budget-friendly option. Mix a little bit of water with Elmer’s glue and apply over your dried air-dry clay project as a sealer before epoxy resin.

It doesn’t matter whether you choose a matte or gloss finish from the above sealers because once you apply epoxy resin over it, it always comes as an ultra-glossy finish.

So, if you want your project’s final look in matte finish, better not to go with epoxy resin. I mostly go with a glossy finish because I love the shine. ✨

How to properly seal air dry clay for resin

1. First, let your shaped air dry clay project dry completely for 1-2 days or more. ⏳ This depends on the clay thickness and the weather outside. Don’t seal it when the clay is wet with dark spots. Plus, sealing wet clay causes it to rot or crack from the inside out.
2. Then, sand the clay project with a fine-grit sandpaper and remove all the dust and residue. A clean surface is a must for the best result.
3. Now apply your sealer. It can be acrylic paint or Mod Podge. If you use acrylic paint like I did the painting and sealing part both can be done in one shot. But if you go with Mod Podge, it works just as a sealer and once it dries on surfaces, apply the paint. I painted my koi fish pond with acrylic paint in vibrant colors and it came out so beautiful. Make sure to apply sealer in thin coats. Doesn’t matter whether it is matte or gloss finish.
4. Let the sealer dry fully for 1-2 hours. Once it dries fully, you can pour epoxy resin over your project and apply it evenly covering the whole area. You can apply epoxy resin even in layers. But make sure not to let it form bubbles. If bubbles are formed, use a heat gun. 🔥

Final thoughts

Now you know how to prepare your air dry clay project and why sealing matters before applying the epoxy resin.

Now it’s your turn to show me the projects you made with air dry clay and sealed successfully with epoxy resin. It’s ok if you made mistakes, because they make us perfect. Upload your projects to Instagram and tag @clayandmestudios. 📸 See you again with another useful tip! Cheers! 🤟🏾

But you should not seal your air dry clay project with cheap, not suitable products like nail polish lol. Yes, once I sealed one of my trinket trays with my wife’s nail polish, and paint started peeling off due to its harsh solvents.

But what about epoxy resin? Is it a quality sealer for your air dry clay project? Does it protect your project from moisture and give nice appeal at the same time? 🤔

I tried epoxy resin on my latest air dry clay koi fish pond, and let me share how I applied it and my experience with it. What are the goods and bads?

Let’s dive in! 🗣️

Can you put epoxy resin on air dry clay?

Yes, hundred percent, you can put epoxy resin on air dry clay. But not only the resin. You should combine epoxy resin with its hardener in 1:1 ratio. This epoxy resin and hardener combo is also known as two-part epoxy resin.

Epoxy resin only does not dry on its own like many other sealers like varnish, polyurethane and spray coatings. 

It does not “dry” by losing moisture like acrylic sealers. It hardens through a chemical reaction called curing. For that, epoxy resin needs a hardener.

Usually, epoxy resin comes with the hardener, so you don’t have to worry much. But the more you know, the better you look. 😎

Plus, you need to make 100% sure air dry clay is completely dry before putting epoxy resin on it, because if there is moisture inside of your air dry clay project, it will interact with epoxy resin.

This will prevent the resin from curing properly or cause it to peel and form bubbles. Plus, it will give a dull look to your project.

What happens when you put epoxy resin on air dry clay?

Make sure your air dry clay project is painted with acrylic paint or any other water-resistant coating before applying the epoxy resin. Because moisture inside tends to react with epoxy resin.

Don’t paint air-dry clay with watercolors because too much water will ruin and dissolve your air dry clay project and you can’t apply epoxy resin over it.

When you apply epoxy resin over your painted air dry clay project, it creates a hard, glossy, and waterproof seal. Even though it creates a hard shell-like surface over air dry clay, it still breaks if dropped. So, better not throw your project on the ground! 🚫

Why I decided to use epoxy resin on air dry clay

Let me show you all the advantages you can get by using epoxy resin compared to other sealers.

• True waterproofing sealer: Epoxy resin provides a waterproof sealer over air dry clay. Most popular products on the market which are Mod Podge, PVA, Acrylic Varnish, and Gloss varnish only provide water resistance. They fail under continuous moisture. 💧
• Beautiful glass like finish: Yes, gloss varnish and many other sealers give you that glossy shiny look. But if you want that professional glass-like finish, you should absolutely go with epoxy resin.
• High structural strength: Plus, epoxy resin improves the structural strength of your air dry clay project. As I told you earlier, the hard shell it forms outperforms any coating in terms of strength. It’s a thick, rigid, impact-resistant layer, not a thin film that scratches easily. 💪
• No brush marks: Epoxy resin leaves no brush marks like other sealers which often dry with visible brush strokes or uneven textures. ✨
• High stability: Epoxy resin is stable under any weather condition even when its dry, humid or wet. Other sealers may become tacky over time.

Plus, epoxy resin helps to improve durability of your clay project because it prevents chipping, cracking, and surface wear over time.

Epoxy resin is a heavyweight champion compared to Mod Podge, PVA and acrylic varnish which are basically like high school bullies. 🥊

Things to consider when using epoxy resin on air dry clay

• Wear respirator and gloves: Epoxy resin contains VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). It releases harsh chemical vapors and fumes into the air. 😷
• Mix with hardener before use: As I told you, you need to mix epoxy resin with its hardener in a 1:1 ratio before applying over your air dry clay project. This combo comes as two-part epoxy resin. 🧪

You don’t need a measuring cup, just try your best to add approximate equal volumes and mix thoroughly. That mixture can be poured over your air dry clay project to seal.

• No moisture inside: Make sure your air dry clay project is super dry before applying epoxy resin because moisture inside may react with the resin and cause peeling. 🏜️
• Avoid form bubbles: You can apply epoxy resin on air dry clay as layers, but make sure not to let it form bubbles. You can remove formed bubbles using a heatgun.
• Let cure well: Let the project you seal with epoxy resin cure for 24-48 hours. Less curing time results in a sticky, tacky surface, peeling, and warping.
• Work and let it dry in a well-ventilated area: Since epoxy resin releases harsh fumes upon drying, let the sealed project dry in a well-ventilated area. Same when you’re sealing with it. 🌬️

How to apply epoxy resin on air dry clay

1. Once you finish making and shaping your air dry clay project, paint with acrylic paint and let it dry for 2 hours.

If you’re not using acrylic paint, add a primer or base sealer before applying epoxy resin on air dry clay. Acrylic paint has a water-resistant coating itself act as a sealer. Therefore, no need of another sealer.

Painting and sealing the porous clay first before putting epoxy rein prevents the resin from soaking in and causing dark spots. When I was sealing my clay pond, i only coated with acrylic paint.

2. Wear a respirator and gloves before opening the epoxy resin bottle. I’m sorry guys, I couldn’t find gloves in my case. But you must wear both. Safety comes first! 🛡️

3. Take epoxy resin and its hardener and mix thoroughly after taking little bit from both equally in a plastic cup.

4. Now, pour the mixed epoxy resin on top of your air dry clay project.

5. Use a paintbrush and evenly apply epoxy resin over your project in one direction without leaving spaces. 🖌️

Since I was sealing my koi fish pond, I add several layers of epoxy resin to get the water texture (which is like glass finish) and also I used epoxy resin as a glue to sit my koi fish in the pond.

I think if you want water texture or glass like finish epoxy resin is the best. I tell you by experience.

Just make sure not to let it form bubbles when you apply in layers. You can remove bubbles using a heat gun. But if you’re making water texture, bubbles are ok because water do have bubbles right? Haha.

6. After covering the whole clay surface with resin let it dry and cure for 2 days in a well ventilated area. 

Place your project elevated, so it doesn’t stick to the table. I elevated my sealed clay pond using a bottle lid.

Plus, don’t leave it in sunlight during the curing period because that can cause discoloration and uneven drying. ☀️

Now that’s how you seal any of your air dry clay projects with epoxy resin! Simple with the right techniques and gives a better finish than most. ✨

I recommend you to use epoxy resin when your project is large that need deep shine and heavy protection. For small projects, use gloss varnish. It is quicker and easier to use.

Most similar sealer to epoxy resin

UV resin is the closest friend of epoxy resin. Both are so similar visually and physically. Epoxy resin and UV resin both cure into a thick, crystal-clear, and ultra-glossy plastic shell. 💎

Epoxy resin needs its hardener to cure while UV resin needs UV light. 💡

Epoxy resin is best for large air dry clay trays, dishes and deep pours while UV resin is good for small projects like jewelries.

Final thoughts

Now you know what epoxy resin is capable of as a sealer when it comes to air dry clay. 🎨

Epoxy resin is the best finish for your air dry clay projects if you want an ultra-glossy, glass-like finish. But you should mix it with hardener before use. Do not let it touch water upon curing. 🚫💦

Now its your chance to use it. I’d love to see clay projects you sealed with epoxy resin, because they are unique. Many people follow the trend by using varnish or UV resin. But you must be special if you seal your project with epoxy resin.

Be sure to tag @clayandmestudios in your clay projects sealed with epoxy resin. Until next time! Cheers! 🤟🏾

Did I plan to use nail polish as a sealer? No, I didn’t, because I forgot to grab a proper sealant before making the clay trinket tray.

Seems you are also in the same position as I was and are thinking of using nail polish. But let me tell you this…

Can you use nail polish on air-dry clay?

Yes, you can use nail polish on air-dry clay as a sealer, but it is not recommended because it can’t give the best protection you want.

Nail polish is not a long-term solution to seal air-dry clay projects. You can use it only for temporary, small decorative clay projects.

I used nail polish to seal my trinket tray because:

1. I was a beginner and I didn’t know what sealer I should use.
2. Back then, I didn’t have a proper sealer.

If you plan before making the project, I highly recommend you not use nail polish as a sealer because the project you worked on for hours can get ruined because of a poor sealer. 🚫

Cons of nail polish on air dry clay

• Yellowing of nail polish: Some nail polish will turn yellow or amber over time when exposed to air and light. So, there is a possibility of your air-dry clay project turning yellow over time when it’s sealed with nail polish.
• Paint may peel off: I have noticed paint tends to peel off when I continue applying nail polish because the solvents in the nail polish chemically react with the acrylic paint underneath, lifting it off the porous, inflexible clay surface.
• Tackiness: Since nail polish contains harsh chemicals, it may react with the acrylic paint underneath over time, turning it into a sticky or tacky surface.
• Poor durability: Nail polish is not durable and doesn’t provide protection against moisture like a proper sealer. Therefore, the paint on the air-dry clay project will wear and tear over time.
• Not fully waterproof: There is a tendency for moisture to get inside through the nail polish layer and damage the air-dry clay project. 💧
• Strong fumes: You must wear a mask when you’re applying nail polish on the clay project, because strong fumes can cause breathing problems. 😷
• Visible brush strokes: Unlike a proper sealer, there are visible brush strokes when you seal a project with nail polish, which will give a bad appeal to your clay project.

Because of the above reasons, it’s better not to go with nail polish for sealing your beautiful air-dry clay project. But if you have nothing else, yes, go for it.

Why does nail polish cause peeling?

Nail polish peels off the acrylic paint applied over an air-dry clay project. I have experienced this. I did my research on why this happens.

Nail polish contains chemicals like ethyl acetate and acetone. When you brush over acrylic or tempera paint, these solvents react with the paint and eventually soften the paint layer and break its bond with the porous clay surface. Finally, the paint starts to peel off.

I have mentioned the word “proper sealer” a couple of times. So, now let me tell you what the proper, best sealers are that you can use instead of nail polish to protect your clay project.

Better alternatives for sealing air-dry clay

Here are the best sealers you should go with for your air-dry clay project for long-term protection and better appeal. ✨

Gloss varnish

Gloss varnish is the sealer I use for all my air-dry clay projects after my trinket tray project. It is so much better than nail polish. No brush strokes were visible, and it is easy to apply. It gives a better gloss effect.

See: How to Seal and Waterproof Air Dry Clay Trinket Trays

Gloss varnish does not yellow. It is water-resistant.

UV Resin

Great if you want a high-glossy look. It is the most durable option available, and has high water-resistance.

Artist-Grade Acrylic Varnishes

Acrylic varnishes are easy to apply. They are UV-resistant, non-yellowing, flexible (moves with the clay if it shifts), and available in gloss, satin, or matte.

Acrylic varnish does not yellow. It is water-resistant.

Water-Based Polyurethane

Water-based polyurethane is great for sealing handheld items. It is extremely durable, resists scratching, and provides a very high-gloss, crystal-clear finish.

Don’t go with oil-based polyurethane for sealing because it tends to yellow over time.

Mod Podge

Mod Podge is famous because it is cheap, easy to find, and non-toxic. Plus, it gives a glossy look. But brushstrokes may be visible.

My thoughts

Now you know why nail polish is not the best option if you are looking for a sealer for your air-dry clay project.

We expect protection, look, and durability from a sealer, but nail polish gives none. Only the look sometimes, because it is glossy. Other than that, it’s better to go with an alternative option as I mentioned earlier. Wish you all the best for your sealing project! Cheers! 🥂