Air Dry Clays

What are the best air dry clays to use?

You're in luck! I've worked with just about them all and here are my test results...

Terra-cotta Clay Bodies

Amaco- Excellent plasticity but a bit sticky. The surface quality is gritty and dries with an uneven skin layer. Its finished durability is brittle and breaks easily. Even though I was careful to score and slip my pieces properly, I still had pieces just fall off when they dried. So frustrating! - $ moderately priced

Activa - Great plasticity. The iron oxide in the clay body stains your hands a bit. Dries evenly to a beautiful terra-cotta rock color. It's very strong and durable. You could bang it on a table top and cause no damage. By far my favorite terra-cotta air dry clay! 
- $ moderately priced

Crayola - Good plasticity. The surface quality is smooth but dries unevenly in color. Strong but one drop and it breaks easily. Still comes in a close second to my favorite. 

- $ economically priced

Standard - Great plasticity and easy to work with. I didn't care for the color once the clay fully air dried. It was a dark brown and reminded me of a burnt cookie instead of a rich terracotta. 
- $ moderately priced

White Air Dry Clay Bodies

Crayola - Good plasticity. Dries to a bright white. Can be easily painted with water color, tempera and acrylic paints. Strong, but one drop and it breaks easily. I really like to use this brand because it's easy for kids to use. 
$ economically priced

Laguna Dry Hard - Excellent plasticity. Dries with a gritty skin. It dries hard, but parts fall off easily even if you score and slip them on properly. 

Laguna Mexo - Too soft plasticity, very sticky. I didn't like working with it at all! Dries with a gritty skin. It dries hard, but breaks easily. Some pieces just fell off after they air dried.
$ moderately priced

Amaco - Great plasticity but sticky. Chemical smell. Dries hard, but has a chalky feel. 
$ moderately priced

Activa'  - Excellent plasticity. Dries very strong. Takes paint/stains well. My favorite!
$moderately priced

Here's a set of test tiles that I finished in a variety of ways:

Sculpy - Excellent plasticity and does not crack easily while working with it. Dries strong and is a bright white color. 

- $ moderately priced

Black Air Dry Clay Bodies

Crayola - good plasticity. Dries strong but to an uneven off black color.
$ expensively priced since it is only available in a multi-colored pack

Activa' - excellent plasticity. Dries evenly to a smooth finish and is very strong.
$ moderately priced 

Gray Air Dry Clay Bodies

Standard - Great plasticity and easy to work with. I didn't care for the color once the clay fully air dried. It was chalky looking and had an uneven overall tone. Its finished durability was a bit weak and parts of my sculpture fell off easily even though I scored and slipped them on properly.
- $ moderately priced

Written by: Art Teacher Ruth Post