We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
DIY

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Plasticine?

Mary Elizabeth
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 76,651
Share

Plasticine® is a trademark name for an oil-based modeling material that was developed by an art teacher in England in 1897. The non-drying clay that William Harbutt formulated is still available, as is plastilin, a similar modeling clay developed by Franz Kolb in the 1880s, but the terms plasticine and plastilina are now used by many people as generic terms for modeling clay.

This material has distinct properties that make it useful. Unlike clay and wax, it stays soft and workable: it neither hardens nor dries. It also comes in a wide array of colors, unlike pottery clay, that can be used as purchased or blended. Also, unlike clay, plasticine doesn’t stick to the hands.

Plasticine can be shaped and worked with modeling tools for shaping, sculpting, blending, texturing, thinning, scraping, poking, and cutting. It can be worked on its own or built on a pre-formed armature. Users should note, however, that it cannot be fired.

Two important uses of this material were developed recently. Canadian illustrator Barbara Reid has developed a book illustration technique using it to create illustrations of scenes as relief sculptures, employing a variety of techniques to convey distance, size, texture, and lighting. Her illustrations for The New Baby Calf by Edith Newlin Chase, copyright 1984, are the first published example of this technique. The Party, from 1997, for which Reid won the Governor General’s Literary Award, and The Subway Mouse, from 2003, are other works illustrated using this technique.

Probably the most famous new use of plasticine is in Claymation®, originally used solely as a servicemark for a type of stop-action movie animation process done with oil-based modeling clay that was invented by Wlll Vinton, the man responsible for animating the California raisins. The term claymation has come to be used generically to describe animation using modeling clay.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary Elizabeth
By Mary Elizabeth
Passionate about reading, writing, and research, Mary Elizabeth is dedicated to correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to writing articles on art, literature, and music for HomeQuestionsAnswered, Mary works as a teacher, composer, and author who has written books, study guides, and teaching materials. Mary has also created music composition content for Sibelius Software. She earned her B.A. from University of Chicago's writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont.
Discussion Comments
By anon328128 — On Apr 02, 2013

@ No 18: About 40 pounds.

By anon151494 — On Feb 10, 2011

@ No. 17: how much workable clay does this produce?

By anon130704 — On Nov 29, 2010

Found this recipe on another website, and thought it might be helpful for comment #5:

10 lbs Micro-crystalline Wax

1/2 gal Purified Mineral Oil

4 lbs Vaseline

25 lbs Clay Powder

Melt wax, oil and Vaseline together in an electric frying pan; stir clay powder in slowly once melted. Mix thoroughly and pour into shallow microwave-safe plastic containers. You can also use a portion of beeswax for part of the wax component for an even smoother clay. Don't use to much though, as it can become too sticky.

*or*

This is one that does not use clay, it works well.

480 g bee wax or Micro-crystalline Wax is less sticky

200 ml purified mineral oil

192 g vaseline

1200 g talc (white)

In an electric fry pan ( 60 C don't get it too hot to let wax smoke) mix beeswax + mineral oil + vaseline. Before they become entirely liquid, mix in the talc) you can play around a little with the amounts, mix the types of wax.

By anon91830 — On Jun 24, 2010

Calcium carbonate is also called lime, which is used to make whiting, plaster and concrete. It's cheaply available at any hardware store eg Bunnings, Mitre 10. For plasticine do not used the quick setting lime.

By anon88755 — On Jun 07, 2010

Where do you get calcium carbonate from?

By anon67895 — On Feb 27, 2010

put it in the microwave to get it warmer.

By anon50300 — On Oct 27, 2009

I have some old plasticine and it is too hard to work with. I note that the original was made with vaseline. can I soften it by adding some vaseline and try to work it into the mass of plasticine?

By anon47598 — On Oct 06, 2009

to Mr number 5: have you thought of trying linseed oil?

By anon40555 — On Aug 09, 2009

can anyone tell me what type of clay or plasticine to use for making fishing weights: i.e. reusable molds?

By FSCustoms — On Sep 28, 2008

Can any one tell me how to make Plasticine at home?

By anon12258 — On May 02, 2008

I have 8 vintage packages of Harbutt's Plasticine from the early half of the 20th century. They are still wrapped in their original package and believe it or not, they're still pliable! I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but the packaging alone is classic.

By anon11802 — On Apr 23, 2008

I am a sculptor and i make my own clay. i use diesel motor oil, calcium carbonate and wax. readily available materials - cheap and simple ... and TOXIC. Is there a substitute for motor oil?

By anon6581 — On Jan 03, 2008

Can I make plasticine clay at home? How?

Or where can I get it for a cheap price?

By anon3861 — On Sep 20, 2007

"What happens to the composition of Plasticine if it get cold?"

it gets hard. on a cold day you have to warm it up in your hands to model with it

"is it used for sticking pins to other materials?"

ummm no

By anon1626 — On Jun 09, 2007

is it used for sticking pins to other materials?

By anon272 — On Apr 20, 2007

What happens to the composition of Plasticine if it get cold?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Passionate about reading, writing, and research, Mary Elizabeth is dedicated to correcting misinformation on the...
Learn more
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-plasticine.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.