Pottery Kit FAQ's
Pottery kits are great for beginner pottery students and seasoned potters alike. They provide a great way to get creative either on your own, with family, or even over video calls with friends!
Here are some answers to questions that we’re frequently asked about our At-Home Pottery Kits:
Will I need a kiln or an oven to dry my clay?
No - London Wildflower air-dry clay dries without the need for heating. Depending on the size of the project, it should dry within 24-72 hours. You can then use paints and/or glazes to finish your project. We’re also often asked whether it’s possible to use a hair dryer to speed up the drying time of air dry clay. We advise against this method of drying clay as drying the clay out too quickly can lead to cracking.
What type of clay is included in the kit?
London Wildflower air dry clay is a natural, water-based product with a mineral composition. Its texture is very similar to kiln-heated clay. Mineral air dry clay such as ours have the addition of synthetic fibres which gives it additional strength when it dries.
What tools come with the kits?
London Wildflower pottery kits contain all you need to get started with your clay. The small kit contains a basic selection of the most-used pottery tools and the larger/couples clay kits come with a wider selection. The booklet included within the kit gives an explanation for tools and gives you an understanding of how to use them within your projects.
What surface should I use to work on?
London Wildflower pottery kits come with an A4-sized wooden board that is the perfect surface to work on. If you don’t have a board, you could use taped-down greaseproof paper to protect your surface. As with most other craft projects, best practice is to cover up anything that you don’t want to get messy.
What types of paints can I use with the clay?
Once the air dry clay has finished drying, you can decorate it with acrylic paints or tempera (poster) paints. You can experiment with other types of paints, however it is generally best to add a primer coat of paint first. It is a good idea to create a test piece on which you can try your paint effects before committing to using them on your final piece.
How do I seal air dry clay?
Air dry clay can be sealed with a waterproofing agent and/or varnish. Depending on the type of result you’re looking for, brands such as Mod Podge, Pebeo, Plasti-kote or Fimo have a range of great products. One of our favourite ways to varnish is to add a thin layer of epoxy resin which gives a high shine finish.