Making Canes is an ingenious method for building repetition or creating pattern. Canes are rods or tubes of shapes that create a design when sliced into a cross section. Polymer clay is a perfect material for caning as designs can be reduced, even to minute proportions. Artistic expression is a wondrous evolution and rediscovery of things seen and learned. The artistic process is an invitation to modify, substitute, change, alter, advance or reinterpret an idea.

Popular Clay Brands for Caning

Premo – Very user friendly, conditions well, excellent color and consistency. Relatively soft clay and responds to temperature change and handling, may require some setting or refrigeration to firm. Canes store well.

contact www.sculpey.com

Sculpey – Student grade clay, very soft (color may blend during slicing), suitable for use in teaching children, but will not hold distinct definition.

contact www.sculpey.com

Fimo Classic – Very firm clay, requires substantial conditioning but excellent caning properties once conditioned. Fimo ‘holds the line’. Has a ‘spring back’ or resilience that is beneficial to moving parts back and forth. Crisp definition.

contact www.amaco.com

Fimo Soft – Easier to condition than Fimo Classic, but less crisp and intense.

contact www.amaco.com

Kato Polyclay – Extremely durable after firing. Kato is a top quality artist clay.

contact www.katopolyclay.com

Cernit - Known for its illuminating quality, Cernit is fairly soft for caning.

contact www.polymerclayexpress.com