Camille Young

I’m glad to see some interest in Lumina Polymer Clay! I’d like to share my thoughts and hopefully answer some questions about this remarkable clay.

I decided to try Lumina in 2005 after noting its similarities to Modena, a clay I really liked, but is only sold in Japan. Lumina is an air drying, resin-based, polymer clay that holds up well even when rolled out thin. It’s semi waterproof and very flexible. Cured pieces won’t break but they can tear, warp (if stored incorrectly), or melt (if left in water for a while). It’s great for making lifelike flowers, leaves, and thin delicate forms. Its strength is greatly increased with a beading wire core for the more delicate and thin pieces.

Lumina doesn’t stick to itself well, but a little Mod Podge makes an excellent bond. This clay only comes in translucent, but by kneading in acrylic paint, you can completely customize the color. Kneading in the paint is a messy job, but it beats having to buy a bunch of different colors.

It’s important to keep Lumina at its ideal moisture level so it maintains the right texture. While I’m working with it, I knead in a little water occasionally to keep it from drying out too much. So far, I’ve only been able to find it online at dickblick.com and joann.com.Lumina does have a few cons. If you’re used to working with the oven cured clays, it may take a bit to get accustomed to this clay. It’s quick drying nature makes it less than ideal for sculpting large, thick pieces, or canes. I’ve left packages out for less than a week only to discover I had a nice mold garden or a solid, dried up brick where my clay used to be. You can avoid both problems by storing it sealed tightly in the refrigerator. This past summer was extraordinarily humid, which caused all of my Lumina pieces to become unusually soft and even a little droopy. Fortunately, they returned to their usual state as soon as the air dried up again. The biggest con I’ve noticed is an unfortunate increase in price in the past year from $7-8 to over $10. I’m optimistically hoping that trend will change.I hope you’ll try it out and find a new favorite. I’d be glad to answer any other questions if I can