Stormy Skies, a Polymer Clay Painting

Create dark Stormy Skies and bright autumn leaves with this painting effect using Polymer Clay. It’s easier than you think, no painting or drawing skills needed, and this little Autumnal scene is a great one to start with, needing very few tools and only small amounts of Polymer Clay. So, sit back, relax, and watch as I show you step by step how to create the scene, then have some fun and make your own.
The music from the video is English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny and Waterfall by Aakash Gandhi, both available from the KZbin Free Audio Library.
If you like my work, then please do have a look at my website, www.fionaabel-smith.co.uk/ and follow me on Facebook / fiona.abelsmith and Instagram. / fionaabelsmith.artist
I also have a number of Polymer Clay PDF Tutorials to buy in my Etsy shop, PolyOriginals - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PolyOrig... and as a video tutorial here - polyoriginals.thinkific.com/co...
Here is the link to my conditioning Polymer Clay video - • Conditioning Polymer C...
Here is the link to the Skinner Blends video - • Basic Skinner Blend Tu...
Polymer Clay is oven baked/cured, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the brand of clay you are using.
I used FIMO Soft Polymer Clay, but all well-known brands of polymer clay will work well for this project. I used mixes of left over colours from other projects, just small amounts of each, and mention in the video subtitles the amounts and rough colours that I use.
I used a Pasta Machine dedicated to Polymer Clay use to create blends and condition the clay. My Pasta Machine is an Atlas 180, and it has setting 0 as its thickest and 9 as its thinnest.
There is a standard way of calculating the thickness of clay required, by using stacked playing cards. On my machine the thicknesses are as follows: Setting 0 = 8 playing cards, setting 1 = 7, setting 2 = 6, setting 3 = 5, setting 4 = 4, setting 5 = 3, setting 6 and 7 = 2, setting 8 and 9 = 1 card.
If you do not have a pasta machine, simply stack the above number of playing cards on either side of your clay and roll it to that thickness.
The large oval cutter I use to size my initial design is 3.25 inches / 8.5 cm wide.
The British Polymer Clay Guild has a website - www.bpcg.org.uk Facebook Page - / britishpcguild Instagram - / britishpcguild
The International Polymer Clay association has a website - www.theipca.org Facebook Page - / theipca.org Instagram - / theipca
Have fun with this one, and I cannot wait to see what you create.
Thank you so much for watching.

[@mjohnson5167]

The Bob Ross of clay! Love what you do!!

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

what a lovely compliment, thank you so much 🙂

[@sarahnunns8263]

This is lovely Fiona, you are very talented. I was hoping that we would get a glimpse of your painting but I'm so glad you sold it. And someone is enjoying it. Bless you.

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

I am so glad you liked it, thanks so much Sarah 🙂

[@lizrichardson3309]

Thank you Fiona! Your demonstration at the retreat was so well planned but it was nice to see a more leisurely demo here! I enjoyed all the variations that came from your original idea at the retreat and following some interesting dark skies this weekend, I have some inspiration to make some pieces very soon! 😊

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

It was so lovely seeing everyone at the retreat, but yes, it was good to be able to do the full video so people can follow it at whatever speed they like. Stormy skies indeed over the last few days too. Thanks so much Liz 🙂

[@RHG412]

Oh my goodness! I think my brain is going to explode! This just opened up a whole new world for me! Thank you so much for sharing your lovely technique!

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Brilliant, have fun with it, and thanks so much for your lovely comment 🙂

[@vickyrumsey692]

Oh!!! Fiona, this is absolutly beautiful!! And amazing! You make it look so easy, but I have tried some of your other pretties and they just never look right! I know I have not written you in a very long time but it because my poor fingers are just getting hard to type! I still make some canes and a few pieces of jewelry, but That's about all!! I had hoped the good Lord would let me keep using my hands, which even picking up small beads is getting harder and harder, so much for old age!!! Hope you are well, sending you lot's of hugs, keep on making all the wonderful clay pieces you make, I love watching your videos!! Take care! P_.S. I'd sure love to see some of your paintings!!!

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Hi Vicky, I am so glad you liked it, but very sorry that your hands are making it difficult for you to do things 🙁Keep on crafting as much as you can, and I hope you carry on enjoying the videos. Thank you 🙂🙏🙏

[@carolynmozzone412]

Oh my goodness! That is fantastic!

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Thank you very much 🙂

[@LadyLucie]

Brilliant as always ❤ thank you for always being so inspirational

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Awww, thank you so much Lady Lucie 🙂

[@laureensanchez6491]

I LOVE your work Fiona! God bless you❤

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Thank you very much Laureen 🙂

[@leonanelson2444]

Absolutely beautiful Fiona, thank you so much

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

You're welcome, thanks so much Leona 🙂

[@estherschmidt2805]

Thank you so much Fiona! This a wonderful technique. I have been wanting to see this video!

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

You are welcome, thanks so much Esther 🙂

[@karalewis8671]

Oh my goodness! This is absolutely gorgeous!❤ You make everything look so easy, so I can't wait to give this a try. Unfortunately, I've gotta wait several more weeks due to having thumb surgery. Thank you so much for sharing this project and your knowledge. 😊❤

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

So sorry about your thumb, hops all goes well and you can have fun with this soon. Thnaks so much Kara 🙂

[@selene4621]

OMG this is just brilliant. Hubby actually let me start this awesome hobby so was able to get some supplies and now i can *play* !! and i cant wait hehehe. I be binge watching yet again the beginner type videos. This is just like colouring but colouring with clay so many ideas

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

I am so glad you are enjoying the videos and your clay - have you seen my Pots and Paths one, yet ? It is painting with clay again of little flower pots - have fun 🙂kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5vKY2eiptJogLs

[@selene4621]

@@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals you are most welcome :D oohh thankyou

[@amandapurdue9880]

Amazing work! Loved every second of it.

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Wonderful, thanks so much Amanda 🙂

[@debbiekronsted8441]

Tænk you so much for sharing this technique. You are an amazing teacher❤

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Thank you very much Debbie 🙂

[@gyllenhaalic66]

This looks stunning ! Can’t wait to watch ! :)

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Thakn you very much 🙂

[@veraharrison5897]

Another masterpiece Fiona it’s amazing I will definitely have a go at this technique I am just starting out again on water colours but this is certainly a project on my list ❤

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

I am so glad you liked it, thanks so much Vera 🙂

[@Maria_Konsta]

So beautiful dear Fiona!!!❤❤❤

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Thank you very much Maria 🙂

[@Maria_Konsta]

@@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals 😘

[@peggyhice2794]

I loved watching you do this! It was such a relaxing process. Maybe you will do another one for us sometime. Maybe of a flower garden? Thank you so much.

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Thanks so much Peggy, I have already done one of Pots and paths, which shows flowerpots full of flowers ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5vKY2eiptJogLs 🙂

[@peggyhice2794]

Thank you so much. I don't know how I missed it. I thought I had watched all of your tutorials. I'm going to watch it now.

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Have fun 🙂@@peggyhice2794

[@judiedmundson2736]

That is awesome, you are awesome! Love it.👌💖💖

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Awww, thanks so much Judi 🙂

[@rosemorales3135]

Oooo wow did you teach oils? You're such a great teacher. I hope I see a painting at the end 😊☕️☕️☕️✌️✌️✌️🤘🤘🤘🫶🫶🫶🎶🎶

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Thank you so much, and yes I have taught oil painting in the past 😉🙂

[@lola9107]

Beautifull!

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Thanks so much Lola 🙂

[@lola9107]

@@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals you must be very honest person..l can tell It from the way you generosly show in details everthing, God bless you. Ciao from ltaly

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

awww, what a lovely compliment, thank you so much Lola, Ciao from the UK 🙂@@lola9107

[@Julzzzsatx]

This just stunning!! Thank you for sharing!! Fiona, is it possible to make a small flower pot out of the polymer clay? If so, could you tell me or show me how? Thank you for your time!😊

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Yes it definitley would be, have you seen Astrid Wilks on Instagram, she makes miniature flower pots for her miniature plants, and sometimes show on her reels how to make them, that may be of help for you 🙂 instagram.com/astridwilkstudio/

[@Julzzzsatx]

​@@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginalsThank you so much. No, I had not seen her. You are a life saver ❤️

[@vickyrumsey692]

Fiona, I was wondering how much you would charge me to make a piece like this? I would love to own a piece of your work. I would like it if it was small enough to use as a pendent that I could do some bead embrroidery around it! I hope to hear from you so I can start saving up some money for something as beautiful as this piece!!!

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

Hi Vicky, message me through my website - www.fionaabel-smith.co.uk and I'm sure we can figure something out for you 🙂

[@FionaAbelSmithPolyOriginals]

p.s. it says the connection isn't private, but that's only because it is my personal website and I haven't paid to have the padlock symbol as yet. So follow the links and say yes, and then just message me, or you can DM me through Facebook or instagram if you prefer 🙂.