The Magic of Transluscent Liquid Modelene!

Transluscent Liquid Modelene is a great new 'sister' product to our popular modelling clay. It is a translucent liquid polymer clay.

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS

• Cure at 130 Deg C(270F) to 150 Deg C (300F).
• The higher temperature gives the strongest result, but may cause yellowing.
  
  
• DO NOT exceed 150 Deg C. Bake for 15 minutes.
  Please Note: It is very important to test your oven's accuracy with an oven thermometer to ensure the correct temperatures is being used.
  
  
• During baking, some fuming maybe noticed, particularly if the oven temperature is too high.
• While this is not harmful, it is best to have good ventilation when baking.
• Apply with a paint brush or spatula. Clean up with a paper towel.
• If any stickiness is left, this may be easily removed with a little methylated spirits on a cloth or paper towel.
• Methylated spirits may also be used to clean the brushes.
  
  Additional Notes:
• …You may re-bake your TLM pieces several times in order to build up thick layers or glaze effects.
  Note: TLM has a stronger odour during curing than solid Modelene and while the resultant fumes are not harmful you may prefer to use a roasting pan with a lid or seal the baking tray with foil to lessen the odour.
  
• Clean your work surface, paintbrushes, palette knives and other tools by wiping with a paper towel. If you prefer, you can clean the brushes with paint thinner, however using a dedicated set of paintbrushes for TLM eliminates the need to do this.
  ***Over time, TLM will thicken slightly. This is a normal process and adding a little mineral oil a drop at a time may help to thin it again.
  
  
  

Transfer Liquid Modelene used for transfers.

Transfer Liquid Modelene used as a back and fill.

WHAT DO I DO WITH TLM?

• Add colour to TLM using Oil Paints, Metallic Powders, Midnight Pearls or Mica powders.
• Add just a little of your colour medium at a time in order to avoid an intense colour saturation that may render TLM opaque.
• Acrylic paints, being water based, won't work in the same way as oil based, but some interesting textured effects can be achieved using them. Experiment!
• Add texture by adding any of the following: herbs, spices, dirt, sand, crushed dried flowers, tiny beads, in fact anything that will withstand the curing temperature. Experiment!

Transfers

• Use black and white or hand coloured photocopies, magazine stock (some work better than others) your own artwork, b&w or colour laser prints (inkjet printouts do not contain any toner and won't transfer as well) Experiment!

Method 1:

• Lay image face up on work surface (this can be a ceramic or glass tile, card stock, a scrap of paper) etc.
• With a small paintbrush apply an even layer of TLM
• Cure at the recommended temperature for 10 minutes
• When cool, gently peel the paper from the flexible TLM piece by flexing or immersing in water and gently rubbing the paper away.

Method 2:

• Paint a thin layer of TLM to a small glass tile.
• Lay your image face down on the TLM, then, by looking at the image from the other side, carefully remove any air bubbles if necessary, by carefully 'stroking' them out from the centre of the image.
• Cure at the recommended temperature for 10 minutes
• Note: This 2nd method takes a little more practise to achieve a nice even TLM layer

These flexible images can now be used on curved or flat clay surfaces, or as window clings.

Marbling:

• Choose a colour from the Modelene range that will create a pleasing background, cut out a shape and cure.
• Apply a thin layer of TLM to the coloured shape.
• Place some mixed TLM colours on a 'palette' (plastic ice-cream lid is fine)
• If required, draw lines or boundaries with a fine paintbrush
• Carefully drop 'beads' or tiny dollops of the coloured TLM onto the coloured clay. To avoid stringy lines of TLM ruining your work, lift the tip of the brush away from each 'bead' until the last little bit falls onto the 'bead' or draws back onto the brush
• With a pin, needle or fine wooden skewer, draw the point of the pin from the centre out, through the lines and 'beads' of TLM. You can remove the design if you aren't happy with it by simply wiping it off the coloured clay surface with a paper towel.
• Cure at the recommended temp for 15-20 minutes
• Sand gently and buff if required

Window Clings:

Lay some artwork beneath a glass tile and 'paint' into each segment of the design with the colours of your choice. Create faux stained glass window clings by applying thin ropes of black Modelene onto the black lines) of a stained glass image (or use black tinted TLM and paint them on; (make sure they are copyright free images), then filling in the white areas with colour. Cure as recommended and once cool, peel gently from the tile.

Back Fill an Impression or a Carving

• Stamp or carve an image onto raw Modelene and cure at the recommended temperature for 10mins
• When cool, fill the impression or carved lines with coloured TLM and leave for 5 minutes so the TLM can self-level.
• Carefully wipe any major excess from the piece, and re-cure for a further 10 mins.
• Once cooled the piece can be gently sanded using wet and dry sandpaper (start with 600grit and work up to 1200grit), which will remove any unwanted TLM from the surface, plus prepare the piece for polishing. Polish with a jeweller's buffing wheel or rub vigorously with denim fabric.

Glazes, Patinas and Pottery effects:

• Stipple onto a solid clay surface, leaving some areas uncovered. Build up areas of different colours and thicknesses, curing after each application. Try sprinkling different Metallic Powder colours onto some areas before curing, then apply a thin protective coating to the powdered areas and re-cure. Sand and buff for a high shine.
• Dribble some coloured TLM down the sides of a vertical piece to create "pottery" effects. Using a heat gun during this process will prevent excess 'dribbling'. Experiment!

These are just some of the things you can do with Translucent Liquid Modelene. There are many more possibilities, some of which are still waiting to be discovered. EXPERIMENT!

Uses

• As a transfer medium
• As a protective coating
• To add texture to collage elements
• Tint with oil paints and use to back fill carved Modelene pieces. (Do not use with acrylic paints)
• Add Metallic powders and use for patinas & glazes
• Pour into a squeeze bottle &draw lines, dots, shapes etc.
• Make positive moulds from Modelene negatives
• After the curing process, TLM acts as an adhesive, creating a strong bond between elements
• Once cured, TLM can be sanded & buffed to high shine