Pottery set for beginners: more than just deceptively pretty packaging?
19/1/2026
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Stefanie Lechthaler
Air-drying clay’s practical. But is it worth spending a lot of money on? I tried it for myself.
I probably don’t need to tell you that pottery’s been incredibly popular in recent years. No wonder – who doesn’t love creating personal works of art and tableware from soft clay with their own hands? Unfortunately, though, courses are usually expensive and therefore not accessible to everyone.
Companies such as Sculpd and Pott’d recognised the need for a home pottery solution and responded with well-marketed kits. Self-drying clay has been around for a while, but they’ve developed convenient, attractive packages that deliver clay, paints, and tools all in one. They come at a price, though – a hefty one. You’ll have to shell out around 100 Swiss francs or euros for the Sculpd kit.
To find out if this type of kit is worthwhile, I made a lamp base using the Sculpd starter set. You can find the instructions at the end of this article.
What’s included
My first impression’s pretty good. The packaging looks attractive and high-quality. Inside, I find:
- Two bags of air-drying clay, each containing 900 grammes – although the instructions state one kilogramme per pack
- A small container of white paint
- A small container of clear varnish
- A sponge
- Five pottery tools
- Two brushes
- Eight different acrylic paints
- A modelling guide
The clay
Apart from the colour, the air-drying modelling clay also feels very different to fired clay. It feels rubbery. Almost a bit artificial – even when it comes to the smell. When I cut a piece off with a knife, small, paper-like fibres stick to the blade, as if it were mainly made of pulp. However, I haven’t been able to find any information about the exact ingredients.
Even when comparing two packages of the same product, there are clear differences. Sometimes the mixture’s quite hard straight out of the bag, while other times it’s surprisingly soft. The softer lump’s much easier to knead and shape, but I have to add water to the harder one. This makes the surface slippery, and it takes a while for the water to be fully incorporated. One positive thing I noticed is that the double packaging keeps the mixture moist for longer. Comparable products often only come in a single plastic package.
With a little practice, I get better and better at pressing, smoothing and rolling. I can also confidently ignore air bubbles with this ovenless method. Over time, I work out how to best shape the dough – then I can get started.
Tools
The set includes four modelling sticks, a modelling loop and a sponge. The wooden surface of the tools is quite rough and not particularly well finished. Instead of the four sticks, I’d have preferred a range of basic tools such as a metal spatula, a steel brush or an engraving needle. These would most likely be more useful for beginners.
In general, I feel plastic or rubber tools are better suited for this clay. The rubbery modelling compound sticks to the wood immediately. I only need two of the four tools for my lamp base, doing most of the work by hand. Even smoothing the surface with the sponge only works moderately well. I smooth out any cracks and unevenness with my finger.
Acrylic paints
Depending on the kit, the basic set contains a different range of acrylic paints. In addition to the palette of earthy tones I tested, there’s also one with pastel shades in our shop.
In addition to two sturdy brushes, the kit includes eight tubes of coloured paint and a larger bottle of white acrylic paint. You apply the latter as a primer to your fully dry creations before adding the coloured layer. However, the clay doesn’t absorb the paint. It sits on the material more like a skin. This has the advantage that you can paint over the white primer like paper. However, the drawback is that the paint adheres poorly and can peel off if the surface tears. This is exactly what happened on my first attempt – and I had to peel my entire artwork off my lamp base like a layer of skin.
I like the selection of colours. They’re opaque and easy to mix. If you make a small mistake, you can even wipe off the still-wet paint layer from the primer with a cloth and paint over it. I’m happy with the paints because there’s plenty for the few objects I can make with the clay. The same applies to the gloss varnish. It’s meant to protect and seal the paint, so you apply it as the final coat to the painted surface.
The only thing that bothers me a bit are the visible brushstrokes on the finished object. However, this is more due to the painting method with the acrylic paints than to the Sculpd modelling set itself.
Modelling instructions
The first section contains a small collection of learning aids – or rather, 15-second Instagram reel tutorials. These mainly serve as inspiration. However, the following pages offer helpful step-by-step instructions in English that make it easy to get started. The practical examples – such as thumb bowls and the sausage technique – also include a QR code linking to detailed video tutorials.
My test showed that the amount of clay provided doesn’t last very long and is only enough for a few experiments.
Is this set worth it for you?
There’s not much to recommend it, really. The price, in particular, is quite steep for what you get. Self-drying clay’s already quite affordable. If you buy two kilos of it, a modelling tool set, an acrylic paint set, gloss varnish and two brushes, you’ll save at least ten per cent and also get high-quality tools. If you go without the set and stick to individual acrylic paints, it becomes even cheaper.
The set works quite well as a gift idea, especially because of the stylish, well-designed packaging. However, if you want to really get stuck in and invest some time in research, you’ll get more use out of that than this kit.
In a nutshell
Overpriced pottery set for beginners
The Sculpd set looks great and offers a nicely packaged introduction to pottery. It works well for a bit of casual experimenting at home. The instructions are clear and make it easy to get started. However, the tools are pretty basic, the clay doesn’t go very far and it’s quite expensive for what’s included. It’s suitable as a gift or for anyone who wants to try pottery without much effort. But if you want to delve into the subject more seriously, you’ll be better off buying individual materials for less money – and you’ll get better tools that way.
Pro
- Instructions for getting started with modelling
- Comes with a wide selection of materials and tools
- Thoughtful packaging design
Contra
- Price
- Material of the wooden tools
- Less clay than stated on the packaging
Header image: Stefanie Lechthaler
Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.
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