Polymer Clay Magazines to Read and Enjoy

Oh, how things have changed. It wasn’t long ago we went to a supermarket or bookstore to browse hobby magazines, looking for fun projects to try. If you were like me, you’d buy several and spend a glorious afternoon thumbing through the pages. You would dream, become engrossed in the articles, and scan the ads for new products to consider. Now that we have the internet, we no longer need magazines. We use social media instead. But is that true? Is print dead? As you’ll learn here, it’s not! Especially in niche markets (like polymer clay art and craft), print magazines are alive and thriving. We are lucky to have three polymer clay magazines available to read, thumb through, and devour during those glorious lazy afternoons.

Polymer Week Magazine

Polymer Week is the newest polymer clay magazine, put out by the Lucy Clay Tools company from Czech Republic.
Lucy Struncova is the editor of Polymer Week, the newest polymer clay magazine.

A sleek polymer clay magazine scene is Polymer Week Magazine published in the Czech Republic by Lucy Štruncová. By the title, you’d think it was released weekly instead of quarterly. But the name refers to “Polymer Week”, which is a series of week-long learning events originally hosted by Lucy Clay Tools in the Czech Republic. For the first Polymer Week event, the company produced Polymer Week Magazine. It was such a hit that the magazine has been in regular publication ever since. Digital and paper copies are available here. Polymer Week Magazine‘s producer and editor is Lucy Štruncová, the former child prodigy clay artist and namesake of the Lucy Clay Tools Company. She is all grown up now and has put in a truly admirable effort to create a very high-quality magazine.

Mission of Polymer Week Magazine

Lucy shared with me the following. “The Mission is to present polymer clay material as an artistic medium full of possibilities not only to clayers but to other artists who might believe that polymer clay is just plastic. We know it’s much more.” She went on to say that this is the reason they work so hard to make the magazine with nice graphic design and high-quality photos. As Lucy says, “I love the smell of the mag and also the look of the paper. Quality is quality.” I’ll have to say that I agree with her. It’s a gorgeous magazine. It reminds me of high-end design magazines rather than one for crafts.

Polymer Week is the newest polymer clay magazine, put out by the Lucy Clay Tools company from Czech Republic.

About Polymer Week Magazine

  • Published as single issues, but subscriptions are available
  • Available in both English and Czech in print or digital form
  • Available in Russian in digital form only
  • Articles and tutorials from artists around the world
  • High-end look and feel
  • Tutorials follow a pared-down, simplified format
  • Best for clayers who seek new design influences and beautiful “eye candy”
  • Great as a showcase or coffee-table book that elevates our medium
  • Available by the issue from the website and some polymer clay retailers online
  • Copies are available intermittently on Etsy
  • Accepts submissions from contributors, especially those with a new, fresh voice

The articles are good, the tutorials fresh and fun, and the variety of advertisements will be valuable for the reader.

Where to Get Polymer Week Magazine

Polymer Week Magazine is published in the Czech Republic, so mailing the magazine to buyers around the world at a reasonable cost has been a frustration for the company. The company made the initially high shipping estimates more affordable (just $5 to the US) once they found a US distributor. Jan Montarsi has been so kind as to send out each issue in the US as it is ordered. Because this magazine is new, there are still growing pains and many details that will be worked out once a regular publication schedule and distribution plan is in place.

If you’re “down under” in Australia, you can buy print issues through 2Wards Polymer Clay in Australia. If you want to know more about the Polymer Week experience and stay informed about the workshops, events, and the news about the magazine, join the mailing list here and make sure to follow them on Facebook.

Polymère & co

Since 2021, Allison Cohade has been the director and editor-in-chief of the magazine Polymère & Co — the only French-language magazine specializing in the work and exploration of polymer clay. She started her polymer clay journey as a Jewelry designer and then moved into teaching. She has worked as a demonstrator at FIMO Staedler and created the first French-speaking training in polymer clay techniques and jewelry creation. Polymère & Co has been published quarterly since 2013, and in 2022 switched to a larger format print edition, and an English version is now available online.

Mission of Polymère & co

The mission of Polymère & co is to help, to advance, and to support all polymer clay artists of all levels. Polymère & co offers quality content, a clear editorial style, and plenty of tricks to master the techniques of polymer clay.

Polymère & Co is a French polymer clay magazine available in English in digital format.
Polymère & Co — October, November, December issue.

About Polymère & co

  • Written in French & available in English
  • Published quarterly and available both digitally and in print
  • Includes articles and artist interviews and features
  • Tutorials suit beginner through advanced levels
  • Lots of “eye candy” and an introduction to many French artists
  • Best for French-speaking polymer clay hobbyists and artists
  • Available by subscription and single issue from the website
  • Single issues available from online retailers
  • Accepts contributor submissions

This magazine is written in French, and from issue #35 onward, an English digital version is available. I get a lot of enjoyment out of Polymère & co.

Where to Get Polymère & co

Like the other polymer clay magazines, you can get Polymère & co from their website. Subscriptions are available, both for digital and print issues, only the digital version is available in English. And you can buy back-issues as well. The website is written in French and English. You can also buy print issues (French only) from online polymer clay retailers Polystudio, Polymère Passion, and FunnyPat. Make sure to follow Polymère & co on Facebook.

The Journal of Polymer Clay in Russia

Note: The Journal of Polymer Clay in Russia website is currently unavailable

Tatiana Evdokimova founded the Russian Polymer Clay Guild in 2014, and as part of the guild’s activity they publish a polymer clay magazine. After discussion on Facebook, several guild members contributed to (and still write for) the magazine. The Journal of Polymer Clay in Russia has been produced quarterly since 2014. Both print and digital back-issues can be purchased, but starting with the Fall 2017 issue, it will be digital only.  It’s available only in Russian. The editor-in-chief is  Tatiana Evdokimova and Anna Kokareva.

Anna Kokareva says this: “We try to make the magazine to be interesting for beginners and for advanced artists. We publish everything that concerns polymer clay — tutorials, articles about techniques, tools & materials, colors, baking, sanding etc., reports from workshops and other meetings, artist’s stories, interviews with foreign artists.”

Mission of Polymer Clay in Russia

On their website it’s stated that the goal is to consolidate the diverse community of Russian-speaking polymer clayers, learn new opportunities, discuss new materials and techniques, learn about master clay artists in the rest of the world and in Russia, and to advertise classes and artists in the community.

Polymer Clay in Russia is a Russian language polymer clay magazine available in digital and print form.

About Polymer Clay in Russia

  • Available only in Russian, but I was able to copy the text and use an online translator to understand enough to get the basic idea.
  • Available in digital form. Back issues (previous to Fall 2017) are available in print.
  • Best for Russian-speaking clayers of all skill levels
  • For non-Russian speakers, it will be valuable for adventurous and patient clayers comfortable with using online translators
  • An excellent introduction to the dynamic and talented Russian polymer clay community
  • Accepts contributions from readers.

Where to get Polymer Clay in Russia

You can order print issues on the website and they can be sent anywhere in the world, but you will need to pay the shipping cost. Digital versions are available from the website, too. Digital subscriptions are also available.

Retired Polymer Clay Magazines

I remember when there were no polymer clay magazines and we had to resort to thumbing through jewelry and craft magazines, hoping to find the occasional polymer clay tutorial or article. But things have changed and we have so many choices today! In addition to the five currently published polymer clay magazines listed above, there are three magazines that I want to mention. While these are no longer in production, you may find copies for sale on destash groups, or you may be able to borrow them from friends. Here are the two retired polymer clay magazines.

Passion for Polymer

Kira McCoy has recreated herself many times in the polymer world through Polymer Clay TV, Createalong, and more. Her latest endeavor, headed by editor Cindy McGee, is Passion for Polymer, a print magazine that has grown out of her digital magazine that was called “Polymer Clay Universe”. The first issue came out in January 2019 and is jammed full of tutorials, projects, and informative articles. It’s a bit similar to The Polymer Studio in mission, but I think it has a touch more of an amateur focus. (As of July 2023, I’m not sure if this is still in publication…I can’t find updated info.)

You can get print or digital issues of Passion for Polymer on the Createalong website here.

Passion for Polymer is published by Createalong.
Photo credit: Passion for Polymer

The Polymer Studio

Sage Bray is the editor of The Polymer Arts, a polymer clay magazine.

Brand new on the scene, and replacing The Polymer Arts (see below) is a skills-based magazine from publisher Sage Bray, called The Polymer Studio. Sage developed this new magazine in response from readers that they wanted a crafting-level magazine that focused more on projects and tutorials. You’ll see articles and tutorials from your favorite writers and artists. And yes, I’m a regular contributor in this magazine with a column called Best Practices.

The Polymer Studio is published quarterly and is available both in print form and digitally for instant delivery. You can order your copy here on Tenth Muse Arts.

The Polymer Studio is a new polymer clay magazine that focuses on projects, tutorials, and techniques.

The Polymer Arts

The Polymer Arts is a high-quality polymer clay magazine.

NOTE: The Polymer Arts published its final issue in October of 2018. Back issues are still available. In its place is a new magazine, The Polymer Studio, which began publication in early 2019 and can be ordered here.

Editor Sage Bray founded The Polymer Arts in 2011. Sage was an established polymer clay artist who had met her sales and production goals and was looking for a new challenge. She wanted to find a way to earn a living that didn’t require being alone in a studio day after day. Sage had previous experience in magazine publication and knew others in the community had expressed a need for a quality magazine with more advanced information. It seemed like an obvious step forward. So Sage asked friends and family for help with setup and started publishing the polymer world’s second print magazine. Now she heads a team that brings us a high-quality polymer clay magazine that is a huge favorite among polymer clay enthusiasts around the world.

Mission of The Polymer Arts

When I asked her about the mission of The Polymer Arts, here’s what she said. “I aim to inspire creative thinking and increase our readers’ knowledge of design to boost both their financial success and personal fulfillment.”  Sage goes on to say, “This magazine aims to make you think. Most craft magazines are about practicing skills, but if you would like to increase your understanding of design or want to be more expressive in your work, the articles in this magazine will inspire and motivate as well as help hone polymer related skills.”

The Polymer Arts is the best-known and most popular of the polymer clay magazines published today.

About The Polymer Arts

  • Was published quarterly and available in both print and digital form
  • Written in English
  • Articles and tutorial concepts from artists and writers around the world
  • Best for those who are eager to grow in their art and want to learn more than technique
  • Back issues are available on the website
  • Available through selected polymer clay retailers in their online shops
  • Each magazine follows a theme, so there are many articles on a related topic
  • Typically three artist galleries are featured, showcasing their work
  • There are also regular features in each issue

Where to Get The Polymer Arts

You can order back issues to catch up with what you’ve missed. While you’re there, do make sure that you sign up for delivery of both the bi-weekly newsletter and the Daily Polymer Arts Blog by email. You can do all of this on the homepage. If social media is more your thing, you can follow The Polymer Arts on Facebook.

Polymer Café

The first of several polymer clay magazines, Polymer Cafe, ceased publication recently after a long run.

Polymer Café was the first polymer clay magazine. It was such a treat to get this magazine in the mail! Starting in 2003, Polymer Café was sent out four times a year by founding publishers Joan and Mike Clipp. Over time, the magazine changed hands and Scott Publications took over publication bi-monthly (six times a year). This periodical was known for its accessible style and tended to be a favorite of hobbyists who were most interested in creating for leisure. The magazine always aimed at the amateur (a niche that’s lacking in current publications). Sadly, it did suffer a bit in its later years from poor editorial standards. Polymer Café closed in early 2017. I’d say a 14-year run is an admirable success, however, and we’ll all remember this magazine fondly.

From Polymer to Art

From Polymer to Art, a Dutch polymer clay magazine, is no longer in publication.

From Polymer to Art is another retired polymer clay magazine and has left a hole as well. Created in the Netherlands by editors Saskia Veltenaar and Marjon Donker and written in English, print copies were sent all over the world. Some individual issues were available in Dutch. From Polymer to Art was bright, fresh, with a distinctive visual style. The articles were straightforward and the tutorials simple and easy to follow. It was an excellent magazine for engaging a younger or beginner audience. Some of my website articles were re-published there, by the way. The magazine ceased publication in 2016, but you may find some back-issues at online polymer clay suppliers.

On being a Contributor: When an author submits articles to a magazine, that does not mean they become an employee of that magazine. Therefore, even though I write articles for some of these polymer clay magazines, it does not suggest that I am aligned with the companies who publish them. The independent nature of being a contributor also means that you, too, can submit articles and tutorials to these magazines. If you have a great article idea or a tutorial you’d like to share, contact the editor and share your thoughts with them. The more authors we have, the better these magazines will become!

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You will LOVE getting this email, which is packed full of polymer clay goodness. About once or twice a month.

3 thoughts on “Polymer Clay Magazines to Read and Enjoy”

  1. I am sad that Polymer Cafe is no longer in publication. I always looked for this magazine when I would shop at B&N. I haven’t found it for quite some time, I thought it was because they were always sold out, but reading this now I know why! I was actually trying to find where I could subscribe 🙁 I will look and read the description of the current magazines still publishing and see if any of them are ones I would like and are affordable since some are overseas publications.

  2. I really miss Polymer Café. I am an artist with a degree in art. What I am most interested in is new techniques. The Polymer Arts spends almost all their pages in discussing art theory, which is not what I need (and from your comment about how much Polymer Café makes me think others need something else as well). Another large part of the magazine is devoted to photos of completed items as a sort of artists’ showcase. And the most recent issue had a large number of whole pages devoted to a memorial to a polymer clayer who passed away. I’m very sorry this has happened to her, but it took up an awful lot of space in an expensive publication the readers of which I doubt had ever heard of her.

    Every time I renew my subscription, I find myself kicking myself when the next issue arrives and, as pretty as it is, it is rather useless to my needs. I keep hoping it will either change its focus, or someone will start a new one with more useful information.

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