Pal Tiya is a fairly new media for art making. It's a cement-based material that does require the use of gloves. That alone may mean some teachers will not consider the material, but for those that may, I am posting a review of the material.
I got a free 3 pound box from Pal Tiya with no-strings attached. I let them know I would post a review, but told them it would be fair and balanced because I blog for the benefit of teachers, not businesses. The three pound sample box was enough to do 2 sculptures about the size of the box the material came in. I have use aluminum foil as armature medium for many years, and it works VERY well with Pal Tiya.
Their greatest advantage is permanence. Plaster rots in weather, but this is weatherproof and resistant to cracking. It is used by some artists to make large outdoor sculptures and monuments.
The cement mixes with just water and has tiny fibers in it that add strength. Only a 1/4 inch coating is all that is needed. It's a bit sticky, but can be smoothed with craft sticks. We worked on paper to keep our area clean. I used old junky brushes to apply the mixture to some areas.
I got a free 3 pound box from Pal Tiya with no-strings attached. I let them know I would post a review, but told them it would be fair and balanced because I blog for the benefit of teachers, not businesses. The three pound sample box was enough to do 2 sculptures about the size of the box the material came in. I have use aluminum foil as armature medium for many years, and it works VERY well with Pal Tiya.
Their greatest advantage is permanence. Plaster rots in weather, but this is weatherproof and resistant to cracking. It is used by some artists to make large outdoor sculptures and monuments.
The cement mixes with just water and has tiny fibers in it that add strength. Only a 1/4 inch coating is all that is needed. It's a bit sticky, but can be smoothed with craft sticks. We worked on paper to keep our area clean. I used old junky brushes to apply the mixture to some areas.
It stays workable for a while but we mixed small batches to be sure drying didn't effect work. This was also nice compared to plaster that can set so quickly. This material sticks well to itself as long as you leave the coating rough. (Similar to slip and score for clay work, but you have to score before it sets)
When dry, work needs to be sanded and can be painted with whatever you have on hand. If it is to go outdoors, use a concrete friendly exterior paint available at all Home Depot type stores. We used gesso and acrylic paints and they worked well.
When dry, work needs to be sanded and can be painted with whatever you have on hand. If it is to go outdoors, use a concrete friendly exterior paint available at all Home Depot type stores. We used gesso and acrylic paints and they worked well.
The only negatives are important ones.
#1. This must be used with gloves. Cement is slightly caustic, so I would only use this with grades 6 and up, or small classes grades 4 and up. We worked fairly large (Octopus is about 1 foot across). You'll need dust masks too if you're going to work with a class.
#2. You need a lot for impactful work. About 1.5 pounds per student for 12 inch work. (About the size of a basketball).
3. Cost. This is not cheap. I tried to figure out if I could make it myself, but I think their successful mix would be hard to replicate. Click HERE for USA pricing. They are also in the UK.
If you have used their media, please post tips and thoughts below.
#1. This must be used with gloves. Cement is slightly caustic, so I would only use this with grades 6 and up, or small classes grades 4 and up. We worked fairly large (Octopus is about 1 foot across). You'll need dust masks too if you're going to work with a class.
#2. You need a lot for impactful work. About 1.5 pounds per student for 12 inch work. (About the size of a basketball).
3. Cost. This is not cheap. I tried to figure out if I could make it myself, but I think their successful mix would be hard to replicate. Click HERE for USA pricing. They are also in the UK.
If you have used their media, please post tips and thoughts below.
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