Okto - Top Tips from An Artist

Okto, the air-drying clay art sensation, has made big waves since its introduction to Australia, bringing together the nostalgic tactile fun of art clay and the therapeutic artistic vibes of paint by numbers.

After having smeared, moulded, and mixed my fair share of Okto creations, allow me to provide some top tips before diving into your first Okto!

Let me start by saying I’m not a sculptor, my background is in 2D illustration, which I mainly do digitally. This has allowed me to carry over my knowledge of the following artistic principles to my Okto projects:

• Line of action, making smooth and dynamic smears of the Okto across the canvas
• Composition, balancing various elements and colours on the canvas
• Understanding of gradients, making colours seamlessly blend into each other
• Recreating art accurately based on observation
  

Of course, these are not essential to creating Okto art, and like paint-by-numbers, you don’t need to spend a fortune on an art education to smear some clay. However, it will help you greatly to know the following tips:

Don’t Over-Mix Your Colours

One of the main aesthetic elements of Okto Sensory Art is the various colours marbling through each other. It is key not to overmix your colours, as the more you mix, the closer you get to fully blending the colours and creating a muddy and dull grey or brown. Err on the side of under-mixing, as when you apply and smear the clay, you will effectively mix the colours some more. If you want to maintain colour separation, make sure that your hands are clean between handling the different colours, as you may have some residue from the last colour you handled rub off on the new colour.

Don’t Be Too Heavy Handed

The flower and succulent sets from Okto may be challenging for those who have never sculpted clay before. Okto can be quite sticky, so once pieces are stuck together, you’re likely not going to be able to separate them cleanly. When piecing together your botanical elements, handle the pieces gently so that the delicate pieces don’t get squished together in a way that you don’t want them to stay permanently.

Learn the Difference Between Packets

Okto sets may come with two different types of clay to work with. The ones with black packaging will be wetter, sticker, and much more pliable. These are ideal for spreading, smearing, and creating your backgrounds. The packets with white packaging will be slightly less wet, which is ideal for moulding and forming shapes.

Okto Can Be Resuscitated With Water

Once you start an Okto kit, you are on a timer. Once Okto completely air dries, you cannot change it any further. If your clay has dried out slightly, but not completely, while you’re still working on your art, you can re-moisten the clay by adding a tiny touch of water and mixing it into the clay thoroughly.

Art is Best Enjoyed From a Distance

This is more of a perspective than a technique. If you find yourself getting obsessed over the details and minute flaws of your work, take a step back and observe your creation from a distance, you will be surprised how much better it looks when you look at the artwork as a whole!

Let Your Creativity Shine

No two Okto Sensory Art kits come out the same, feel free to personalise your Okto Art based on what you feel looks the best. Don’t feel restricted by the instructions or the image on the packaging. You can make your Okto Art completely your own!

Hopefully, these tips will prove useful to you, and do feel free to send us your Okto creations to our socials! (Facebook, Instagram)

Explore Okto - Craft Your Unique Story Today!

Elevate your crafting experience with Okto's versatile and lightweight air clay, designed to enhance all your DIY projects. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned creator, this user-friendly material offers a seamless moulding experience, allowing you to shape and form your artistic visions effortlessly.

Embrace the endless possibilities and make every project a masterpiece. Try it today and witness your creativity reach new heights!