Polymer Clay and mixed media artist Deborah (Deb) Kovacs-Sturdevant of Deborah K creations tried every polymer clay transfer paper out there until one Amazon search changed everything.
Meet Deb — a life in art
Deb has always been an artist — no matter the role, path, or phase of life. Her hands have shaped clay, stitched fabric, layered paint, and explored nearly every medium available, driven by a deep curiosity and a desire to create something meaningful.
I follow where inspiration leads me. Sometimes that’s with thread, other times with clay or paint. I experiment until I find a material or technique that resonates with how I want to express a feeling or an idea. -Deb Kovacs-Sturdevant
Her discovery of polymer clay in 2014 was a turning point. What started as unique necklaces quickly evolved into complex mixed media compositions — layering texture, color, and storytelling into pieces that invite you to pause and look closer. By 2019, her work had grown into full mixed media, and in 2023 she added AI-generated imagery to the mix, using text-to-image tools to create visuals she then transfers onto clay and enhances with hand painting.
Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Deb is now based in Cincinnati — and her work is as layered and traveled as she is.
The polymer clay transfer paper problem every artist knows
Here’s the thing about polymer clay transfer paper — not all of it actually works. Deb tested several brands on Amazon before landing on SmartSolve, including Juvale, one of the better-known names in the water-soluble paper space.
I went to Juvale and it was okay, but it left a lot of debris behind. It didn’t rinse off cleanly. I had a lot of trouble with fuzziness of the image — not only visually but tactilely. It left a lot of paper debris behind. -Deb Kovacs-Sturdevant
Off-brand alternatives? Even worse. She needed polymer clay transfer paper that dissolved completely, left zero residue, and delivered a crisp image every time. Then she found SmartSolve.
I saw SmartSolve on Amazon because I was doing an Amazon search and I thought, I’m going to give this a try because I’m just not happy with the others. Bingo. That was it. And I’ve loved it ever since. -Deb Kovacs-Sturdevant
How Deb uses SmartSolve polymer clay transfer paper
Deb is among only a handful of exhibiting artists in the world using this image-to-clay transfer process. SmartSolve’s 3-point face stock is the polymer clay transfer paper at the heart of every piece:
She also discovered that patience unlocks even better results from the polymer clay transfer paper — letting it sit on the clay for an hour or two before rinsing makes all the difference.
If I place the paper onto the rolled-out sheet of polymer clay, burnish it, and then walk away for an hour or two, I get even better adherence. When I rinse it away — it’s beautiful. It’s almost perfect. -Deb Kovacs-Sturdevant
Her go-to is SmartSolve’s 3-point face stock. She’s also used the cardstock for smaller projects, though she found the 2-point too thin for reliable printer feeding. When the product had a stock availability gap, Deb felt it immediately.
It’s the quality of the product. For my purposes, I wouldn’t use anything else. That’s why I was so afraid it was discontinued — I was sweating it thinking, what am I going to do now? -Deb Kovacs-Sturdevant
See Deb’s work for yourself
Deb’s polymer clay transfer paper pieces — coastal scenes, angels, sacred hearts, and richly symbolic compositions rooted in folklore and history — are available through her website and Etsy shop. She’s also a featured artist at Covet Art Gallery (Oceanside, CA).
Polymer clay mixed media art Cincinnati, OH
Discover more about SmartSolve polymer clay transfer paper:
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