Problems with Plasticine

I really enjoy using plasticine since it is easy to sculpt, and it will never harden. However it tends to get smudged by other colors really easily. Especially that I'm using white for the Tailor's hair, mustache, eyebrows and arms, they tend to get stained with other colors all the time.

Another problem with plasticine is that since it never harden, so marks tend to leave on it easily. Once the Tailor puppet fell flat on his face, and the nose squashed just like the image below: 

I also find it really annoying when dusts land on my plasticine. Once they do, it's impossible to get rid of them. I usually just scrape the first layer off and replace it with a new one. But it's not only time consuming and that it's impossible to use this method all the time. So I have asked the professionals from Aardman studio regarding this problem. And this is their reply:

Thank you for your message.

To help keep the dust off our plasticine puppets, we cover them with clingfilm. That seems to work. Although, you’ve got to be very careful wrapping them, just in case it leaves any marks!

If dust has landed on our puppets, we use baby wipes to help clean them up. Another option, which is usually a last resort, is to very finely scrape off the top layer with a special tool.

I hope this is helpful!

I was overjoyed when they replied me. I learnt that preserving the puppets is really important. So now I always wrap it with a clean plastic bag when not using the puppets. The baby wipes method also work really well.