Clay sculpture artists to sell their works, sign autographs at The Finishing Touch

Tom Clark and Timothy Wolfe, internationally acclaimed clay sculpture artists, will appear from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Finishing Touch in the East Brainerd Mall.

The artists will meet the public and autograph artworks brought from home, as well as those bought during the event. Three exclusive sculptures -- "Gnome Gnap," "March Hare" and "Cairn 2000" will be available only at the Saturday event.

The lead artist for Cairn Studios LTD of Davidson, N.C., Clark has gained worldwide recognition for his clay sculptures. The Spirits, Folk Heroes, Great People in History, Founders of Faith and country people are popular with collectors throughout the United States, Japan and Europe.

Clark's creations reflect an extensive training in both theology and portraiture. "I try and present each statute with a dignity that comes from a life of worth," said Clark, a former professor of religious art at Davidson College. "My folk heroes show concern for their fellow man, a sense of duty and an inner peace."

Clark endows his Woodspirits not only with mood, but a whole personal history. Often coins are incorporated into the sculpture as symbols of the character's "heritage."

Clark's enthusiasm for his "family" of Cairn creations doesn't stop with their sculpting. To share his stories and demonstrate his art, he spends 42 weekends a year with his collectors, traveling from promotion to promotion around the country.

Wolfe's love of wildlife and his ability to create art from nature began at an early age. While growing up in rural Beaver County, Pa., he studied the lives and habits of God's wild creations. "I spent every spare moment outdoors -- walking the hills and woods and meadows, while sketching and observing the animals and birds I sought to know better."

In 1989 he started work as a sculptor's assistant to Clark. With Clark's encouragement and guidance, Wolfe has developed "Tracks," a new line of sculpture designed exclusively for Cairn Studio.

Paying close attention to nature, Wolfe's works are a blend of realism and a touch of whimsy. By capturing the animals' expressive features and their somewhat human-life characteristics, the artist has bestowed each creation with a distinct personality.

"It is my hope that through 'Tracks,' people will become more acquainted with the wildlife that may be as close as their back yard or woodlot. The natural world at one's doorstep can be as exciting and fascinating as a national park or a public zoo. I hope these animals will no longer be strangers, but friends you haven't yet met," Wolfe said.