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 Cairn
Studio Gnomes aren’t just any old gnomes. They are story-telling
sculptures. By their very presence and character, they reflect
and contagiously spread the philosophy of Dr. Clark, a kind
and gentle man whose life’s aim has been to share with
others the beauty, joy, love and ‘inherent friendliness
of the universe.’
Meet
Thomas F. Clark, lead artist for the internationally renowned
Cairn Studio. This is a man on a mission; a retired theology
professor whose innate passion for life and art has made him
one of the most prolific andcollectible sculptors ever known.
Born
in 1928 in Elizabethtown, North Carolina, Dr. Thomas Clark
received his B.A. from Davidson College and his Ph.D. from
the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He was an associate
professor of theology and religious art at his alma mater,
Davidson College, for over 25 years. Once retired, he decided
to concentrate on his art full-time, and in 1978, he sculpted
a small gnome for his own amusement. With his unbounded imagination,
Dr. Clark starting sculpting more and more forest-dwellers.
He started researching the historical and legendary details
of his subjects and made hundreds of sketches and practice
models before attaining the look and level of detail he desired.
Never
mass manufactured, each Cairn Studio creation literally takes
on a life of its own through a lengthy and extensively time-consuming
process. Let’s have a look at this process, from the
beginning, with the sculpture model for a new mold!
The
artist picks out his preferred medium. Typically, this will
be stone, clay, wax or wood. The original sculpture is painstakingly
created (perhaps taking weeks or even months) with all the
details in place, even at this early juncture.
Once
approved by the Studio, a mold is then crafted from the original
sculpture. Unknown to many, mold-making is an intensive art
form in itself, taking years and years of practice to achieve
a level of proficiency necessary for superior, top-class results.
Cairn Studio uses a unique method of ‘hybrid’
casting; a mixture of porcelain molding techniques combined
with the ancient art of lost-wax processing.
 After
the master mold is completed, each figurine is cast in clear
resin with a specialized filler compound, specially manufactured
by Cairn Studio to capture the intricate laugh lines, wrinkles,
buttons, facial expressions and stitches of each figure. Highly
complicated sculptures can be rendered with pin-point precision
due to this unique modeling compound.
Due
to the extreme heat that this modeling mixture produces, each
mold has a highly restricted lifetime. Typically, most molds
have a life expectancy of 35 castings. This is what makes
a Cairn Studio figure so distinctive. Every figure, without
exception, is a limited edition. Every mold will be retired
at some point, hence increasing the value of every single
piece created.
After
de-molding, each figurine is inspected according to the strict
specifications set down by Dr. Clark and the artist. The mold
seams are subsequentially hand-sanded and all component sculpture
parts, such as hats, coins, etc., are signed, dated and numbered.
The figure is then hand-coated with a solvent which prepares
the surface for painting.
Talented
painters then hand-paint (using the free-hand method) every
figure. They employ the use of a specially manufactured paint
that is totally compatible with the soon-to-be applied antiquing
stain.
After
the paint is dry, the sculpture is hand-coated with the unique
stain mixture, special to Cairn Studio. The stain is hand-brushed
until the proper finish is obtained. A one-of-a-kind thinner
is then hand-rubbed onto the piece to ensure that all intricate
details are evident. This is where the character and personality
of each figure is ‘brought to life”. To capture
the mood, tone and presence of the original sculpture is extraordinarily
difficult, but once captured, is worth the time and effort
involved.
Once
more, the figurine undergoes a detailed inspection. If it
then meets the demanding criteria of Cairn Studio, the piece
is hand-lacquered and sealed. Each figure is then bottom-felted
and placed in a box with its own collector’s registration
card and certificate of authenticity.
Share
the joy, share the philosophy. Share the mission of Dr. Thomas
F. Clark; concern for your fellowman and a deep inner peace
that comes from a life of worth. With over 3 million collectors
throughout every nation on earth, the message is being spread.
What are you waiting for? Your own limited edition story-teller
awaits.
Copyright
2006 www.OutdoorDecor.com
Kay
Stone, OutdoorDecor.com Staff Writer
www.cairnstudio.com
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