Clay Critters & Characters by Sig

About The Artist

Jack Siegfried is a native of the Lehigh Valley area in Pennsylvania, and, except for a period of four years, has resided in the Lehigh Valley his entire life.  Graduated from Moravian College with a degree in History, he taught senior high school Social Studies for fourteen years.  During this period, he earned a Masters Degree in the Social Sciences.

After leaving the teaching profession, he began what would become a thirteen-year career in retail management.  Until recently, he was employed as a technical support person for an international computer software company.

Artistic Background 

Jack has maintained a lifelong interest in the arts.  In high school, he took several art courses, which directed his random doodling into a disciplined approach to artistic expression.  He also took elective art courses in college, and created numerous sketches and drawings, using pencil, charcoal, pen-and-ink, pastels, and oil-based paints.  He utilized his artistic skills, while teaching, to create historic displays and presentations  in his classroom to create a learning laboratory.

But, when he discovered polymer clay eighteen years ago, his artistic expression took off in an entirely new direction.  No longer bound to a two-dimensional flat surface, he found new freedoms in sculpting.  He had always had an eye for proportion and perspective, and this aided him in creating the detail in facial expression, body size and position.

His first ventures in this medium were representations of Hopi Kachinas, "Bersonalities" [small collectible teddy bears manifesting human behavior], and "Klay Kinder" [figures inspired by the featureless dolls created by the Amish and Mennonites in nearby Lancaster County).

Jack's training in History and Anthropology, coupled with a love of research and a vivid imagination, let to the creation of "Olde World Santas","Fantasy Folk", and "Warriors of the World" sculptures.  While he still creates "Klay Kachinas", and has incorporated the "Bearsonalities" into his "Furry Friends" series, he has become captivated with the European history and cultural expressions and traditions surrounding the figure we have come to cherish as "Santa Claus"

The "Fantasy Folk" and "Abbey Antics" series provide an outlet for creative expressions of a lively imagination.  The Fantasy Folk spring from dreams, musical impressions, and the inspiration and support of his loving wife, whose suggestions have been a source of many of his renderings.