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Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject: 1860's Bride

Here's the latest project pretty much finished modeling. Challenging piece with only one reference photo from 1860 and descriptions from relatives to work with. Made her eyes shallow since they said they were light blue. Had to make up the back, so did a sort of braided bun with combs.
There is another photo of the front of her here, almost completed:
http://portrait-sculpture.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=376

I'll post the bronze when she's all done.

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Paula Slater · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:

Beautiful! I enjoyed seeing more photographs of her on your website.

I hope your client has you cast her in bronze. She is so finely sculpted, she would be stunning in bronze--a real museum piece.

Love and Light,
Paula

Tamara · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 9:33 am Post subject: ~

Hi Heidi,

That little bit of surface texture on the skin softens the face and looks great. Light eyes look very nice how you did them. That bun in the back and the combs are a perfect choice, I think, for that time period.

Look forward to the bronze pics!

~Tamara
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Matt Springer · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Atlanta,GA

Beautiful! I'm sure the client will be thrilled with the piece.

Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

Thanks Tamara, Paula, and Matt!
I only had one change request on this, and that was to make the dress material a lace rather than a tweed. No problem. Hopefully I can mold her now.

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Harry Hamill · Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 24

Very nice Heidi!

How'd you do the lace? Use actual lace?
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Paula Slater · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject:

Very pretty with the lace! I also like the raised base, which gives it even more presence.

Have a great weekend Smile

Paula

Dan Adams · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Los Angeles

Very nice! So intricate, yet delicate.

Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:54 am Post subject:

Many thanks!
Harry, yes, real lace. I have a whole collection of different patterns. Picked one I liked for this then just paint it on with slip and pull it off leaving pattern intact.
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Harry Hamill · Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 24

Ahh, cool.

I think the lace adds great contrast to the emotion she's projecting. She comes across as a very strong individual, yet the lace softens her up a bit. I think the tweed would've been too masculine.
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Jamie · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 55

That`s lovely Heidi. Also, really like the intricate cloth patterns.
Jamie
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Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject:

Well, it took the family a month to decide about the flowers and the lace and finally decided no flowers, and mesh instead of lace. No problem. I did those changes, the client loved the whole thing and gave approval to mold it.

Call me crazy - I'm sure I'm a bona fide lune. Maybe just a masochist - or perhaps an obsessive perfectionist?
After setting it aside for a month and getting a fresh look at it, I just couldn't leave it alone. The likeness just wasn't there, plus I could see the whole head was lopsided. (Did the mirror trick and also slipped on a pair of glasses to confirm).

I am either very brave or very stupid because I took a big rake and shaved the entire head back down to the skull. Literally. Instead of trying to figure her out from one 2D photo, I am more relying on what I know about anatomy. It is looking much more like her already. (Have been staying up until 2AM every night this week and I have to get up at 5 to go to work!)

Like Stuart keeps telling us all - start slow, get the forms right first and don't rush to detail - and most important - Work From the Inside out! So important and makes such a huge difference and should save you countless hours of back peddling (next time, I promise!). Thanks for that Stuart.

Good thing I don't rely on the income from sculpting. In some ways, this is why I don't. It gives me the freedom to start all over if I'm not happy with a piece and not have to worry about making the next mortgage payment.
Anyway, I'll post photos of the "after" when I get her back to a finished state.

Thank goodness my client didn't freak out. He just said "I trust your judgment and can't wait to see the revitalized version soon"
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Paula Slater · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

Oh boy, brave move! Good luck. She was beautiful before--I look forward to seeing the resculpt, but try to get caught up on your sleep too. Presently, I'm sick again because of sculpting too many hours and not getting enough sleep, so I should listen to my own advice Rolling Eyes

Tamara · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject:

Heidi,

O.k. You're crazy and a bona fide lune!

Very Happy

Actually, you make me feel much better. - Just hearing that you made a face that was lopsided (although it looked perfect to me) and that you also obsessively strive for perfection!- makes me feel understood cuz my personality is that way too.

I know that you will do a great job on her, once again, hee, hee.

Paula- I just am getting over a cold as I over did it at the art festival this past weekend. Didn't sell anything but was my first time learning to speak about my sculptures with the public. Wink

Get well soon!

~Tamara
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Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject:

Hey you two sickos - hope you got rested today. Not me, I sculpted for 16 hours straight. I think I've made a lot of progress and it is looking much more like her now (I hope my client agrees). Much more human also! The decision to rework was a good one. Good practice too. Here's a peek of the before and after reworking.

Although time consuming, never be afraid to make major changes if you're not happy with something. I often hear people say "I spent a lot of time on that and don't want to redo it. Maybe next time." I say, just do it - you'll be glad you did and grow your skill level in the meantime.

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