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[Tamara]

Wow Heidi! She looks so much the same but different in subtle ways. I tried to look for the areas that look "more human." This examination was like a lesson in advanced anatomy! I found that from the side view, the "after" ear was tilted at the same angle as the nose for accuracy. For a variance in structure of the two faces- I see the "after" nose more pointed and the jaw more pronounced, the lips are more petite and refined.

The "before" pic gives her a little bit of angry look, I think because the eyebrow comes down towards the center. She just looks so much more petite and thus prettier in my opinion on the second new pic. Of course, you're just going after likeness and realistic, whether that be prettier or not. But she's prettier to me.

I can't believe you sculpted for 16 hours straight! I've never sculpted that long in one sitting. Has anyone else here at the forum sculpted that long? Heidi's the Queen of endurance sculpting!!!! Pitbull Heidi!

~Tamara

BTW- My cold is gone but my sickoness didn't stop me from sculpting.
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[Heidi Maiers]

Thanks Tamara! She's coming along and I'm so glad I decided to rework her. You know the mantra - "If at first you don't succeed, blah blah.." It is always better though when I rework because I don't like it rather than because the client doesn't.
Also, you are right about the petiteness of her. The family says she was very petite, so I wanted to convey that and the original was looking a bit masculine and amazonish. I reshaped her entire skull, moved her eyes and ears and cheekbones, reshaped her forehead, cheeks, jawline, chin, nose, hair - well, just about every part of her.

Yes, 16 hours is too long to be standing in one spot (I never sculpt sitting down) and makes the old legs ache. Once I'm really into something, it's impossible to tear myself away - even when I absolutely have to take a little potty break! The only way I can put it away is if I turn it around backwards and absolutely do not even glance at it as I am wrapping it up. One small peek and I'm there for another 3 hours. Thank goodness for dried fruit and nuts (of all kinds) - it's a quick and easy snack that keeps your mind fueled.

Glad you are over your cold! Being sick is such a waste of time and really sucks your energy.
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[Paula Slater]

Hi Heidi,

I love the resculpted version even more than the first portrait! As Tamara said, the first version looked a little angry or sad to me as well. I think in this portrait you have captured her soul. And even though I had liked the flowers and lace on her bodice, this portrait will be much more classic.

I too have sculpted long hours like that, either because of a deadline or just "unbriddled enthusiasm" (like Billy Mumfree, for fellow Seinfeld fans). I don't have as much energy as I did ten or twenty years ago, darn, but sometimes can't tear myself away till I'm totally whipped out! Sicko is right.

Talk again soon,
Paula

[Chuck Williams]

Well worth the effort Heidi!

It's beautiful!

The subtle changes in the structure really made it come alive. I'm sure the family is even more impressed with your work.

One more reason I'm glad I joined here is that Stuarts words have stuck with me as well. I keep telling myself "don't rush to the surface."

Congratulations,Well Done!!

Chuck...

[Stuart]

[Paula Slater]

Heidi and Stuart are both one-photo-portrait-wonders!

Both portrait busts look so very natural and alive. Great job!

[Heidi Maiers]

Brilliant Stuart! Really like how you did the eyes and eyebrows - they look very kind. Interesting little mouth too and you rendered it perfectly.
Great suggestion to reverse the image - I hadn't done that. Makes it much easier to see it in front of you than trying to reverse the image in your brain.
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[Heidi Maiers]

Well, I think she's really done this time.
I still have a long ways to go before I will have mastered the two things in Stuart's work that makes it really extraordinary. That is his ability to bring out the fleshiness of his subjects, and the hair treatment is sculpturally magnificent. Always seeking to improve and it's good to be inspired, so thanks for posting that Stuart.


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[Tamara]

Heidi,

I love this forum because it's made up of some of the best artists I know and ones that share insights that inspire us on to better works.

Well, I know your client will love their ancestress very much. She's wonderful. As far as fleshiness goes, my thought is that doing a young woman with firm fresh skin will tend to not look have that fleshy look to it. So it's not a true comparison with Stuart's. Now if she were an older woman, you'd have all the opportunity to have the looser skin showing and wrinkles and flesh really apparent. That's just my two cents on the subject. Maybe there are some areas on this young woman's face that you could have shown the realness of even a young face that may have a perk of flesh up here or there, I don't know. I'm too new to studying faces.

Thanks for sharing the whole process and pics,

~Tamara
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[Stuart]

It's true Tamara that young firm flesh tends not to show the effects of gravity............and, in my opinion it is the most difficult to represent, young women and children THE most difficult.
One photo of a young pretty woman with minimal expression must certainly have compounded the difficulties for Heidi.

If working very realistically we are reduced to determining the farthest most point from the center of the head of each form. With intense study we begin to see what happens when gravity takes effect even in a young face.

If you have access to a life class or a the body of someone close to you who won't be offeneded, study carefully any large fleshy form..........big tummy, bottom or breast in profile and figure out where the weight is and the roundest parts and flattest planes. Try and draw it to begin with.
The same rules apply to smaller and tighter areas including the face.

This is a very difficult area to grasp, and even more difficult to put into practice.................. but when you get it, and apply it to your work it makes a huge impact.

Stuart

[Roger Andrews]

Heidi,

You are a superb sculptor and this is yet another wonderful example of your work and ability.

More importantly, your generosity of heart empowers you to share your ability and talent with others and through that generosity and this unique forum, which you have established, inspire other talented artists to share their gifts and ability for the good of all.

No matter what level of skill, success or charisma our work might exhibit there is something for everyone to be grateful for here.

I'm off before the violins start playing.

My sincere thanks

Roger

[Harry Hamill]

Both great examples Stuart and Heidi!

I'm struggling to see, understand and accurately portray those aspects of anatomy that convey a sense of life, emotion and presence in my work so it's very helpful to see a piece evolve like this Heidi, watch the changes you make and the results.

I feel like I'm taking babysteps but at least in the right direction, the more I look, the more I see....
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[Heidi Maiers]

I agree - pretty women and children are the toughest to do. Just one photo of them just compounds the difficulties. It seems like it would be easier because you only have to make it look like that person from that one angle and the rest can look however you interpret, but the truth is that without all that missing information, it's really difficult to get it to look like that person at all.

Roger, very kind of you to say. I'm just so glad to have a board where such excellent sculptors can come together and share their knowledge with such helpful spirit. None of that trying to impress eachother stuff going on here - just sculptors helping sculptors to be the best they can be. I like that.
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[Heidi Maiers]

Update - went to the foundry today to pick up the bronzes. They did a great job, and only 4 weeks to make the two. This is just after chasing, not even cleaned up yet. Waiting for final decision on the patina.

I am thinking about making an outdoor oven that I can use for patina-ing. Big enough to accommodate a large piece, opens from the front, has a metal turntable inside, and I can get really dirty without hurting anything. Worked in a regular oven for a small piece, so I'm hoping to be able to heat up the piece to 300, keep it hot, and have my hands free to do a quick and controlled finish. Have it all drawn out, so will be interesting to see if it works as well as hoped. I'll let you know how it goes.



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Heidi Maiers
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[Tamara]

Oh, she is so pretty. Her skin looks as smooth as silk. The clarity of the eyes and perked lips - well, I just love her. Can't believe this is the non cleaned up version in bronze. They sure do a great job at that foundry.

If I recall correctly- my bronzes aren't that color- even before the metal sanding. Hmmm.... these look kinda cream colored on my computer screen. Well, I like the color of these as they are now~

Hope you can post a few pics of the finished patina. Also a pic of your oven set up. Always interesting what you come up with.

~Tamara
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