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Tamara · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:03 pm Post subject:

She's looking so good. Thanks for the closeup shot.

Heidi Maiers · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:16 pm Post subject:

Tamara · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:21 pm Post subject:

Heidi- Mark probably has more pics but here's a couple that have an indications of eyelash line. ..

http://www.thesculptorscorner.com/Newman/BIG29.htm

Especially this one....

http://www.thesculptorscorner.com/Newman/BIG39.htm

So I kind of did a lash line on my lady but I made it slightly jagged on the edges instead of perfectly smooth as he has the line. They barely show up but I just couldn't stand to not have them at all. I guess I'm addicted to showing eyelashes. It's ultra feminine. But not if they look Tammy Fae like. I understand that for sure.

-Tamara
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Mark Newman · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 76 Location: Oakland, CA.

Hello Heidi and Tamara,

Heidi, I've been meening to chime in here to tell you how much I enjoy
seeing how you work. This is so insightfull as to how to work in ceramic
clay. I don't have much experience in ceramic clay that will actually be
fired. This is such a great forum. I still look back often at your Bella
portrait. That's the most amazing sculpture and likness I've ever seen.
You are truely on of the best portrait artist I've come across.

Here are some pics showing what I usually do to indicate eyelashes.
I just indicate them as a shape or ridge comming off the lid. Although
somtimes it can look a bit heavy I like the way it kind of shades the eyeball.. casting a shadow to soften the look.
Well... theres my two cents, don't spend it all in one place.

Heidi Maiers · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys for your input on eyelashes. I'll have to think about that one. I'm not sure I care for the look of that type of treatment. Now, the hair treatment - that is to die for! I also love the final surface treatment you used on that one.
Mark, thanks so much for your nice comments. I still struggle mightily with every piece and feel I'm a mediocre sculptor at best. I guess that's a good thing since it leaves lots of room for imporvement. Hasn't Tamara come a long way in a short time?! She is a quick learner.
About that Bela - I don't know what will become of that one. I asked my client in January to approve the final for molding and he seems to have disappeared, leaving me holding the bag so to speak. I guess I can either tear it down or try to find another buyer for the mold if I don't hear from him again. Just all so aggravating when people leave you in limboland wondering.
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Tamara · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:12 pm Post subject:

Mark Newman · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 76 Location: Oakland, CA.

Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:39 am Post subject:

Thanks for the offer Mark, I may need to take you up on that.
I bought the molding materials for this when I first accepted the commission, so I might as well use them. My client hasn't asked for his deposit back, and has never indicated in any way that he doesn't want it so I don't know if I should just wait or what. Well, I'll try to get some difinitive answers and let you know.
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Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:46 pm Post subject:

Update from weekend #2. Still trying to get her likeness. It's looking more like her, but still not quite right and I am hating the front, so here is just the side. Added the start of the clip and hair tuft.

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Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:03 pm Post subject:

Well, I thought it over and gave it a try. She just doesn't look right without eyelashes so I went ahead and added some. Doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. What do you think? Thanks for the suggestion Mark and Tamara. Still working on that elusive likeness, but getting closer.

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Tamara · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject:

Hi Heidi,

She's such a pretty girl that I can see why you want to add eyelashes.

From the side view it looks like maybe the angle of the eyelashes is too vertical. To me they kind of look like wings on the eyes. Maybe if they weren't quite that long would help, just to cast the shadow on the eye but not be so apparent. Also, was thinking that they eyelashes would be somewhat the same length. You have the eyelashes tapering strongly to shorter lashes as they go towards the center of the eye. I think those eyelashes on the inner part of the eye would be a bit shorter but not quite the length as the eyelashes that grow directly over the center of the eye.

Maybe it would be good to make the eyelid just a little bit thicker and then have it come out over the eyeball to cast a shadow kind of how Mark's first pic in this thread shows her eye. Maybe a few lines in the eyelashes would be nice to to give color to the eyelashes.

Please keep us posted with how things go. Smile

This is enjoyable to watch and see how your lady is developing.

-Tamara
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Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:52 pm Post subject:

Hey, thanks for your input Tamara. I'll have to agree - after snapping these photos, I also thought the lashes were a bit too vertical and long. I'm sure they will undergo many changes before I'm done, just like the rest of the bust. I think the bust needs some lash indication as part of her portrait because she had on a lot of mascara, which told me she thought they were an important part of her look. I also agree with the comment you made about lashes being very feminine.
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Heidi Maiers · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:37 pm Post subject:

I was curious as to how the romans and greeks finished the eyes on their sculpture. When you see them now, most are without pupil, brows, and lashes. It seems they just painted them on. Here is a rare example that was uncovered. Many of them have carved pupils and eyebrows and I'm wondering if and how they painted those. Would be interesting to see what they looked like before thousands of years of time wiped away any temporary additions they might have had.

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Mark Newman · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 76 Location: Oakland, CA.

Hello Heidi,

I like how your eye lashes look on your portrait but I do agree with Tamara about being a little bit too vertical and perhaps a bit too heavy looking. I know you'll play around with them a bit more before you find what works best for this particular person. I think the eye lashes do play a part in helping portray a persons ethnicity. I myself would tend to keep the eyelashes looking lighter and finer looking on a blond haired blue eyed person. (Even if she does tend to ware a lot of mascara).

That is interesting about the eye treatment on the Roman and Greek
sculptures. I've never actually seen an example of the painted sculpture.
Only read about it. It kinda makes it look silly or cartoony, at least in that examle.

Mark.

Tamara · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:58 am Post subject:

Hi Heidi,

That's an interesting picture of how they painted the eye. Funny how they put the white highlight right under the pupil. I guess if the light was coming from below it would have the highlight there. I tried to find other examples of how painted eyes but couldn't find any. Must be a rare example for sure.

Anyway, I know you'll get your eyes on your portrait just right as you play around and make adjustments here and there. She's looking great so far!

-Tamara
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