Thanks for the vote of confidence Claudemir. I've had a lot of requests for a video and may consider that avenue some day. For now, my instruction book has been selling pretty well from my website and other online outlets.

Thanks Jimmie. The bronze patina is always scary since it is being done by the foundry and I don't have much control over how it turns out. I am taking a Ron Young patina workshop here in Phoenix next month to learn how to professionally patina my own bronzes.
Sofia's father got the statue the other day and voluntarily included this testimonial in his letter:

"The sculpture arrived yesterday, and we are so pleased. It turned out beautifully, and is an amazing likeness of my daughter. Thank you so much for creating such beautiful artwork that I know we'll treasure for years. You're an amazing artist. Thanks again, Heidi for a job well done. The sculpture way exceeded my expectations, and I couldn't be happier."

It's responses like that that make all those tedious hours worth while.

I need to spend some time later catching up on the forum but things are getting pretty busy I'm happy to report. The father wants two more sculptures - one of his other daughter and the other of himself. Got confirmation and a large deposit last week to begin 5 hyper-realistic life size busts for a private collection. The man is so happy with the first one so far, he recommended me to a studio he has ties with and they may have me make 15 more life size sculpture busts that they will make into latex super realistic figures and placed around a public auditorium. That would certainly be good practice and keep me out of trouble for the next couple of years at least.

"Busting Loose"
 

Wow, Heidi!

All that work coming in is fantastic news. You are so deserving of it, too.

I certainly hope you'll continue to post your work here. I so admire it. It is truly inspiring!

Thanks so much Molly!
These busts aren't exactly the type I envisioned making, but they are pretty fun.
I don't think I will be posting any of them on the forum because they are not traditional, but are FX portraits. I will post this example here of the first one I am working on - in progress is "Bela" as Dracula. I will mold it bald with no eyebrows and the FX studio will cast it in silicone, then add hair, paint, glass eyes, costume, etc. The type you see in the Tussaud museum. I can't wait to see it totally finished. What a kick.

Heidi-- How exciting! Congatulations!

Oh, but, please do. I don't think that any of us care that it's not "traditional" - this is completely fascinating, and I, for one, would like to see them all!

Watching Sofia come to live was a real treat. My hat (if I had one, that is) is off to you.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thanks Terri and Cindy!
I am becoming fascinated with this genre of sculpture myself. I just updated the photo above with a more recent shot. This type of clay is painstakingly slow to work with and the piece will be detailed down to the very last skin pore.

My to-do list of FX busts so far includes this Bela Lugosi, then Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Indiana Jones, Karloff as Frankenstein, and then Karloff as the Mummy. A far cry from pretty little Sofia! I'm pretty sure that Cynthia wouldn't appreciate my posting those characters on this forum, so feel free to visit my site from time to time if interested in seeing the progress/results.

Why not? It's portraiture, regardless of who it is. And, it show the process of a professional, doing her job. I can't imagine why it wouldn't be alright.

Cynthia?

So cool Heidi, you are taking the leap to our favorite place (Tussaud) eventually and those will be from life! I am so excited for you!

:) Beth

Heidi,
I so loved watching your WIP, I don't watch any TV so I was rushing home to see what you had done lately. Great to hear about all your new commissions. Good luck.

Janet

Wow! Congrats on all the work that is coming in! I will be watching on your site, and I am totally excited for you.

I will have to show this to my husband, he's a total movie nut and the only reason that I am familiar with the names above :-)