Isabella
 

Hi everyone,
Haven't posted in a while even though I just had the busiest year ever of my career so far. Finished with all that (25 pieces), and starting on some new projects.
Here is a quickie miniature I just finished - 5 inches tall. I did her big sister a few years ago, and now that this little cutie is older (I only will do a portrait commissions on children ages 3 or older) it was her turn. This is the finished polymer version and I am in the process of molding her and will send that to my foundry in Prescott where they will make a bronze version. I'll post that one here when I get it back and apply the patina. The polymer is not really suitable as a final medium and I keep those originals for my own collection.
Comments, good or bad, welcome.

Dear Heidi,

What a lovely little piece with so much attitude! Can you send some additional views when you have them - before or after the patina?

I have purchased and read (still rereading) Heidi's excellent e-book - so articulate and fabulously illustrated - you can buy it here.

Heidi, what kind of base will you make for this piece?

PS I really enjoyed reading about how you create "blue-eyed" subjects in clay - you might comment briefly on that if you get a chance:)

Heidi,

This is beautiful--so masterfully done and so lifelike. It is always a treat to see your work.
Before reading Chris

Thanks so much for your comments Chris and Carlos - and of course for your book recommendation Chris!

Chris - When I'm done with the mold, I'll cast a (test) granite version (almond colored) and take a decent set of photos at a few angles and send you a set in the round - probably post one here of that version also from the other side. The base will probably just be a small black walnut tapered pedestal to match the one made of her older sister.

Carlos - right you are! She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She wasn't very happy to have to sit for photos - she is a cutie with impish little eyes.

Seems every time I make a bust, I try something just a little different with eye treatment. The main thing about color is the depth. The deeper you make them, the darker the eye color appears. Same with hair - hair made with lots of cuts and shadows gives the impression of a darker hair color.

Heidi,

This is such fine work. Her expression is so utterly, convincingly lifelike. Though I don't know much (except what you and other sculptors have told me) about the process, the impression of life and movement is what draws me to a sculpture of a person or animal. You've succeeded superbly!

Thanks Alexandra! I respect all of your work immensely, so your gracious comments are not taken lightly. It is a pretty straight forward portrait. I recall Garth's bust of a little girl of about the same age where he was really able to portray her squirmy nature with her neck and shoulders all scrunched and twisted. Loved that one.

I did find this other angle that I snapped just before I started molding her, but all of this set turned out super blurry (the one above was the least) due to not taking the time to go get my tripod to steady my hand. Impossible to get clear photos on a small piece, in low light, with the delayed shutter speed, without a tripod! Doh!

Heidi--

This is great! I'll bet it will REALLY swing when the light hits the bronze...

Best--TE

Thanks Tom! Swing?
Here's a couple angles of the granite version. Looks quite a bit different in this medium.

I'm showing my age here...."swing" as in musical expression, primarily jazz, where the result has an indefinable feeling of life and human essence that results from artistic exploration and expression at the time of creation, that isn't contained in or explained by the musical score itself, ie., the notes on the page.

Or in more pedestrian definitions, courtesy of Webster's:
4 b: to play or sing with a lively compelling rhythm; specifically: to play swing music
8 a: to be lively, exciting, and up-to-date

Or as the old song says:
"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!"

Your work swings.

Heidi, what a terrific piece! I love the speckled stone and the grace and charm of this little girl. It's wonderful to see you on here again and I'm so glad to hear you've had so much work.

I'm so glad Chris has posted that link - I've always wanted to sculpt something other than PlayDoh monsters. I'm ordering a book right away. :)

Bravo... Nice piece. She looked like a very serious little girl in the clay, but seems to have softened in the cast version.

Peace,

What a lovely piece ,Heidi !
That's so interresting to see different cast versions.

Oh, I get it Tom - nice thing to say! Thought at first it was a typo and you meant to say "sing" or something.

Linda - thank you missy! Stopped by your site to see what you have been up to lately. Fabulous as always. Maybe I'll have you and Chris over for a sculpting jam!

David and Marina - thanks for that. I think a lot of the different look has to do with the lighting, but it is fun to see how different the same piece can look in different mediums/patinas/angles/lighting, etc. Makes it hard to choose (especially for the client!)

I expect to get Isabella back from the foundry this week. While she was there, got to work on this other project, which was a fun one. Modeled in ceramic, this life size piece (head and upper chest) was made from only one resource photo of the client's ancestor. A wedding photo from 1860. Here is a teaser of her face. I'll post the whole thing once she's immortalized in bronze. The relatives like it so much, they may all order a copy, which would be great.

WOW That's all I can say. These busts absolutely amaze me. This last one is breathtaking.

Heidi,

She is beautiful!

Heidi, you do indeed work a kind of magic that is beyond my comprehension. I'm three-dimensionally-impaired and have no concept of how you could achieve what you do -- especially that last one with only one old photo as reference. Magnificent, all of them!

Wow, Heidi! She is so alive I did a double take. Can't wait to see the entire thing.

Thanks so much you guys! You are all so kind.

Client on this was away on holiday for a time, so finally got back to me with final changes. Only thing he wants different is to change the flowers on her lapel and to have the dress material made out of lace instead of the tweed pattern I currently have on it. No problem. I'll take some photos of the whole thing later today and post one.

Can you show us how you change the texture from tweed to lace? I would love to see how you make lace in clay, and how you decide on the degree of detail.

Alexandra,
Here are some photos of the whole bust, hopefully finished modeling.
The lace patterning is pretty easy in clay. I just choose a pattern I like, overlay the lace on the clay, and then paint the lace with a liquid clay slip (just mix clay and water to the consistency of mayonnaise. Then simply pull the lace off and you are left with the pattern intact. It will translate nicely into bronze.

(June)
I am removing these front photos. After recieving permission to mold it (client loved it) I decided I was really not happy with it and could do better. I am in the process of completely resculpting her head. Scary to do that this late, but glad I did. It is looking 1000% better. More structurally correct, closer likeness, and much prettier and petite looking. I'll post the finished version in it's own thread and let you compare the before and after revisions.

Final post here to just add the finished bronze version of the tiny Isabella statue. Color is deceptive in this photo - she is nearly white.

Heidi, these are exciting for me to look at! Great work. If you feel inclined I'd be very grateful to see future sculptures as works in progress. I'm fascinated by sculpture.