Now for something completely different

[Heidi Maiers]

Well, I suppose this classifies as a portrait since the face in this corbel is actually a miniature portrait of the guy who commissioned this. My first Functional art portrait piece! Size is 5.25 x 11 x 6

This is the first test cast of a series of corbels I am making for this client to have installed against his ceiling beams - the others will have other family member's faces swapped out in place of his.

An interesting job, and I know now why I didn't go down the path to becoming an architect. Making things straight is a lot harder than you'd think. Engineering the mold for this was a particular challenge, but worked out just as planned, thank goodness.

The series of corbels will be cast in a faux granite type of material to try to match the portland stone of his exotic gothic 7' fireplace mantle.

Anyway, thought some of you might get a kick out of seeing portrait art incorporated into more than just a canvas. If this type of work is not appropriate for this section Cynthia, go ahead and delete it - you won't hurt my feelings.

[Marina Dieul]

Great job Heidi!
This commission is a real challenge.
I love the result , and it's so refreshing to see something different!
I hope you will post the entire series.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Heidi,

This is wonderful! It reminds me of the Victorian age (which I love) when newly rich businessmen commissioned all sorts of over-the-top personal ornamentation and carvings for their home decor. There's kind of whimsy, too, that is Victorian, and Gothic, too. All those sculptors carved individual faces of real people into the gargoyles and other ornamentation on cathedrals.

On the other hand, your corbel isn't trying to be faux-old, so it is thoroughly modern. It's beautifully executed with that combination of precision and humanity. I can't wait to see the others!

[Julie Deane]

Whimsy! I love it!

[Tom Edgerton]

Great work, Heidi!

Nice to have a client with money enough not to care, and who trusts artists to do their work as well as they know how. Wish there were more of them.

What a fantastic project!

Best--TE

[Heidi Maiers]

Thanks so much for your comments guys,
It's a scary thing when someone makes a request of you for something you've never done before. Also nice to be able to do R&D with someone else footin the bill!
I just got the granite samples today and am anxious to try them out.
I also made several gothic wall niches for him with a light on top for several of the sculptures I sent him. That one was a total flop at first. I made it out of ceramic and when I fired it, it warped horribly and was unusable. I completely resculpted it in an oil based clay and molded it for castings. Worked out much better and now I have the mold to sell additional copies.
Here is that niche if you care to take a peek:
http://www.heidimaiers.com/HTMGalleries/Niche.htm

Have any of you been asked to paint in mediums your not familiar with, or on objects other than canvas? Might make an interesting topic.

[Linda Ciallelo]

I love this. I am enchanted by all things "old English". This is particularly clever and well done. Maybe you will start a trend.
Of course it need not be English, but maybe Northern European.

[Garth Herrick]

Dear Heidi,

Now you have everyone smiling with your whimsical portrait! I love it!

The design and execution is so well done. This is so lively, and I think we can even hear the guy telling a riddle about his home renovations.

Deletion? Never! Congratulations.

Garth