Self portrait

Heidi Maiers · 11-21-2006, 12:11 AM

Here's a little half-size self portrait I made one weekend this month when I was feeling pretty glum. Can you tell?
My family doesn't like it, so I'm making a more pleasant version to go along with it. I'll call the pair "Jeckle and Heidi" (maybe)
The casting shown is just resin.

Mischa Milosevic · 11-21-2006, 05:30 AM

Heidi, this is awesome! I think this one has character and something to talk about. Making another would be quite the thing to do and if I may suggest a title or two, "She and I" "Heidi and I" (please no Jeckle).

Heidi Maiers · 11-22-2006, 04:54 PM

Thanks Mischa. Here is about 15 minutes of reworking the clay original for the start of the lighter version. Maybe "Two Faces of Me" would be more suitable.

Alexandra Tyng · 11-22-2006, 08:10 PM

Heidi, I think these are the most fascinating of your sculptures I've seen to date. I find myself staring at them for long periods of time. They have so much depth and character, and an elusive quality that defies description. Maybe it has something to do with just creating whatever you feel like, an unleashing of your power of choice. The slight roughness is very appealing.

As for the title, the ambiguity of Mischa's suggestion appeals to me, but I also like yours because it's very straightforward. Either way, the pieces speak for themselves.

Mischa Milosevic · 11-23-2006, 07:11 AM

Heidi, They look grate! When asked "Two faces of me" is the title to be but when asked which one are you today? When in a conversation and personified then she/her and I mite be. Just a thought. I like your art and the idea of doing two self portraits like this is fabulous.

Heidi Maiers · 11-23-2006, 01:36 PM

Thanks so much Alexandra and Mischa.
Alexandra, I also find that the paintings you make that are not commissions, such as the one you did of your mother, are extraordinarily interesting. I think you have a point about having a certain creative freedom that comes along with doing your own thing.

Mischa, I like your titles, thanks for the thoughtful suggestions.These pieces aren't really a reflection of my moods, however, so think I have decided on a title along the lines of "Me and My Mask". The first shows who I really am, and the second shows the happy mask that I put on whenever I am in the presence of others.

Claudemir Bonfim · 11-24-2006, 01:47 PM

Hi Heidi,

Both of them are great. If I had to choose one... I'd certainly choose the second one, but as I said before, both are great!

Carlos Ygoa · 11-24-2006, 06:15 PM

Heidi,
I have always wondered why people (clients or others) are always reluctant to accept an expression on a face that is other than happy or smiling. Sad solemn or serious are always "taboo", like as if they were not part of the human reality. For me at least, the greatest portraits (in the truest sense of the word) in the history of art do not have smiles on them.

Bravo that you have made a piece because that is the way you wanted it to look! And the second one is fine as well. The technical level on both is, as usual, number one. Congratulations.

Michele Rushworth · 11-25-2006, 12:10 PM

I think they make a nice pair, to be displayed together. I once saw a painted double self portrait showing different aspects of an artist's personality and she titled it "The Real Me". The viewer was left to decide which one was the "real" one.

I also agree that these are possibly the most compelling of your sculptures I have seen to date. Very alive.

Chris Saper · 11-27-2006, 06:46 PM

Heidi,

They are both wonderful, (in addition to being stunning likenesses), and I love the idea of displaying them together. Doing so will certainly give your clients a feel for the narrative and mood possibilities. In fact, try to get EVERYONE to commission two