Gary

Heidi Maiers · 01-08-2005, 11:18 PM

This took me forever and a day to complete - and a whole lot of muscle power, but at long last this 150% life-size bust is finally finished.

He looks like a stern, serious fellow - but this lovely man is my wonderful husband, so this bust is now a personal treasure of mine (and so is he of course).

Made of fired ceramic on a mahogany base, bronze coating patina. 28Hx 19W x 17D

Mary Sparrow · 01-09-2005, 09:15 AM

You never cease to amaze me Heidi, it is incredible. How does he feel about having his double sitting around the house?

Heidi Maiers · 01-09-2005, 01:04 PM

Thanks Mary,
He took pride in designing and making the base for it - turned out really nice I think.

He is also glad, as am I , that I can now toss the last one I made of him in 2000. Speaking of which, I thought it would be fun to post a picture of it. It is completely awful, so don't laugh. It's about 60% life size.

It's good to be able to look back at your older works and see that you are making progress. Gives me encouragement to keep at it and hope that in another 4 years, I will be ready to toss this new one for a much better one in its place.

Jimmie Arroyo · 01-09-2005, 02:16 PM

Wow, do you need to take tons of photo references at several angles, or does he sit for you, and you move around him? Other than the difficulty of seeing the details on such a dark piece, I'm sure the one in 2000 still looks good with a completely different expression. But what's important about this piece is that you are always willing to improve and not settle. Congrats.

Heidi Maiers · 01-09-2005, 03:11 PM

Hi Jimmie,

I knew going into this one that he would not be a very cooperative model. He is the type of guy that can't sit still for any length of time doing absolutely nothing so I took a series of photographs like I do with my real clients.

I did manage to get him to sit for me once, but after 5 minutes, he had such a look of complete and utter boredom on his face that I felt sorry for him and dismissed him. He did make the comment at one point when nearing completion that he would be glad when I was finished with this one so I would stop staring at him all the time.

Geary Wootten · 01-09-2005, 06:18 PM

Two things you can never go wrong with.....One: Viewing for pleasure, one of Heidi Maiers' sculptures. Two: Marrying a guy named Gary. Well...most of 'em anyway. The way to be sure is to get ahold of one that doesn't know exactly HOW to spell Gary.....you know the guys that add "e" or two "r's" or something weird like that.

Truly, Heidi.....your work just sits me down and makes me gawk. I have even needed a kleenex a couple of times while viewing your work....it's THAT emotional. Thanks again for sharing your work.

~Geary

Terri Ficenec · 01-09-2005, 07:20 PM

Heidi, this is really neat. I love the finish on it and his expression looks real and natural. He has a real presence. I was surprised to see that it was ~150% of life size. Don't know if am remembering correctly, but do you normally work smaller (sometimes MUCH smaller)? If so, how did you find working on a grand scale?

Also, could you possibly post a shot from the angle that he's looking towards?

Heidi Maiers · 01-09-2005, 07:43 PM

Thanks Geary and Terri,

By the way Geary, how does one pronounce your name? Is it

Chris Saper · 01-09-2005, 10:18 PM

Heidi,

Ths is really a WOW piece. I don't know how you do this! From a personal standpoint, I really appreciate your sharing of the process as much as the result. I could never do what you do.

Holly Snyder · 01-10-2005, 12:27 PM

Hi Heidi,

This is really wonderful. And to my uneducated eye it does seem like you've made remarkable strides since 2000. I also would like to see a shot from the direction he's looking towards, if you have one.

Holly