Quick Study Maquette
 

Love working from life and am trying to get more movement and a looser, fresher feel to my pieces lately. Tedious commissions have gotten to be a real bore.

This is a little maquette gesture I made in about 2 hours on Saturday in preparation for a larger bust study that will also be made from life.

Modeled in polymer clay, head is only about 2 inches tall. Good to do a maquette first to work out the whole form - gesture, planes, and angles in the round - before translating that quick inspiration into a larger, slower piece.

One more from the other side...
(6/1/09 - Deleted - didn't like that image)

This has real presence, Heidi!

I can't believe her head is only two inches tall and it took you two hours. Very impressive. I'm looking forward to seeing the larger, slower piece.

Thanks Julie and Natalie!
Did a couple little studies and decided to go with this one - a different pose and mood. Same gal, but took the time to make it look more like her in this 3 inch tall sketch in plasteline clay. Working on the larger version now. She has painted on eyebrows, so they look a little odd.

Athene.
It is amazing what a community can do.
Am I wrong? Is this not one of the most versatile models in town?
I am looking for the next round. Excellent.
dj*

Heidi,

It is such a pleasure to see your work and your process! So fabulous:)

Thanks Chris and Deb -
She is a great model indeed. Graceful, friendly, and cooperative. Neat gal.
I had to have surgery last week, and working on this little sculpture on the couch has been good "therapy" to keep my mind off of the pain as I heal. I think I'm calling it done now (below) and am starting work on the larger version.

Here's the larger version as promised. Ceramic, about 75% life size. Think I'll call it done like this. Still not as loose as I wanted to make it, but a slight improvement over my usual tight habits. On to the next one...

Heidi, it's a beautiful piece and a fabulous likeness!

Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks Chris! And yes, feeling MUCH better now. May was a nightmare.

Very lovely work, Heidi. I really like the way you compose your sculptures, especially this one, with the base growing out of the chest so that it balances the abstract shapes and forms with the realistic aspects of the head and shoulders.

Thanks Thomasin! I'm trying to loosen up and add more expression to my stuff - make them more sculptural instead of the wax museum type stuff. Not where I want to be yet, but getting closer.
I made a mold and slush cast her in plaster. Patina turned out a little splotchy, but now that I have the mold, I can make dozens of them to practice different finishes on.