Self portrait
 

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Gorgeous
 

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 :)

Thank you for your comments Claudmir, Carlos, Michele, and Chris. Funny how most people will prefer a happy expression for their home, but as you point out Carlos, some of the most notable sculptures in history are anything but happy.
I think I've come to the point as a portrait artist, when I'm tired of "pleasant" on most every face. There are so many interesting and provocative emotions that can be displayed on a human face. My least favorite to see is a big grin with teeth on a sculpture. That really creeps me out in fact.
Chris, since you have seen me in person, I'll take that compliment - thanks! And that is an excellent marketing suggestion! Everyone has a range of expressions - why should anyone settle for being imortalized with just one?

Heidi, I think you should enter this in a competition.

I may give that a try for the fun of it Alexandra - if I ever finish this, that is. Have any suggestions?

Here's where I left off on the "happy" version a while ago. I haven't been sculpting at all lately. I think I will just mold it as-is since it is at about the same stage as the one that will be mounted with it, and I already have the base made.

This has been a downer of a month. After several (4) unsuccessful attempts at minimally invasive surgeries in the past 5 weeks, this Thursday my husband will undergo a quadruple bypass and aortic heart valve replacement operation. This does not make me very happy. Hopefully, he will pull through and feel better than ever in 2007. I had better start sculpting again to pay those medical bills!!

Heidi,

Best wishes for the new year, and for a successful and speedy recovery.

Keep mashin that clay.

Heidi,

Sorry to hear about your husband's health problems. I'm hoping the surgery went well and that he'll feel remarkably better in 2007.

I really like the "happy" version now. It kind of reminds me of the Mona Lisa in that it is not obviously smiling. You've caught something positive and serene and accepting in her (your) aura, and yet in her eyes there's also a touch of wistfulness, wisdom and recognition that happiness is never perfect or static.

Suggestions for competitions: What about going for the big PSA international competition. I think the submission deadline is March 9. You can't submit anything that's already won a prize, so you could go for that first and then reevaluate your strategy once you hear the judges' decision. I think this double piece is a breakthrough in many ways (stylistically, conceptually) and I think you should not be afraid to aim high.

I agree with Alex, Heidi - enter the competition!

These are wonderful sculptures. You are very talented indeed - and brave to do them.

I'll be thinking of you this month and hoping all goes well.

All the best to you this new year...and heartfelt wishes for a complete and speedy recovery for your husband from all the way here.

Nice work!

Thanks for your well wishes. I am pretty worried, but hopefully it is all for nothing.
I will look into that one Alexandra. I finally joined the PSA last month, so I might as well get involved.
Since this one is the "mask" of "Me and my Mask", I wanted to make it so the face is smiling, but the eyes are not. Similar to putting on a mask with the eye holes cut out.

Well, I finally finished this thing, so here is how the pair turned out together. I don't think these are suitable for competition as I'm sure the judges would frown on anything made of resin.
As a side note, my husband survived his 11 hour operation (what an ordeal that was) and has been making steady progress over the last few weeks. I can breathe a lot easier now and get back to sculpting.

Beautiful, strong, and unique!

Why is this? Is resin not allowed?(I don't know a thing about entering sculpture)

That is GREAT news about your husband!

Oh, I don't know. It is probably allowed. I just get the feeling that preference will be given to real bronze or marble pieces.
I may go ahead and submit it anyway. What have I to lose besides the $30? Thanks Alex.

Exactly! And you may have a lot to gain--you never know.