first marble piece

[mtd]

Hi all,
I've just finished my first marble piece to speak of. I thought I'd put it out there to hear some feedback.

thanks
MD

[rickb]

She's beautiful.
Please tell us more -- how big, who is she, how was it (I've never tried any stone), etc....

[mtd]

Thanks rickb,

This is a piece I've been working on (off and on) for about 3 years. The total carveing time is more like 5 months if I were doing it 9 to 5.
This is a portrait of my wife and it's life size carved from carrara statuario marble.

I learned soooo much on this piece. I sculpted a small scale and large scale maquette. I used a pointing macine to help get the major features (for the likeness) but did the rest free hand.

I have heard good and bad reactions to using a pointing machine but I felt for my first piece and the fact that I wanted to get a good likeness, that I would use it. It seems most people fall into one of two camps with regard to the pointing machine. One is it's a cheat ane the other that it's a tool. I fall in the camp of it's a tool because I can tell you first hand the device helps but you still have to work.

thanks again,
MD



She's beautiful.
Please tell us more -- how big, who is she, how was it (I've never tried any stone), etc....

[jvc stone]

Hey MD
How did you get your wife to sit still for so long??? :rolleyes:
Kidding aside, the bust is terrific, very expressive, and well carved.
Kuddos on your first--please do some more.
JVC

[mtd]

thanks very much.

Hey MD
How did you get your wife to sit still for so long??? :rolleyes:
Kidding aside, the bust is terrific, very expressive, and well carved.
Kuddos on your first--please do some more.
JVC

[iron ant]

Really nice piece,you must have some Italian in your blood,and if you don't you do now.You also picked the best marble in the world for getting that beautiful detail.I guess you will have to do a full figure one now,just a thought.

[mtd]

Thanks,
I'm half Italian. I have to admit I have been drawn to Italian marble sculpture all my life so I think that obsession helps too.
MD

Really nice piece,you must have some Italian in your blood,and if you don't you do now.You also picked the best marble in the world for getting that beautiful detail.I guess you will have to do a full figure one now,just a thought.

[fritchie]

Absolutely gorgeous piece, Mtd. I agree with all the above comments. It’s very expressive, and a stunning piece for a first try.

Where did you get that pointing machine? I’ve never seen one, but my impression is that they’re quite elaborate, and I’m sure also expensive. Were you able to use one at a school?

I agree with you that they should be considered a tool. Stone must be very unforgiving, and from what I’ve seen of the process, pointing does no more than give you reference points. You do most of the work yourself.

(By the way, many 19th century pieces I’ve seen in marble still have pointing marks on them. The sculptor or technician clearly decided the finished form was better without following the points slavishly. I can’t give you specific examples, but maybe even some of Rodin’s heads, or Carpeaux’.)

[mtd]

Thaks very much Fritchie.
The pointing machine is a very old tool. I bought mine from the Compleate Sculptor in NYC. It costs about $300

Here's a picture of it. Basically it captures a point in 3D space and alows you to transfre it to another object. There are different ways to ensure proper registration but I mounted the clay and the marble to identical bases with the same registration points.

[mtd]

I thought I'd post a couple more pics.
A close up and a shot of the pointing machine in use.
MD

[JasonGillespie]

mtd,
Nice portrait. The softness of your carving lends a very life-like quality to the work.
I visited your website and enjoyed myself quite a bit. Your commercial work is interesting too as I've always had a great deal of interest in animation.

I'm with you on the point machine. Its use in the past was primarily as a time saving device. There is no reason why that is any different today. If the original was your own work, then there isn't much difference in my mind.

[mtd]

Thanks for your kind words jason.

I believe you are starting at new york acadamy soon?

You should contact me when you get into town. I'd love to meet.
MD

mtd,
Nice portrait. The softness of your carving lends a very life-like quality to the work.
I visited your website and enjoyed myself quite a bit. Your commercial work is interesting too as I've always had a great deal of interest in animation.

I'm with you on the point machine. Its use in the past was primarily as a time saving device. There is no reason why that is any different today. If the original was your own work, then there isn't much difference in my mind.

[Blake]

MTD
This is a wonderful portrait, the soft features and delicate handling of the hair are very well done. The eyes are beautifully rendered and I appreciate the fine carving that allows the light to pass through the ears. Congratulations!
If I may make a suggestion, I am disappointed not to see more of the shoulders, perhaps it was your intention to leave us wanting more, in which case you have succeeded.
Blake

[mtd]

Blake,
You have a good eye for composition. The original maquette had the piece going down well below the clavical.

Unfortunately in ordering this stone, it was cut about 3 inches shorter than I wanted. Not really knowing better I accepted teh piece and started working. I was also dissapointed in the viening of the stone. Statuario is suppposed to be nearly all white, this piece is abit too vieny.

These are among the manny thing I learned while making this bust. I'll know better next time.
thanks again,
MD

MTD
This is a wonderful portrait, the soft features and delicate handling of the hair are very well done. The eyes are beautifully rendered and I appreciate the fine carving that allows the light to pass through the ears. Congratulations!
If I may make a suggestion, I am disappointed not to see more of the shoulders, perhaps it was your intention to leave us wanting more, in which case you have succeeded.
Blake

[JAZ]

MTD,
The sculpture is lovely. You've managed to make her look both classic and contemporary - no small feat. The contours and translucency are gorgeous. What was your wife's response to the finished work? (I imagine she feels a bit like a goddess!)
JAZ

[mtd]

Hi Jaz,
Thanks very much for the comments.
My wife is finishing up her doctorate in clinical psychology, so the idea of me hammering away at a likeness of her head was met with susspicion at first. Thankfully upon compleation she was very pleased with the piece.
thanks again,
MD