Selected finalist in the 2013 International Portrait Competition

Mardie Rees was selected as one of the top twenty finalists in the 2013 International Portrait Competition. All finalist are required to exhibit their selected and original artwork at the prestigious Art of the Portrait conference put on by the Portrait Society of America in Atlanta, GA. The final judging and award ceremony will take place Saturday April 27th at the Grand Hyatt in Atlanta, GA. Awards will be given for each of the top twenty artworks, with more than $60,000 in cash and prizes.

Mardie Rees’ portrait bust, La Petite Fluer, was selected based on skill and technique, as well as aesthetic and emotional content.

Here are some questions asked of me after I received word that I was a finalist. 

Can you provide some information about the subject of your Portrait?

When my daughter, Jasmine, was about eighteen months old I decided to attempt a portrait bust of her with her baby face.  She was impossible to get to sit still and I always had to get help measuring her with my calipers and as life would have it the project got set aside. Shortly after she turned two years old I came across the portrait in my studio and realized I had let six months pass. By then she looked more like a little girl then a baby, and so I immediately took up my tools and finished the portrait as she was then, before she could turn two-and-a-half.  It turned out to be easier to sculpt her when she would sit still long enough to watch Elmo. It was a precious time that I hope captures the innocence and wonder of that age.

Can you also talk about the inspiration for this particular portrait? 

I have always loved the portrait bust of a little girl by Camille Claudel titled "La Petite Chatelaine." I also found Houdon’s portrait of a young girl, “Alexandre Brongniart,” also of great inspiration.  There are so few sculpted portraits of young children that exude what we all know and love about children. I am always looking for the beauty of innocence and a sense of wonder. 

What are the specific qualities that you strive for to make a portrait a strong piece of art?

A portrait is finished when I feel it portrays emotion, shows harmony in the marks and shapes that frame the face, and shows likeness in both the features and personality. Most of all I look to see if the work “breathes” on its own and draws an understanding from the observer – What is the subject saying? What are they feeling? 

Postlude: Sculpture Unveiling

The unveiling of sculpture, C.W. Lonsdale, at the Real Carriage Door wood shop

Gallery photos from the party on January 17th & 19th, 2013

Thank you to all who came! It seemed everyone had a wonderful time at the Real Carriage Door wood shop which was transformed into a sparkling winter party. Beer was served by local 7 Seas Brewing; jazz music was played by Zizzy Zi Zixxy, with the unveiling of the sculpture as the focus of the evening. Locals browsed the gallery of sculptures by Mardie Rees, while drinking beer and chatting with friends. Children joined the fun by dancing to the jazz music in front of the band. Many doors were displayed for enjoyment to add to the creative mood. At 6 pm, Beth Rees introduced a new video about Real Carriage Door Company (viewable on a large screen held aloft by a forklift). Thursday night, the current Headmaster from Shawnigan Lake School, David Robertson, shared some background about the school and expressed their excitement in receiving the sculpture of their founder and headmaster, C.W. Lonsdale, and his faithful German Shepherd. Sculptor Mardie Rees was later introduced, and she elaborated on the process of creating the monumental sculpture over the last three years. After much anticipation, Mardie spoke the key words, "Let's take a look," and upon the count of three, the canvas was dropped to a round of applause.

The sculpture will be at the foundry (Two Raven Studio in Tacoma) through the end of the summer, and the official unveiling of the sculpture cast in bronze to be scheduled for October 2013.

Headmaster meets Headmaster

November 14th, 2012 was the important day I had been waiting for. I had worked especially hard during the last two months (in addition to the past three years) to have finally reached the moment my larger-than-life sculpture would be shown to Shawnigan Lake School.

Headmaster David Robertson and director of Advancement Rudy Massimo joined myself and Stuart Milbrad in the studio (currently at Real Carriage Door Co.) to see the substantially complete sculpture of founder and first Headmaster of Shawnigan Lake School: Christopher Windley Lonsdale.

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left to right: Stuart Milbrad, David Robertson, Mardie Rees, Rudy Massimo

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My favorite photo of Lonsdale. Here he is pictured in front of the school shortly after the fire. 

We discussed the Work for nearly two hours. I described to them the process of making the piece, the thoughts behind it, and what I imagined Lonsdale to be thinking about as he stood (in my mind) looking out over his school campus in the year 1925. We thumbed through all the archival photographs of Lonsdale on my iPad (I've memorized them all by this point). I pointed out various characteristics about him in each photo and the inspiration for the piece. The Work was received with much enthusiasm, and it was a pleasure to create such a work,  knowing that even alumni who were personally acquainted with Lonsdale will get a chance to enjoy it, as well as current and future alumni. 

Finishing Dog Feet

I'm finishing up the details on all 4 feet of my sculpture of a German shepherd dog (representing the many dogs C.W. Lonsdale had as Headmaster). My model for the body and feet is a white German Shepherd named, Finn. He is the sweetest and most well behaved dog I have ever had modeling for me. Julie (Finn's owner) does a good job keeping him still. Usually he models for me a couple hours at a time.