Exceptional Merit Award at the Int'l Portrait Competition

The prestigious 2013 International Portrait Competition hosted its awards banquet on April 27th, where Mardie Rees' portrait bust 'La Petite Fleur' received the "Exceptional Merit Award." 

Rees flew to Atlanta, GA, to exhibit her portrait bust at the reknowned Art of the Portrait conference put on by the Portrait Society of America. Out of  a large submission pool of 1800 artworks, the field was narrowed to 20 top finalists, consisting of eighteen paitings and two sculptures submitted by artists from the states and abroad.

Preliminary and final judging was based on skill and technique, as well as aesthetic and emotional content. This year's conference marks Rees'  third attendance of the event, and her second time as an award winner.

Mardie Rees poses with her "Exceptional Merit Award" (painter's pallet) and her portrait bust, "La Petite Fleur"

Mardie Rees receives her award

Mardie Rees and Alicia Ponzio (the only two sculptors who were finalists). Alicia is a sculptor in San Francisco, CA. 

Mardie Rees and Amy Lind (roommate at the conference and dear artist friend from Savannah, GA) 

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.

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

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. 

Home Stretch

The Fall brought beautiful weather with sun and warm temperatures. The last three months has been the homestretch for a project I have been working on since the beginning of 2012. Because we had an indian summer, I was able to work with the large roll up door open and the sun streaming in my studio (at Real Carriage, Gig Harbor - WA). My German Shepherd Dogs (I have two of them) spent many hours in my studio modeling as I worked out the kinks and sculpted the portrait. It was a lot of fun working with a live dog in my studio! 

Then as life would have it - the rains came in late October (just as I begin to return to the portrait) and it got cold, so I had to figure out how to once again work with artificial lighting. 

My dog after many adjustments

In late September my husband, Jeremy, help me install the platform under their feet. 

foil on the feet to protect finished shoes from getting damaged from dropped tools and clay when I'm working up high. 

Getting the lighting right so I could properly work on the portrait has been a challenge. Tools, scaffolding, lighting, and over tiredness are all things that you have to work to overcome so that the Work doesn't suffer.

My German Shepherd is back!

And yes, the German Shepherd dog, Odin is back! Odin arrived at my studio in mid September, with a lot of barking and with certainly no desire to sit still as he heard all the tools in the background (I'm working at Real Carriage) .

at work on the portarit

By the second day of modeling he was very much into the cheese and carrot treats he gets for posing. The sculpture of the dog (life +1/2) is now moving along and is going to add some much personality to the finished piece. 

vintage suit

Sculpting the 'hand in the pocket'

comparing jackets

working fast as I had a live model wearing a 1930s suit on a hot summer day

life and 1/3 next to my live model (Jason)

Moving forward

Taking a break!

making progress...

Working on the jacket

Working from below on the portrait

up on the scaffolding working on the vest

I've got my calipers out and the ipad!

Progress for Shawnigan Lake School

maquette (left) & large life size (center)

side view

Lonsdale's dog

size comparisons (life + 1/3  next to an adult and  toddler) 

Open Letter to the Peninsula Gateway

My letter to the editor in response to The Peninsula Gateway's Articles (below):

"City right to move forward with pier statue" 2/14/2012

"Despite artistic differences, statue plan moves forward"  2/15/2012

How can it be called art if not created by an artist?

The age old question “What is art?” misses an important point. Better phrased, the real question is “How can you call it art if it was not created by an artist?”

No matter what the process used, a work of art either reflects the intent, technique, and abilities of the artist, or it is not art at all. Recently, the Gig Harbor Arts Commission requested that a maquette (small model) of the proposed Maritime Pier sculpture be presented to the city council. Members reviewed a model, computer-carved, from a historic photograph using 3D modeling software.  This fabrication technique does not reflect the spark of an artist.

The artistic merit of the model and the use of 3D technology in its fabrication was largely dismissed as irrelevant given that the maquette was “just the model”, and wasn’t the actual life size work.  In reality, the maquette IS the work of art and represents the artist’s vision, passion, and talent from which the larger sculpture is derived.  As a modern day traditional sculptor, I embrace technology and use it to enlarge my work and accurately preserve my original intent. But utilizing technology to replace artistic intent is akin to fraud and cannot be called real art.  The community and any donors to the project should be saddened to know that the alleged “legacy” sculpture was not sculpted at all.

Sincerely,

Mardie Rees Gig Harbor Sculptor

La Petite Fleur

I finished the portrait of my little flower, Jasmine. She is now two-and-a-half- years-old and growing up so fast! 

"La Petite Fleur"

"La Petite Fleur" is inspired by Camille Claudel's portrait of a little girl (my favorite work of hers) titled "La Petite Chatelaine."

a portrait to complete in the new year

Here is a portrait I've started on of my daughter, and need to complete before she grows too much bigger. She is now two years old and I started this when she was 18 months old. Where does the time go?

Toddler portrait: beginings

Toddler portrait: a little farther along

A little farther along...If I could just get her to sit still for me. Is that too much to ask?

Small Portraits

This summer I had the opportunity to sculpt some portraits (1/2 life size) of two friends and art patrons of mine, Francois & Sharon. I started the portrait of Sharon at a demonstration I did at the Lake Oswego art festival in Oregon and it was only natural to have her make it to my studio to finish the portrait and also sculpt her husband Francois. 

Sharon & Francois

"Sharon"

Another view of Sharon

"Francois"

My Grandparents, Bob & Rita Wilkins

During August my grandparents came for a visit from Houston, Texas (they so enjoyed the break from the heat). Shortly before they left I had them each sit in my studio for a few hours while I quickly sculpted their portraits. I have been wanting to sculpt them for years and didn't want pass by the opportunity I had this time. They are studies in progress.

"Rita (side view)"

"Rita (Grandma)"

The Art of Passage - Dawn & Dusk Door

Real Carriage Door Company introduces the Artist-in-residence series of handcrafted doors. Rich in tradition and material, these wood doors with custom bronze panels boast an unmatched uniqueness for both private residences and public arenas. http://www.realcarriagedoors.com/bronze-doors.php

Pictured: Dawn and Dusk by sculptor Mardie Rees. The Art-nouveau inspired bronze panels contain the allegorical figures of Dawn and Dusk, cyclically welcoming each other as time passes in earthly rhythm. The dark tones of Mahogany give these art pieces the frame they deserve.

Dawn & Dusk Door in the woods

Dawn & Dusk were recently installed on a beautiful arched entry door built by Real Carriage Door Co. (designed by my talented husband, Jeremy Broderick) that recently shipped to New Orleans for the AIA Convention May 11-15, 2011 We are all excited to hear the reception of this beautiful harmony of handcrafted wood and rich bronze.

Before the door shipped we took advantage of a beautiful Saturday. We took the door into the woods - not an easy task beacuse the door weighed 200 lbs! Here are just some quick photos taken with my phone. The professional photos coming soon!

The logistics of getting it down a small trail and over a fallen tree trunk!

My daughter wondering what all the fuss is about!

Aren't they beautiful?

How did the door get there!

C.W. Lonsdale & Dog - heads to Canada!

On April 12th, I joined Stuart (Shawnigan Lake Alum 1948) & Mary Milbrad, along with their daughter Sharon (Strathcona Alum) for a trip to Seattle. We took the newly completed maquette (size 21.75 x 13.25 x 12.75”) of C.W. Lonsdale & Dog to a meeting for alumni and guests put on by Shawnigan Lake School. I had a moment to share about the process of creating the work and a little background about Christopher Windley Lonsdale. The sculpture is now in Canada on view in the office of Shawnigan Lake School. It also is taken to various fundraising events and meetings that discuss the upcoming centennial celebration!!!

Stay tuned as we approach the making of the larger than life size sculpture! Shawnigan Lake School and alumni are in the process of raising funds to complete the piece, a tribute to their founder which will sit in a prominent location on campus!

Front view

rear view

Dawn & Dusk....completed!

Dawn & Dusk (Diptych)

37 X 22 X 2.5"

Bronze, 2011

Dawn & Dusk are high relief diptych panels of two female figures representing dawn and dusk. Draped figures stand in archway with a small verse unscripted at bottom. The panels were designed for a grand front entry door being currently built at Real Carriage Door Company! (pictures coming soon) They will be installed in an entry door next week and being going to the AIA Conference in New Orleans, LA.

Inscription reads:

Left Verse

Awaken to the song of wings

that every morning softly sings

Right Verse

Watch now as the sun sinks low

amber light and shadows grow

By Kim Smith (my Sister)

Detail of left corner on the 'Dusk' panel. The top arch way reads "Dusk Welcomes Dawn"

Dawn & Dusk Relief Panels

I've been so busy finishing my panels I haven't had a chance to continue posting the process, so now that I am done sculpting them I thought I'd post how I got there!

Here is where the idea began - a drawing I did in 2009. They originally were designed to go in an entry door made by Real Carriage Door Company. I've worked on this piece off and on between commissions and after each commission I would come back and change an aspect of the design. It has been evolving over the past two years.

Where I was in early January of 2011

Detail

Working on getting the leg of Dusk in the right place.

Dusks drapery is complete.

My Husband, Jeremy Broderick, really helped with the project being the perfectionist that he is! He designed text, determined placement, and sculpted the text. Jeremy helped stay true to the organic yet perfect balance of the Art Nouveau style! I couldn't have completed it without him!

Above are pictures of completed Dawn & Dusk in clay before we started the molds. They are now at the foundry (2 Raven Studio in Tacoma, Washington) and being cast in Bronze for Real Carriage Door Company in Gig Harbor, Washington. The door has been awaiting the bronze panels for quite some time now.

Poem Credit goes to my sister: Kim (Rees) Smith on bottom right and left panels. She is also the beautiful model for Dusk. She is always an inspiration to me and I don't tire of sculpting her.