Fragile Flossie

I live near a beautiful cemetery that is edged on three sides by untamed woods.  I decided since it was so lovely this afternoon I would take a walk and search the edges for wild berries.  Along the way I found this striking portrait of Flossie on an oval,  gravestone cameo. 

Dear Flossie, her delicate face, made all the more touching by the damage to her porcelain cameo.  What lovely memorials are these gravestone images.

Though Flossie has been buried now for almost 100 years, there is something about her spirit that continues to shine in this portrait.

As far back as 100 B.C. the Roman Egyptian culture at Fayum was painting grave portraits of distinctive individual persons.  These are not just generic faces, but  portraits  like Flossie’s,  which give us a glimpse into the life of one man, one woman, one child. 

In this portrait of a young woman we see unique characterisitcs: the rather large ears, and  a love for jewelry displayed.  We can imagine that in death she has been painted wearing her very favorite earrings.

A portrait bust without a  spark of life is not complete.  This spark is the very essence of what I seek to find, to create,  as a portrait sculptor  working with  their clay material. I will be happy to work with you to create a very special and spirited custom bust.