Stephen Fitz-Gerald
Thank you Frank...
I'm just learning my way around this site.
Lots of work to look at,but not always readily obvious how to find it...

Hi Stephen,
Very nice sculpture work. I don`t mean to keep a strand on Frank`s choice, but yes, Asia is my favorite too. I guess nowdays the most appealing pieces of art are those that present different or unique features, not to undervalue the rest at all! That may be a reason that some artists become famous and thus successful by making the wackiest work one could think of. Often times off the wall, and without much investment workwise or regarding quality or quantity of materials. There`s a creativity investment I guess... Thanks for posting Stephen. Nelson.

Stephen Fitz-Gerald

Thanks for your comments Nelson,
This piece is also one of my favorites,for a couple of reasons.
First, it is a portrait from memory (albeit 15 years after the fact),of someone I loved more than life itself,so definitely a labor of love.
Second ,I'm proud of the contrivance of having the head elevated and supported by the hair. I've never seen a bust with that configuration,and it seems to work for this piece.
Even my father who was unusually critical of my work,(before he died)had good things to say about this piece. He also knew the subject,and could "feel" the investment I had in modeling the form.
In passing it may be interesting to note that on another art site www.deviantart.com I received an award of sorts for this piece...

Stephen Fitz-Gerald
Thank you Bill...

Wow Stephen,

I too absolutely love this piece, anyone can feel the soul of your expression through it....haunting.....I think I need to print out a copy of it!!! SteelyJan

Stephen Fitz-Gerald
Thank you Jan,
You honor me.

Here's a link to my gallery on deviantart.com for a sideview of the piece which shows the matrix of the face and more of the way the hair is fabricated.
http://ou8nrtist2.deviantart.com/art/Asia-39767907

Since with the use welding and grinding, metal figurative sculpture making can be both additive and/or subtractive. I have thus utilized these little 3/8ths thick industrial scrap punch parts to build up the structure of the face welding them together,then grinding away until the contour is smooth and convincing...
The hair is 1/8th inch plate that is forged and cold formed.
It was meant to represent the jet black ultra smooth texture and fineness after brushing 100 strokes(my job),our ritual of connecting before sleep each night...