Change of Heart was born when I learned my grandson Sean was in need of a second open-heart surgery. His heart is empowered by a team of four: the comet brings energy from the heavens, the bearded ancient knowledge and wisdom for the doctors,
a strong man supports his heart from below
while Superman balances the forces above.
CHANGE OF HEART
Tetralogy of Fallot: an anomaly of the heart consisting of pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, dextroposed aorta which receives blood from both ventricles, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle. In Layman's terms: four simultaneous heart conditions.
The story of Sean.
Hanging Easter eggs optional!
3 coats of satin urothane-notice how it brings out the color.
Finishing up the stand
Adding more detail
Two months post surgery, Sean's first look at his sculpture with little brother Brayden.
Coming together.
Refining the Comet on her race from the cosmos with the power and energy to break the bonds of tetralogy.
Time now to work on the chains of the right arm, breaking the bond of tetralogy to the heart.
Further refinements to Knowledge & Wisdom on the left side of the sculpture.
I want to show the the 'strongman' taking the knowledge and wisdom from the universe and disseminating it into useable segments for all members of the surgical team in their mission to repair the heart.
Cleaning up the rays of the sun, moving them behind the clouds and making them appear to radiate from below the clouds to outside the image.
Working to convert the top of the image to a proper entryway for the god of knowledge and wisdom. Notice many of the 'planets' have been eliminated to minimize confusion and improve the design.
After much pondering, the decision was made to remove the outline behind his head to provide more depth to his features and eliminate confusion. This also resulted in the removal of the three distant planets behind his head, which helped focus the sculpture more clearly. The size of the border was reduced and use straight lines used between the knee and beard and above the head. The clouds surrounding his right hand have been refined and enhanced.
12/20/2012. Sean is out of the hospital now-3 days post surgery. Concentrating on the left antler, work has continued on the leg to make the figure move out from behind the clouds. I have also begun to carve away some of the outline surrounding his head and shoulders to provide more depth.
The theme unfolds on the eve of Sean's surgery.
Refining the central figures and heart. The heart is supported on the bottom while the forces pull together from the top.
Working through the intricate structure of the skull to optimize negative and positive space is a challenge full of dead-ends and detours. The skull is a true work of art.
Working through the intricate structure of the skull to optimize negative and positive space is a challenge full of dead-ends and detours. The skull is a true work of art.
Initial jigsaw cuts and contouring of the Comet, a source of power in our universe .
The jigsaw was used to cut the initial shape and begin contouring the god of knowledge, and wisdom.
Tetralogy of Fallot is four disorders of the heart , so I decided to incorporate four figures attending to the heart, each with its own specialized powers. The decision was made to reshapethe left antler to more closely match the right.
I chose this skull and antlers because it gives me room to develop the characters to enhance energy to Sean's heart.
12/12/12 was the scheduled date for Sean's second open-heart surgery. Fate intervened and the surgery was rescheduled for 12/17.2012. He was born with a condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, four simultaneous heart problems. His first open heart surgery was performed at eight months of age. This sculpture evolved as a result of my thoughts.