I saw Saints and Angels in France

Mardie Rees standing in the Hall of Classical Sculpture, Museé Des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, France - “Hebe and the Eagle of Jupiter” by François Rude

Hello Friends,

I returned home safe from three whole weeks in France this last October!

What began as a trip to attend an artist residency in Chateau D'Orquevaux, turned into a pilgrimage of sorts. It became a pilgrimage to see Saints and Angels all over eastern France. I sought beauty and sculpture in every possible location: churches, art museums, town centers and graveyards. I carried my sketch book and camera everywhere in order to document and memorize everything I saw. I looked for work that moved me to tears and pieces that I would have never thought possible. I felt God's hand guiding me town to town as I sought out the beauty created by sculptors and artisans of the past. Traveling alone allowed me to feel the stillness in a cathedral and the emotion in a piece of carved marble. I could even choose to study an angel in a graveyard all day if I felt inspired.

I then returned home grateful for the opportunity to experience historic art as a veteran sculptor, but I will always feel as a student when witnessing the work of the greats of the past. I am continually inspired and steadfast in my efforts to offer my gifts to the world. I am thankful also for Jeremy's support in holding the fort down with three kids at home and for my Mom's backup support. It is good to be home and surrounded by such love, and back in my studio again.

I hope you enjoy some of the photos from my trip and may they inspire you as well. Remember that art does not happen alone! Art happens with patrons and supporters of the artist as well.

Thank you for being a light in my life and all your encouragement through the years.

P.S. In case you were wondering - I am back at work sculpting Saint Anne in monument size and putting the finishing touches on the maquette of Saint Michael's glass wings.

My studio in Chateau D'Orquevaux Artist Residency

Painting the canal in front of the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam with my longtime friend, Liesbeth Stol

A sketch showing the mastery of Albert Bartholome's work (in Lyon). To say he captures a peoples' mourning viscerally would be an understatement

Captivated by “Monument aux Morts” by Albert Bartholome (1895-1899) at Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, I spent an afternoon sketching this work.

Camlle Caludel Museum in Norgent-sur-Seine. Claudel is one of my favorite sculptors

Dinner in Lyon while making a quick watercolor sketch of La Bisique Norte Dame du Fourviere, on the hill before it got dark.

Nestled inside transept of the 11th-century church of Saint-Etienne in Rue Vaillant of Dijon, I discovered the Musée Rude (François Rude). Seeing a piece included in the Arc de Triomphe in plaster was astounding.

Came across the angel placed upon Lucienne Calmettes tomb (victime de la liberation de Paris) at 22 years old. The cost of Freedom...

The shadow, the sweetness and autumn leaves compelled me to sit down and sketch this piece in watercolor before the light shifted. I spent the whole day discovering the many beautiful sculptures found in Pere Lachaise cemetery, Paris, France.

Creating art with luggage! A suitcase also makes a good seat when you need a lot of time to draw and paint. This angel (Monuments aux mort 2870) in Chaumont, France lifted my heart and gave me wings.

Watercolor painting done while sitting on my suitcase.

A visit with Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux’s “Four Parts of the World Supporting the Heavenly Sphere” - never ceases to inspire me. They spiral around each other while some carry an expression full of emotion- Africa, Asia, America, and Europe. My favorite being Africa represented behind where I am standing. I am standing in the Musee D’Orsay, Paris.

Anatomy sketch in the Louvre. I could have spent weeks doing this!

Sketching in Besancon, France. This piece at Eglise Sainte-Madeleine is something I have never seen in person before. It is so dark I can barely make out what is going on but that is also the allure of it. The yellow and orange lighting draws you in to the sculpture set way high behind the altar.

Quick watercolor sketch of the full moon while standing at the edge of this Langres’ town wall in the dark. I was surprised it turned out because I could not see what I was doing. Langres dates back to 2,000 years ago and existed before Roman Times. Langres, France (the very town my friend Claire Vachez grew up in! - a French exchange student in our family many years ago) The walls date back to the Middle Ages.

Saint Michael's Wings

Hello Friends,

After a beautiful summer in the Northwest full of camping, surfing, and hiking - it's time to get back in the studio.

I have a few large projects in the works (Saint Anne), but before I get my hands too deep in mud, I am going to France! Two years ago I received a Grant to attend the Chateau D'Orquevaux Artist Residency. I postponed the trip, but now that traveling has returned to some sense of normalcy, I will be attending this October from the 3rd - 17th. I am excited to meet all the artists and spend two weeks focusing on creating art in a new environment without the distractions of family life and my typical responsibilities. The inspiration!! To know more about where I am going you can see a video here>

below I am standing in front of my completed red chalk drawing, "Saint Michael's Wing." I spent many weeks sculpting both sides of the swan wing (on loan from the Slatter Museum) as I worked on Saint Michael. After looking at many drawings and paintings of angels - few of them show the back side of the wing, I thought it appropriate to draw the swan wing to scale and from the reverse! Do you feel the jet stream?

In recent weeks I've completed the maquette of Saint Michael for Saint Michael Hospital in Silverdale and the maquette for Saint Anne Hospital in Burien. My lifesize piece of Saint Anne I will begin on my return from France.

National Sculpture Society Awards

"Live, from New York...it's sparkling glass sculpture!" "Wholehearted" is on view @brookgreen_gardens through October 18 and THEN will join New Yorkers in the @nationalsculpturesociety Gallery November 25 - Feb 1st because she's an Award Winner 😊 of both the Beverly Hoyt Robertson Award and the Gloria Medal. Thank you @nationalsculpturesociety for your continued support of Sculptors in the field. I am so thrilled to be included! I received two awards from the National Sculpture Society’s 86th Annual Awards Exhibition held at Brookgreen Gardens! I am honored to be apart of such a fantastic group of sculptors.

Mardie's Sculpting Demo on the Main Stage of Figurative Art Convention and Expo (FACE)

Last November of 2018, I had the unique opportunity to join the faculty at the FACE Conference in Miami, Florida put on by Eric Rhoads and Peter Trippi of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine. I was joined by more than 200 other artists, collectors, and fine art connoisseurs from around the world. Out of the more than fifteen faculty members I was the only artist whose main medium is sculpture (Clay, Bronze, Glass). As most attendees were familiar with painting, I saw it as a unique opportunity to represent sculptors in the community of “Figurative Artists” as we all share our unique interest in humanity as our subject matter.

In my demonstration titled, “Welcome to the third dimension,” I began with a portfolio slide show so the attendees could have a better understanding of what my finished sculptures looked like. Later I pulled out my tools, a rickety sculpture stand propped up with books (you work with what you can find!), water clay, and set the pose with the female model on stage with me. I introduced the process of starting with an armature (foundation/structure from which most sculptures begin) the was built to 1/3 the scale. In the two-and-a-half hour time frame I worked as quickly as possible to show my process of blocking in the figure in water clay while also explaining my tools, methodology, and use of materials. I was well received and took great joy in sharing my love for sculpture.

Mardie Rees doing a sculpting demo of the full figure on the main stage at FACE 2018

I also participated in a panel discussion on what is going on in the world of sculpture today led by moderator and Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Editor, Peter Trippi. National Sculpture Society and Board Member, Donella Lay, Florida Sculptor Nilda Comas, and myself participated in the panel discussion.