We consider ourselves lucky to have found Stephanie. She put her heart and God given talent into a memorial we commissioned for our beloved son we lost in 2018. She is incredibly talented and realistically captured USAF Ssgt. Francisco J. Vasquez’s likeness and spirit. We have been honored to have and admire this original piece in our home. She puts much more than just time into every project. She not only captured our sons likeness and Kind heart but found his spirit and immortalized it in bronze with unmatched talent. She wanted to understand our son and know him as well. This love for her art shows through in her whole process and she included us in every step along the way. Stephanie was always open to suggestions and revisions without hesitation. We could not have entrusted such important work to anyone else. She went above and beyond for our family and we thank her for this timeless gift she has given us.
– Frank and Jezabel Diminico
Gold Star Family
I am truly pleased with a the end result. Stephanie is a remarkable, truly talented, and skillful Sculptor. She was very supportive, communicative, and prompt through the whole process. Creating an art piece similar to any other creation requires a touch of soul. Stephanie has what it takes to create a masterpiece. She and her team are highly recommended.
– Ray Taheri, Ph.D, P.Eng
My Father was my best friend, and his accidental demise devastated me. I could not come to terms with the fact that he is no more. I could not convince myself that a picture of my Father is all that is left.
I wanted a more realistic representation of my Father to whom I can offer my prayers everyday. I searched the web for ideas, and narrowed down on a bronze bust portrait idea. I talked to several companies and artists both in the US and overseas. The price quotes that I got from these artists/companies were all across the board. It truly felt like they were trying to take advantage of my situation.
Then I came across www.custombronzeportraits.com. I gave Stephanie Hunter a call to discuss about this project. Unlike the others, she patiently asked me questions on what I want to have done. She took all the requirements, and told me that she will have to talk to the foundry to give me a price quote.
I chose Stephanie to sculpt my Father, even before she gave me a price quote, purely based on the honesty and sincerity I saw in her, during our initial conversation.
And then came the price quote which was significantly lower than anyone else had offered me.
I shared about 150 pictures of my Father showing him in different angles, and emotions. Stephanie quickly absorbed the idea of my Father and jumped right into work. She sent me weekly pictures of the progress she made on the clay bust, and was very receptive to any feedback I gave her. She asked me questions like “Would you like him smiling some more?”, “Would you like his teeth to show?”, “Would you like the forehead to be smaller?”, “Would you like his hair to be fuller/thicker?”, etc., She gladly accommodated my special request to have a marble base instead of a wooden base.
She had committed to complete the clay bust in 2 months. In the middle of the project, I had planned to travel to India to offer prayers to my Father on his first anniversary, and wanted to carry the bust along to perform certain rituals. I called Stephanie and told her about my travel plans and schedule. Based on that, it boiled down to her delivering the bust to the foundry right on schedule. To my pleasant surprise, she ended up completing the work a week ahead of schedule. The finished bronze bust with patina was delivered to me 1 week earlier than promised.
The attention to detail was outstanding. The care taken to safely pack the bust and ship it out was amazing.
Stephanie, You really brought a few tears down my eyes when I saw the final result. Thank you very much for bringing my Father back to life!
– Prabhu
Stephanie Hunter traveled to my home in Clearwater, Florida to prepare a clay replica of my head. Creating a relaxing atmosphere, Stephanie set me in my easy chair, took several quick snapshots, then she sat quietly at her small table and began magically turning the clay blob into a rough image of my head.
Within a couple of hours, the clay mold had transformed into an amazing likeness. A couple of days later I saw that the clay mold was packaged for transporting back to Phoenix. The clay was finished using photographs that she took of my ears and sides.
With the help of her husband, Stephan, the clay was bronzed and finalized. The bust was shipped to me in Clearwater where I unwrapped it carefully in my living room.
From the moment I saw the finished bronze bust, I was amazed and thrilled! I was holding a surreal version of myself – like looking into an ageless, timeless mirror.
Now “The Patriarch” bronze bust is proudly displayed in my home where Stephanie’s precision and attention to detail continue to impress my friends and family.
Congratulations to Stephanie Hunter for the nicest gift I have ever received.
– James Parady
After searching diligently for just the right artist to depict First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson, we found Stephanie Hunter. It was important for us to choose an artist that not only had enthusiasm for the project, but also could be historically accurate with their work. Stephanie carefully researched the project, met the timeline we were looking for, and delivered to Rome, GA a lovely, lasting memorial that will be enjoyed for many generations to come. Stephanie’s work is now admired by local, state, and national leaders that have viewed the statue of Ellen Axson Wilson. The bronze statue serves not only as a tribute to a First Lady of the United States who called Rome, GA “home,” but it also imparts knowledge of a woman who changed the face of history with her art, counsel, and love of nature. It was no accident that we chose Stephanie Hunter, who embodies all of these traits as an artist.
– Layton Roberts
Rome Area Council for the Arts
Rome, Georgia
