Old Master Study #2 // Bernini's Lion

The process of acquiring knowledge through careful, technical study, reproducing a work from an old master is more than just "leaning fundamentals". It teaches as much about the artist being copied as it does about your own preferences. It is a lifelong endeavour that I believe every artist should strive to repeat. Like all classical music that's constantly being performed and reinterpreted, there's always something new to be learned.

For this clay study of a Lion, I chose to explore the expressive nature of compressed charcoal and sauce applied with the fingers and sponge, being as tactile as possible to mirror the experience of actually modeling in clay.