My First Workshop at Brookgreen Gardens

In 2018, I travelled to South Carolina for my first sculpture workshop at Brookgreen Gardens, at the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Center for American Sculpture.

The workshop was taught by sculptor Heidi Wastweet, and it was also the first time I had the opportunity to work with her. Over the following days, we explored the process of creating a relief sculpture, from the initial drawing and composition to modelling directly in clay.

For my piece, I chose a ram surrounded by botanical elements. I began by developing the composition in my sketchbook, then transferred the design to clay and gradually built the relief, working on depth, textures and the relationship between the different layers of the composition.

Being able to spend 5 days completely immersed in sculpture, surrounded by other artists and by Brookgreen's extraordinary collection, made the experience particularly special. It was also the beginning of a connection with Brookgreen Gardens and with Heidi that would continue well beyond that first workshop.

The finished relief was later cast in bronze, turning those first sketches and a few intense days of modelling into a piece that still carries the memory of where it began.