Auguste Rodin has been an influence on my work since I first saw his sculptures at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. I was a regular monthly visitor there in the late 90's while I was a student at the Academy of Art. I would often go there to draw and sometimes even "mentally draw" (aka staring for long periods of time) at some of their large collection of paintings and Rodin sculptures. When I look back on this time, I think of how great it was to simply hop on the muni for the 10 min bus ride and walk past the well manicured golf course, cypress and eucalyptus trees and up to the museum which near the NE entrance had a beautiful view of the Golden Gate bridge when I wanted to sit and take a break. I went to the legion of honor monthly on the free admission days, which if memory serves was sponsored by a local car dealership? This was one of the ways I spent my free time, studying the masterfully crafted artworks of Rodin and others. Eventually I made my way to Stanford University's Rodin sculpture garden to see more of his sculptures and more recently to Paris at the "Hotel Biron" Rodin museum which also has a beautiful 7 acre sculpture garden of his works.
Although I can't say Rodin was as big of an influence as Norman Rockwell or Michelangelo was to me in the early years, he did have an impact on my style. He was the topic of discussion amongst fellow sculptors and some art teachers. So as I think back on my days at the academy during the most rapid growth I experienced as an artist, Rodin was a big influence. And he has continued to fascinate me with his naturalistic approach to modeling the clay and unique approach to composition.
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| Rodin, 15in H, clay for aluminum, by Sutton Betti |
