I think that this student mistakenly chose an oak leaf as his subject, for its simplicity. But he very soon discovered that something as simple as a leaf, is in fact vastly complex : there are shapes and undulations within shapes and undulations. And this highlights one of the most marvellous aspects of studying natural form for the purpose of reproducing it sculpturally : it teaches the sculptor how to appreciate the complexities as well as develop the mental equipment needed to reproduce studied forms as a three-dimensional image in stone.
The stone used for this piece was rescued from a local stonemason company's skip