When Isaac Mock was eight years old he was producing art that life-long artists admired. His abilities marked him a child prodigy and he was sent on scholarship to the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences in Savannah.
There he honed his skills and continued to wow all those around him.
Now, Mock, a Blitchton resident, works out of a studio at his home, creating sculptures out of marble and bronze that draw comparisons to masters such as Michelangelo.
While Mock said he has learned from classes he’s taken, including studies at the University of Georgia, he said most of his talent if God-given.
"I’m really self-taught with what God gave me," he said. "I had to come up with my own technique. School gave me the insight on how to do the work, and I went from there."
Mock began sculpting in 1993, producing works that are now all over the world in private homes and museums.
His latest project, a seven-foot nude entitled "Maiden of Bacchus," has taken him the better part of three years to complete. He works on the lovely maiden day in and day out, and the details of the sculpture – from her human-like hands to each strand of her hair – are evidence of his talent and dedication."It takes a combination of passion and patience," Mock said.
Sarah Volker, the visual coordinator with Arts on the Coast, said Mock has been a great addition to the group.
"The quality of his work is very good," she said. "He’s a wonderful salesperson of art in general and he’s a wonderful addition to our group."
Currently, Mock is interested in teaching others to unleash their artistic talents.
"A lot of people tell me ‘I could never do that in 100 years,’" he said. "I tell them you never know until you try."
He said he especially enjoys working with children and helping teach them about the arts.
"One of the biggest things is that if any of the schools want me to come in and show them that anyone can do this and expose them to any kind of art, I will," he said. "I believe it’s very important that we teach people the importance of art."