The Pontiff of the abysses
One evening, while watching the news, an image of the Pope in his lavish attire, miter on head, caught my eye. The next day, during an online image search, I stumbled upon a photo of an octopus. Suddenly, the two visions fused in my mind: the octopus's head perfectly matched the shape of the papal miter. This was the genesis of the Octopope.
I envisioned my Pontiff of the abysses with a grandeur worthy of the papal statues in the Capitoline Museums. I wanted him opulent, symbolizing the institution he represents, seated on a grotesquely shaped golden throne that maintained continuity with the marine theme. For his pastoral staff, a passing oarfish was promptly bent and clad in gold. And there he was, complete: all that's missing now is a tentacle lazily rising in the ocean current to offer you his blessing.
Materials
For this piece, I exclusively used professional, top-quality materials. It's rendered on 360 gsm Clairfontaine Pastelmat paper, selected for its ideal texture. I applied colors with soft pastels and pastel pencils from renowned brands: Sennelier, Blockx, Rembrandt, Faber-Castell Pitt, and Stabilo Carbothello. All pigments are premium and highly light-resistant, ensuring the artwork's enduring vibrancy.