In the Lyon’s Den – Studio Notes for March 28th

Why We're Doing This

Welcome to the very first edition of In the Lyon’s Den — a monthly behind-the-scenes look into the creative chaos of The Lyon Creative. I’ve been sculpting, painting, experimenting, and growing this business for a while now, but I’ve always wanted a place to share the full process — not just the polished products.

This blog is going to be a hub for project updates, resin casting experiments, sneak peeks at concept art, and the journey behind every bust I release. Whether you’re a fellow creator, a collector, or just someone who likes seeing things come to life from scratch — thanks for being here.

The Coquito Bust – Stepping into Casting

This month, most of my focus has gone toward preparing my first physical release: Coquito, a stylized tropical-themed bust originally sculpted from concept art tied to a local beer brand. It’s bold, expressive, and full of personality — and it felt like the right piece to launch this next chapter of The Lyon Creative.
 

 
But Coquito isn’t just about the bust — it marks the beginning of my journey into resin casting. For a long time, I debated outsourcing this part of the process, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I wanted to understand it firsthand. Learning to mold, pour, troubleshoot, and refine my own castings is an exciting (and intimidating) step — but it’s one I know will serve me and this business well down the line.

To help fund this next phase, I’ll be launching a limited Founder's Edition of the Coquito bust:

·         Only 50 units will be produced

·         Each bust will be hand-cast and individually numbered

·         This release will help fund mold-making tools and materials for future projects

I’ll have more details on pricing and availability very soon — if you’re interested, make sure you’re on the newsletter list or in the Discord for early access.

Whispers of the Wilds – From Concept to Sculpt

Alongside Coquito, I also began work on my newest bust: Whispers of the Wilds, a hauntingly calm forest spirit brought to life through a collaboration that I’ve been dreaming of for a while.

The concept art for this piece was created by Marlowmello — an incredible illustrator whose style and storytelling instincts made them the perfect partner for this project. What made this collaboration truly special is that we both saw Whispers as an opportunity to try something different creatively.

While the concept art provides a clean, humanoid foundation for the bust, the final sculpt will diverge in many ways. As I’ve gotten deeper into the process, I’ve found new ways to weave in natural motifs — textures that feel rooted in bark, earth, and the ancient quiet of the forest. The design is evolving organically, and I’m letting that process lead the way.

Marlowmello is already working on two more concept sketches that will be featured in future releases, and I can’t wait to share more as they develop.

Goals for April

April is going to be a little chaotic — we’re moving houses this month, so things might be a bit slower on the production front. But it’s also shaping up to be a deep sculpting month, and I’m looking forward to sinking into the creative side of things.

Here’s what I’m aiming for:

·         • Finish sculpting Whispers of the Wilds (primary and secondary forms)

·         • Prep Coquito master print for mold making

·         • Begin mold experiments and test pours

·         • Share WIP images weekly on Discord and Instagram

·         • Announce preorder date for the Coquito Founder’s Edition

Thanks for joining me in the Den — your support means the world. If you’d like to get notified when new busts drop or when preorders open, feel free to sign up for the newsletter or join our Discord to be part of the community.

— The Lyon Creative