In the beginning, he learned the ancient art of Shilpa Shastra. This traditional knowledge is deeply rooted in precise measurements, often referred to in their practice as "Thadam", or using rice grains for accuracy. His hands first touched the sculpting tools at the young age of eleven, working alongside his father. And after a few years, he started competing with senior artists. after completing his graduation, he achieved a significant milestone in his career by creating a sculpture of Ayappa Swamy in just 2 days on January 14, 2005 on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. It is a coincidence that the Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya was also finalised on January 14,2024 on Makar Sankrsnti.

After years of practice, he mastered the Mysore sculpting style, an improvisation of the methods used in Hoysala Architecture. He has honed his skills to the extent that today he can carve remarkable and realistic sculptures from any stone.

However, his path was not solely chiselled by artistic pursuits. Like many others, he had to pursue a vocational education. He earned his MBA and embarked on a corporate journey. However, the allure of sculpting remained in his soul. Perhaps it was the feel of the stone beneath his fingers, the quiet conversations between the sculptor and the material, or the deep desire to carry forward his family's legacy. In 2008, he made a life-altering decision and traded the boardroom for the sculptor's studio.

This transition was not without challenges. There were moments of doubt and financial uncertainty that plagued his artistic thoughts but he persevered, honed his skills, and poured his heart, sweat and soul into his craft.

His path to learning and honing the art of sculpting was not without obstacles. He spent hours analysing the different stones and carving techniques. Initially, the physical and mental demands of sculpting tested his resolve, but his passion and determination kept him going.

So far, he has crafted over 10,000 statues of various sizes and styles. Despite his prolific work, he wanted to push his skills further, leading his to create realistic statues in 2011. His first project in this new style did not go as planned, but he did not let this setback deter him. With the support of his education and knowledge, he decided to expand his knowledge and skills. He created a Facebook account to connect and learn from other Indian an foreign sculptors specializing in realistic sculptures. HE learned about the best resources and books to study through these connections. He spent 2 years diligently studying sculptures and skeletal structures.

His journey took a significant turn when he was allowed to sculpt a 15 foot marble statue of the last ruling king of Mysore, Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar. Owing to his young age, the commissioned questioned whether a young boy like him could handle such a monumental task. However, Mr Arun Yogiraj was confident of his abilities, and asked for a chance to create a statue. which they were free to accept if only they were satisfied. After this, he put all his savings into this project and meticulously crafted the statue. His hard work paid off when the Chief Minister of Karnataka mentioned in a program in 2015 that while previous statues were good, the one he created looked alive. This acknowledgment validated his skills and gave him the confidence to pursue more significant projects.

Mr Arun Yogiraj is married to Vijetha Mohan and the couple is blessed with a daughter and a son.