 Having finally decided in favour of art as his life-work, Derujinsky moved to Paris in 1912, where he continued his studies at the Académie Colarossi and at the Académie Julian, where he was befriended by Rodin.He returned to Saint Petersburg in 1903 and continued his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts, Sculpture department, where he received seven first prizes, the first to receive this distinction and was nominated for the Prix de Rome.He participated in the Academy exhibitions and those organized by the Society for the traveling art exhibitions (Peredvizhniki), and others.