Special Operations soldier

The toughest of the tough are the Special Operations soldier. Their missions may range from direct combat and counterterrorism to rescue and humanitarian aid. They must pass a strenuous selection process and demonstrate exceptional mental and physical fortitude. Furthermore, they must demonstrate exceptional aptitude in areas such as science, math and language by obtaining an outstanding score on the ASVAB, the military’s aptitude test.

My sculpture honors the elite Special Operations soldier, depicting their intelligence, strength and commitment. I began the clay original in late 2022 as part of a larger setting honoring the Global War on Terror for a Veterans Park near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Weighing 350 pounds and measuring 75 inches tall, the sculpture will be installed in summer 2023. Further details will be announced soon.

”A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

-Albert Einstein

Einstein

Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of all time. He is best known for his Theory of Relativity and his work on quantum mechanics. But there’s much more to this fascinating man than just his scientific achievements. Einstein was a philosopher, a humanitarian, and a lover of life.

Born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879 Einstein was a brilliant student, though he was often bored in school and was more interested in daydreaming and exploring his own interests. He eventually left school and pursued his own education, focusing on mathematics and physics. In 1905, he published four groundbreaking papers, which launched his career as one of the world’s leading physicists. Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his work on the Photoelectric Effect.

In addition to his scientific achievements, Einstein was also a passionate humanitarian. He advocated for nuclear disarmament, civil rights, and international cooperation. Einstein also had a passion for life. He was an avid musician, playing the violin and the piano. When stuck on a particularly difficult problem, he’d play violin until the solution would simply come to him.

We can all learn from Albert Einstein’s life. His words of wisdom and his stellar life can inspire us to reach our own potential. May his legacy live on.

Albert Einstein portrait bust

I have sculpted a life–sized bust of Albert Einstein not out of my interest in physics or mathematics, but out of my admiration for those who think differently. Those who stand out from the crowd and work hard to develop their own ways of doing things. The misfits, the round pegs in the square holes and the hard workers. Through creating this sculpture, I have had the privilege of delving into Einstein‘s life and achievements and translating his intelligence, wit and wisdom into one work of art. 

Jimmy Demaret won 31 PGA Tour events in his long career. Jack Burke Jr. won 16 PGA Tour events. A bronze monument honoring them both will be installed in Houston, Texas at the club they founded together in 1957.

Champions Golf Club

Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas is an iconic golf course with a rich history. Jack Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret opened Champions in 1957 a year after Demaret’s 1956 Masters victory in Augusta, Georgia.

Its world–class golf courses have made The Champions Golf Club renowned. It has a well earned reputation for hosting events such as the Ryder Cup, the US Open, the US Amateur, The Women’s Mid-Amateur, the TOUR Championship and the US Women’s Open.

Jack Burke Jr.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Burke started playing golf at the age of seven. He graduated from St. Thomas High School in Houston in 1940 and attended Rice University in 1941. He qualified for the 1941 US Open, the first to be held in Texas, even though he was still an amateur. In 1942, the Marine Corps stationed him at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, CA, during his time of service. Here he taught combat skills to Marines headed overseas during World War II.

Burke resumed his interest in golf teaching upon the end of the war, taking a position at Hollywood Golf Club in New Jersey. His experience there eventually led him to become mentored by 1948 Masters Champion Claude Harmon.

Burke’s career as a pro golfer took off in the early 1950s and by 1963 he had 16 PGA Tour wins in the era of Ben Hogan.

On January 29, 2023 Jack Burke Jr. turned 100 years old and is the only major golf champion to see the centenary of his birth. Burke stated that he wished to be remembered “as someone who upheld the amateur game, since amateurs are the backbone of the sport. And someone who followed the rules.”

Jimmy Demaret

Born in Houston, Texas, Jimmy Demaret’s start in golf came at a young age. He was caddying at the age of eight and winning his first competitive tournament at age eleven. In his professional career he became the first golfer to win the Masters tournament three times; 1940, 1947, and 1950.

Mr. Demaret played on three Ryder Cup teams against British teams and was unbeaten in six matches. In 1983, they named him to the PGA Hall of Fame. He proudly donned an apricot sweater with white knickers, argyle socks, and orange and black golf shoes. One of Demaret’s finest seasons on the professional circuit was in 1940 when he won seven events, including the U.S. Masters and the Western Open. 

Demaret’s bright-colored clothing, which he had specially made for tournaments, enhanced his flamboyant personality. His fan–favorite status earned him the nickname of “The Wardrobe”. He had a very good baritone voice and talent as a comedian; he frequently entertained at nightclubs at Tour stops. He is famously known for saying at a banquet in 1965 “Golf and sex are about the only things you can enjoy without being good at it”. Mr. Demaret passed away December 28, 1983 in Houston, Texas.

We will permanently install the life–sized bronze sculptures of Jack Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret in the Fall of 2023. Champions golf club commissioned the sculpture.

Teddy Roosevelt in the Dakota Territory

Teddy Roosevelt and Horse bronze sculpture honors the future President who arrived in the Dakota Territory in 1883. He came to hunt buffalo and to escape the grief of his wife‘s death. Roosevelt bought a ranch near Medora, North Dakota, and became a cowboy, rancher and a hunter. He also went on long expeditions into the Badlands and wrote about his adventures. Roosevelt made frequent trips to the city of Bismarck to negotiate with cattle barons and Native Americans. He was an advocate for conservation, and his visits to the area helped shape the preservation of its natural resources. In 1886, Roosevelt left the Dakota Territory and returned to New York. But he never forgot the beauty of the Badlands.

Roosevelt’s experience in the Dakota Territory had a lasting impact on him and the nation. His time there introduced him to conservation, something he carried with him for the rest of his life. He became an advocate for the protection of the American wilderness and the conservation of natural resources. As President, he established the United States Forest Service, created five national parks, and signed the 1906 Antiquities Act, which enabled him to designate national monuments. Millions of acres of public land were preserved through his efforts. His time there also shaped his political beliefs in the importance of self–reliance and hard work.

In April 2010, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park was established in the Badlands of the Dakota Territory to commemorate Roosevelt’s time there and his contributions to American conservation. The park is home to the Little Missouri River, prairie grasslands, and wildlife that Roosevelt encountered.

Sculpture

In this one third scale sculpture, Teddy is standing next to his horse with his left hand on his pistol. A photo of the future President posing with his horse inspired the sculpture. However, with the changes I made, it is my hope that the sculpture conveys him staring off towards the horizon of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands and ready for any threat that might come his way. In the land that inspired him to be self reliant and instilled in him the value of hard work which shaped his Presidency.

Why we love our dogs

A dog lover is someone who loves and cares for dogs. They may own one or many dogs and treat them as members of the family. Dog lovers may also volunteer at animal shelters or rescue organizations, donate to dog-related charities, and attend dog-related events. Children may love dogs because they provide unconditional love, companionship, and acceptance. Dogs can also be a source of fun and entertainment, providing an outlet for a child’s energy and imagination. Finally, dogs can help teach children important lessons about responsibility, empathy, and caring for others.

Love at First Site-showing the bond between children and animals

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been working on this life size sculpture called Love at First Sight. It is the first of many garden sculptures of children and animals. In my sculpture a dog licks the face and neck of her human. The childs head is turned slightly and she is grinning at the special moment that she will remember her whole life. The dogs joy is also expressed through a lifted tail (implying wagging) and in her half shut eyes while licking the girls face.

This sculpture was meant to embody the emotions I experienced when I adopted my first dog, PJ, at 14 years old. He was a beautiful golden lab, and though he was already in his golden years, I was overjoyed to have him in my life. While I was happy to care for him, I was also faced with the difficult lesson of responsibility when he passed away a few years later. I remember the pouring rain and muddy boots as I dug his grave behind my grandma‘s pool, aching with sadness and love. That experience taught me how much love is involved in being a responsible adult. And this love only grew as I adopted more cats and dogs throughout my childhood and adulthood. Even today, I still remember each of my amazing pets and the lessons they taught me.

The pose for the sculpture was also inspired by my love for Illustrator Norman Rockwell. I was aware of Rockwells art from a young age as my grandmother had a book on his paintings. They were a joy to admire as a child and continue to be as an adult.

Mrs. Barbara Bradley, the late and renowned teacher and illustrator who had a history of lecturing and teaching at Walt Disney Feature Animation, was also the inspiration behind Love at First Sight. During my time as a student at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, I had the pleasure of taking her class, “Children and Animals”. Mrs. Bradley’s class was considered a favorite among those who wanted to pursue animation, illustration, and the fine arts. We were taught the importance of drawing from real life situations. We often took field trips to elementary schools and the San Francisco zoo in order to sketch children and animals.

The life size sculpture of Love at First Sight will be cast in bronze and finished this Summer 2023. More details coming soon.

Battlefield Cross-a brief definition

The Battlefield Cross, also known as the Fallen Soldier Memorial or Soldier’s Cross, are memorials that soldier’s place on battlefields or at a base camp. They are designed to honor a soldier who has been killed in action on the battlefield. It is symbolic of a cross and consists of the soldier’s boots, his/her rifle and helmet positioned on top of the rifle. The service members dog tag will sometimes be placed on the rifle if it isn’t on the boot. These are a small way that soldiers remember the fallen and usually take place soon after death.

Battlefield Crosses have their roots in World War I with the tradition of erecting a cross at the graves of fallen soldiers. During WWI, they were used to mark fallen soldiers’ graves and as a symbol of mourning for their families. As the war progressed and more soldiers died, the cross became increasingly prevalent as a way to honor the fallen. The Battlefield Cross has continued to evolve and is now used to honor those who have died in battle, as well as those who have served their country. It is a powerful and moving symbol of remembrance, and a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by our service members.

Battlefield Cross sculptures-their purpose

Battlefield Crosses are created for Veteran memorials in the US to honor fallen soldiers who died during battle. These life size bronze sculptures are a reminder that war is not free and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice need to be remembered and honored. It is for their bravery, their honor and their sacrifice that we have the freedoms we get to share today. We salute all the Vets who served and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Our country is indebted to these heroes. And these sculptures are designed, created and cast in durable bronze to remember and honor their sacrifices.

Battlefield Cross- a journey to bronze

Early this year I was asked by the Mayor of Papillion, Nebraska if I had battlefield cross sculptures available. Since I didn’t have any I said I could make one. And the first Battlefield Cross sculpture I made was honoring the War on Terror. A couple of months later I was contacted by a small town in Utah who asked if I had a WWII Battle Cross. Not yet, was my reply. And then, not long after a good friend and client Earl Boston from West Point, Nebraska asked if I had a Vietnam version. For the past 25 years I had not once been asked if I had one, let alone three battlefield crosses. And all asked within a few months of each other from three different clients from different parts of the country. As the saying goes; when it rains it pours.

With my life size Battle Crosses I hope to help communities honor their brave and remember their sacrifices. They are an emotional tribute to these heroes who fought and died for our country. And whom without we would not be sharing the joys of freedom.

The portrait bust

A portrait bust is defined as capturing a face, neck and chest in a medium such as bronze or stone, etc.. Although traditionally a portrait bust included part of the chest, today we (myself included) incorrectly use the word ‘bust’ to include the head and neck and no chest. But removing a couple of inches of clay to the neckline shouldn’t be enough reason to change its name, so we give it a pass. No harm done. It’s close enough, carry on.

Portrait bust sculpture goes back to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. And 2,500 years later they are still common. The art form even made it through the abstract art movement unscathed. Portrait busts are a way to honor someone living or dead and can capture various expressions, moods and a likeness all in a small amount of space. In short, it does everything a full figure can do but with less materials, space and time.

Portrait sculpture is one of those art forms that every sculpture student should spend time on. The reasons are: 

1. They are inexpensive to make 
2. They aren’t overwhelming for a beginner, compared with making a full figure portrait 
3. If you can make a good portrait bust you can make a good figure

My own history creating portrait busts

The first finished portrait bust I made was an art student at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. The model was a beautiful, young Chinese-American woman who sat live for the class. The sculpture I made was of her head, neck and partial chest and I spent two or three weeks creating her likeness. It was challenging and fun. When the clay was all dry, post-graduate students fired it as part of their masters degree program.

The moment I laid eyes on the fired terracotta I was mesmerized. The bust took on a new life. It was then that I realized I had potential at being a sculptor. There was and continues to be a higher level of beauty that us artists experience when we first see our own sculptures transform into a permanent medium like bronze. Perhaps its comparable to when a mother sees her newborn baby for the first time? It’s mesmerizing, magical and beautiful. Symbolically, firing the bust also solidified my passion for sculpture. After I left the Academy I would look at the bust for inspiration. It helped push me forward through the early years of creating sculpture. 

To date I have created somewhere between 25-30 portrait busts. Unfortunately, only about 10 of them were ever molded and even less cast in bronze. However, I am excited with the many new busts coming in the next year as more commissions come in. New portrait busts in queue are of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Buddy Holly and a second bust of James Dean. 

To see these and some of my other sculptures take shape, please follow me on Facebook at Sutton Betti Sculptures.

Italians as sculptures: a series

In 2004, after I returned home from a trip to Italy I challenged myself to create a series of life size bronze sculptures of influential and great Italians, from any era in history through today. Niccolo Paganini was the first life size cast in bronze. And this of Alberta Brianti was the second one finished in bronze.

Why create sculptures of Italians?

My grandpa Betti’s family came from Lucca which is a small city in the Tuscany region. On this trip I visited the small city of Lucca and went to a phone book just for the heck of it and saw several pages of Betti’s listed. I never felt so at home seeing Betti after Betti listed! I wanted to call each and every one of them and express the joy I felt and make a complete fool of myself. “Hi I’m a Betti too!!”. But I didn’t. As an American I was usually “Betty” first then Sutton. It used to make me so frustrated as a kid. But when I saw how common of a name it was, not only in Lucca but in much of Tuscany, I connected more to my roots then I had before.… this idea was born from that experience and its one I’ll never forget; sculpt Italians and do it well.

Every so often I’ll post “A Day in the Life”. For you, the reader. And for my mom, so she knows I’m working. 

A Day in the Life of a Sculptor; November 6, 2022

Day 1 of 2; I got out of bed at 4:30 am, mostly wide awake because I couldn’t sleep. That tends to be my normal before I leave for an install. I had decided a couple of days before leaving that I’d load up the sculptures first thing in the morning rather than the day before. The ten sculptures I took to West Point, Nebraska were seven battlefield crosses, one saluting US Navy and two Vietnam medals.

The night before Jessica suggested I try to fit all ten bronze sculptures in my truck and not haul a trailer. I quickly reacted with “do you know what I’m hauling???”  And afterwards said to her “I’ll think about it”. Well it turns out she was right; all 900 pounds of bronze sculptures fit in my truck. And therefore no trailer was needed (Thank you, Jessica!)

The eight hour drive was very peaceful. These drives across state lines usually are for me. Especially going to a familiar place in West Point, where I can look forward to visiting my client and friend Earl. Earl has continuously bought sculptures from me for the past ten or so years. I was fortunate to have a pair of Bluetooth headphones with me so I listened to a good amount of Bruce Springsteen and a podcast called Artholes that delves into the crazy lives of famous artists. With the earbuds in and mind-wandering the drive went fast.

Bohemian Duck!

When I arrived Earl invited me to dinner at a wonderful restaurant; the Bohemian Duck. His daughter, grandson and an employee Casey met us. Bohemian Duck is in downtown West Point. Although I had heard of their food from Earl I wouldn’t have guessed it would turn out to be anything comparable to a cafe in Paris or a small restaurant in SF. This was a small town after all. Boy, was I wrong! The salmon was the best. Since I love to cook I had to find out what went into this delicious meal. However, I was stopped short as the waitress wouldn’t share the chefs secret ingredient. She did say the fish is flown in weekly. And… they don’t freeze the fish. So what you get is as fresh as it comes. For the eleven years I’ve been coming to West Point this was my first great meal.

A Day in the Life; November 7, 2022

Installation and Military Memorabilia