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Modern Classical Bronze Sculpture

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Blog

#196, portrait bust of Mother Teresa

September 4, 2022 By Sutton Betti

New sculpting studio

Last month I moved into a new sculpture studio. This new 2200 square foot studio space is being used entirely for clay sculpting. The other two studios (located 3 miles away) are used for the labor intensive steps of turning clay into bronze.

Although it has been many years since I’ve had my own sculpture studio that wasn’t a shared space (17 years to be exact) I immediately felt at home in this new space. Of course, it helps that the area is still used for artists studios and that my new space is right next door to a now closed bronze foundry. Although the Loveland Sculpture Works Foundry has been closed since 2003, the area still has labeled awnings and signs designating this area as an arts community. And this, of course, helps me connect with my creative side.

Portrait bust of Mother Teresa

In this new creative space I decided to take a rare day off from commissioned work to start a sculpture bust. Sculpture busts give me great, great joy! They are relatively quick to create and include all of the techniques I use on a full figure condensed into a small area. Since I can usually get a bust sculpted in one or two 5-6 hour sessions, they are a great way to break up the time consuming full figure sculptures which take much longer.

On Friday morning over warm tea, I decided on making this portrait bust of Mother Teresa. After gathering all of the reference material and composing the bust I began work. With ear buds in I listened to podcasts of her life story, which often times had me in tears. I worked on the bust for seven hours and called it done when I felt it could be overworked. 

Essence

Mother Teresa’s devotion to the Catholic Church and reaching into the hearts of the slums of India (Calcutta) is astonishing. But what captured my attention more than this are stories of how she felt abandoned by God for 50 years. I think most of us can, at some point, connect with this feeling of silence. I have certainly felt this. But feeling disconnected from God doing the exhaustive work she did must have been incredibly difficult. 

In the bust, Mother Teresa’s head is turned to her left side and her eyes glance slightly upwards to God. With her mouth parted only slightly she speaks; Why have you distanced yourself from me? Is my life’s work and love for humanity not worthy of your LOVE?

It’s hard to imagine a life like hers whose devotion and care was so public. Yet she stayed the course and persevered for decades which earned her being canonized in 2016. For all she did and went through I hope my portrait bust does her justice.

Mother Teresa, Saint Teresa, Sutton Betti
3/4 view of the life size bust of Mother Teresa
portrait bust, Colorado sculptor, Sutton Betti
front view, Mother Teresa
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Mother Teresa
side view of the life size clay bust of Mother Teresa

Filed Under: Blog

#195, Big Fish: Portrait of Allen Ginsborg

August 6, 2022 By Sutton Betti

Big Fish: Portrait of Allen Ginsborg

Last month we installed a life size bronze fishing sculpture of a northern Colorado developer, Allen Ginsborg. Although this sculpture is of a man holding a fish, it honors a man who built a reputation for building some of northern Colorado’s biggest developments. Some of his creations include Woodward Inc.’s campus, parts of Centerra in Loveland, Marketplace in Fort Collins and Village at the Peaks in Longmont. It now sits permanently within the fountains at Village at the Peaks.

Allen was an avid fly fisherman and cyclist who loved the outdoors. And as a well respected businessman Mr. Ginsborg was a frequent lecturer at Everitt Real Estate Center who mentored CSU students. With a great balance of family, faith, business and community, the community will miss him.

From Idea to Permanent Art

The monument took seven months to create. From December 2021 through March 2022, my assistant Michael and I worked on the clay original. After finishing the clay we created a mold off of the clay original. With the mold complete, we poured melted wax into the molds. From there, the wax castings were cooled, removed, then cleaned up in preparation for pouring bronze. Than the local bronze foundry carefully took the delicate waxes and prepared them for bronze casting using the lost wax casting method.

Over a period of two months foundry artisans worked hard on casting the waxes into bronze. For more information on this process please visit Art Castings website.

While the sculpture was being cast I began looking for a granite boulder to match the landscape. Once the metal castings arrived at my studio, my team assembled and chased the full size sculpture. Then later the bronze sculpture was patinated by a professional patineur. The granite boulder that he sits on weighs just under 1 ton. Because of its weight it was installed using a extended boom forklift.

In conclusion, the life size bronze fishing sculpture honors Mr. Ginsborg and his love for the outdoors. It is an homage to a man who loved to fish and helped shaped the Northern Colorado community.

Photos of Big Fish: Portrait of Allen Ginsborg

Fishing bronze sculpture
This life size bronze sculpture is a portrait of a Northern Colorado developer, Allen Ginsborg
fisherman bronze statue, Sutton Betti
An outdoor bronze sculpture and portrait of a Northern Colorado developer, Allen Ginsborg. The sculpture is located at Village at the Peaks in Longmont, CO
fisherman statue
This life size bronze sculpture was permanently installed in early July 2022

The sculpture sits amidst a kids play area and two large fountains at Village at the Peaks in Northern Colorado

Village at the Peaks, Longmont, Colorado, Sutton Betti

fishing sculpture
This sculpture of Allen is located at Village at the Peaks fountains in Longmont, Colorado
fisherman statue
Back view details of Big Fish
big fish bronze sculpture
Back view of the sculpture honoring the late Allen Ginsborg

Filed Under: Blog

#194, Saluting US Navy Officer-clay

July 5, 2022 By Sutton Betti


US Navy statue, Sutton BettiSaluting Navy sculptureMilitary sculpture, US Navy

Why do we salute?

Our military salute is a sign of respect and recognition of service members‘ commitment to their country. It is a gesture of appreciation and gratitude for the service and sacrifices of those who serve. And it is a symbol of unity and pride in our military. A salute recognizes the chain of command, discipline, and standards upheld within the military, as well as their authority. But in sculpture, the salute is a way of expressing appreciation for the service and dedication of our military forces.

Women in public sculpture

Public art sculptures honoring women are becoming more popular today because there is a greater awareness and appreciation of the achievements and contributions of women in society. Additionally, there is a growing movement to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse accomplishments of women in all aspects of life, from art and history to politics and business. Finally, many communities are recognizing the need to create more inclusive public spaces that honor these women.

The increased visibility of public art sculptures honoring women is a powerful reminder that women have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to our world. It serves to inspire other women to pursue their own passions and dreams. And to recognize the importance of their own unique voices. As we see more of women’s accomplishments being celebrated I am pleased that more women are receiving recognition and honors in public art.

Saluting US Navy Officer

This week I completed the finishing touches on my life size sculpture of a female Navy Officer saluting the American Flag. At 68 1/2 inches tall, the clay original will soon be cast in bronze. This is my second saluting soldier sculpture. The first being an Air Force Sergeant sculpted and cast in 2018. We will install this sculpture near the flag of American Veterans Park in West Point, Nebraska.

 

Filed Under: Blog

#193, Memorial Day 2022

June 2, 2022 By Sutton Betti

A day to Remember and Honor

Memorial Day; a day to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. We should always remember this day as that and not how I remember it growing up as a kid with a day off from school or work, backyard bbq’s, poolside activities and music. It’s a day to honor the lives lost fighting for our freedoms. Not a happy day by any means.

Over the past ten years I’ve been honored to have many of my sculptures take center stage during the Memorial Day weekend, as well as other major holidays that honor our service members. While it gives me joy (for lack of a better word) that my sculptures can help people heal from their loss, on the flip side of the coin it helps me see that there are so many families that have lost loves ones during battle.

Making military themed sculptures creates a yin and yang of emotions in me, it has to. As an artist, you have to create something powerful and real so the viewer can connect with the artwork. This requires a lot of hard work as well as passion for what one does. Good anatomy, movement and strong composition are some of the elements that make for great art. But as an artist you also need to connect with your subject and what it feels like, for example, if you are in battle or lost a friend during battle. Without connecting deeply to what the subject is doing the artwork fails. I am fortunate to know quite a few Veterans who, like my late father, have shared with me their feelings of loss and war that they hold deep inside their heart. The yin is in the strength and power of the sculpture. The yang is the emotions it evokes in the viewer.

Memorial Day; a day to remember and never forget.

I take pride when I can create a sculpture that evokes an emotional response in people. It means I’ve done my job well. Below are photos of various monuments during Memorial Day 2022.

bronze military statue in Rome, NY
A US Army and US Marine Honor Guard pose with the Remembering Heroes bronze sculpture
Remembering Heroes bronze statue
Remembering Heroes taking part in Memorial Day services in Rome, NY where dozens gathered to remember those lost in war
bronze military sculpture, Memorial Day
Honor Guards lay Memorial Day wreaths next to the bronze kneeling soldier in Rome, NY
Remembering Heroes Vietnam bronze sculpture
Digital illustration by Joe Perrone of Sutton’s Remembering Heroes sculpture in Rome, NY
Memorial Day celebration in Papillion, Nebraska
Dozens gather at a new POW/MIA/KIA Memorial in Papillion, Nebraska with three of Sutton’s sculptures
MIA/KIA/POW memorial
Memorial Day service in Papillion
Battlefield Cross statue, Battlefield marker sculpture
Memorial Day service in Papillion, Nebraska with Sutton’s Battlefield Cross (era War on Terror)
Gold Star Wife sculpture
Brad Smith created a digital illustration of Sutton’s Gold Star Wife in Edmond, OK during Memorial Day
Memorial Day US Marine Honor Guard sculpture
A US Marine Honor Guard salutes during Memorial Day in Altoona, WI
Memorial Day Altoona Wisconsin
Laying a Memorial Day wreath on Sutton’s US Army Honor Guard sculpture
Memorial Day sculptures
Memorial Day service at the Chippewa Valley Veterans Tribute in Altoona, WI

Filed Under: Blog

#192, May pole dance sculpture

May 7, 2022 By Sutton Betti

All Schools Day-May pole dance

The May pole dance sculpture located outside the McPherson Community Building’s north-west plaza in McPherson, Kansas was installed on April 26-27, 2022. 

The monument consists of five life size bronze children dancing around a twelve foot tall aluminum May pole, two granite tablets and two granite benches. Each of the playful bronze kids are gripping colored streamers in which they crisscross around the pole. The children, ages 8-13 are the central design within the plaza. Two seven foot tall black granite tablets have images and text that highlight past events. Today, the annual event gathers up to 30,000 people from neighboring communities. Each of the two benches holds a six inch diameter porcelain tile that illustrates the All Schools Day button designs; one from 2002 and one from 2022. 

Brief history

The community celebrated its first graduation ceremony with an event that honored 8th graders in 1914. Since then, it has grown into the largest annual celebration in the state of Kansas that recognizes high school and college graduates from McPherson and neighboring communities.

McPherson Mayor Tom Brown spearheaded the project in order to preserve some of the rich and unique history of McPherson. The May pole dance sculpture is installed in the opposite plaza of the Globe Refiners outside the community building where the first Olympic Gold medal winning basketball team used to practice in the mid-1930s.

 

All Schools Day, McPherson Kansas, graduates
May pole dance sculpture in McPherson, Kansas
Outdoor bronze sculpture, children playing
Finished bronze children dancing around a May pole
Red Dress bronze sculpture, Spring statue, Sutton Betti monuments
two of the bronze kids weaving the May pole are “Red Dress” and everyones favorite child “Spring”
May pole dance sculpture, bronze children
Spring and Mountain boy weaving the May pole in McPherson, Kansas
playful bronze kids
Converse girl and Mountain boy dancing around the May pole
granite monument, Sutton Betti
close up of the 7 foot tall black granite tablet
black granite monument, Sutton Betti
close up of tablet 2 in McPherson
outdoor bronze statues, bronze children playing
NW plaza outside the McPherson Community Building in Kansas
May pole bench
The focal point of the stone bench is a 6 inch diameter round porcelain tile that illustrates the All Schools Day button design from 2002

Filed Under: Blog

#191, Portrait sculpture of Allen Ginsborg

March 9, 2022 By Sutton Betti

Portrait sculpture is more demanding then other type of sculpture. Not only do you have to have proportions and composition spot on, 50% of the time is usually spent on the face. It is demanding work, but it’s rewards are great. With more time spent on the face, I usually ask for an additional 2 or 3 months when dealing with likenesses compared with regular life size sculptural works. This life size portrait sculpture of Allen Ginsborg is a case in point.

Portrait sculpture of Allen Ginsborg

The sculpture of Allen holding a fish is a project that honors a local business man and developer Allen Ginsborg who passed away in July 2020. I have been working with his family and friends as well as an art representative out of California to create the life size likeness of Allen in doing what he loved most; fishing. When completed the bronze sculpture will be installed in a large fountain at the shopping mall he built; Village at the Peaks in Longmont, Colorado.

Cherish those small moments with those you love. Accept others faults and always be there if someone needs to talk.

This project has made me realize the importance of holding those you love closer then ever. Never take for granted those that are in your life. One day they will not be with you. Working with the people that knew him the most and seeing interviews, photos and hearing stories has made it clear to me that Allen was a well-loved, intelligent, kind business leader who gave back to his community in many ways.

man fishing sculpture

Filed Under: Blog

#190, clay model of Theodore Roosevelt in the Dakota Territory

January 12, 2022 By Sutton Betti

For the past few months I’ve been working on a 31” tall clay model of Theodore Roosevelt in the Dakota Territory. I don’t get many opportunities to sculpt maquettes for large projects mainly because of tight deadlines. With no given timeline on a life size version there was time to create a detailed maquette. 

The maquette was designed from an old photo from the 1880s. From around the time he first visited the Dakota Territory to experience the American West. The experiences he had in what is now North Dakota shaped him into the man we know of as our 26th President. For more information about Teddy in the American West, click here.

Although the primary inspiration for the clay work was the photo of Teddy, there were some things that I changed. It was important to incorporate the feel of the future Presidents’ larger than life personality and confidence. Putting his foot on a rock, adding a few more years and squinting his eyes were a few of these minor changes.

The project, if it happens, will be my first monument to a President. More details at a later date…stay tuned.

 

Teddy Roosevelt sculpture, maquette study, Sutton Betti
maquette of Teddy Roosevelt with horse in the Dakota Badlands

Sutton Betti

Filed Under: Blog

#189, On maintaining a creative mind

December 31, 2021 By Sutton Betti

According to Wikipedia, creativity is defined as “the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work”. But we are all creative in our own individual ways even if you aren’t an artist. Whether you are remodeling a home or being creative with your time, creativity is a big part of our lives. Furthermore, I’ll bet the majority of people are maintaining a creative mind on a daily basis but don’t consider themselves creative.

Being creative as a sculptor can sometimes be a chore. Since making sculptures is expensive, time consuming and requires a certain amount of space (both physically and emotionally) it can be tough to bring an A-game every day. Creatively speaking, it is easy for sculptures to get stale. Especially when you cast in bronze!

Here are some of the things that I do to maintain a creative mind as a sculptor:

  • talk about art with friends. I am fortunate to have a couple of studio mates that I talk art with on a daily basis. Furthermore, every Friday we discuss art in depth during lunch. Sometimes our conversations can go for 2 hours! Since we share artistic likes we can usually go into the depths of art and art history. It is a great way to end the week too.
  • Go for walks. Being in Colorado means there is a plethora of hiking trails and parks to explore. But because I’m a creature of habit, there are two parks that I frequent. Whether walking during the cold brisk air of January or on a hot summer day, walking frees my mind and allows me to step back.
  • Learn to compete with yourself, not anyone else. While I am naturally competitive I have had to learn to turn this inwards for the most productive output (as well as for people to not hate me). I believe if you aren’t naturally competitive you can learn to compete with yourself. There are books on this topic. When I compete with myself, I begin to learn and appreciate what I’m good at and what I’m not good at. I can take this awareness and focus on improving on it or ignoring it. But awareness is crucial. 
  • When I create a sculpture I alternate between having reference and not having reference available. When I don’t have reference available questions begin to form right away. Such as what happens to the flexor muscles of the legs when the leg is bent vs. straight. Then, when I go to use reference, these questions are answered. On the contrary, if you always work from a model or photographs, you don’t learn to develop questions. As such, the final artwork can become stale because you haven’t really learned why you are doing what you are doing. 
  • Rise early. Not everyone agrees with the phrase “the early bird gets the worm”. I do. I am up every day at 5am sometimes earlier. To me, there is something magical about the early morning hours.
  • Draw, draw, draw. From your imagination. From life. Then repeat.
  • Go and “read art”. Study poetry, music and art that inspire you. Why are you so drawn to Beethoven’s piano sonatas? What makes John Singer Sargeant’s paintings so good? Is it in the composition or is it in the handling of the brushstrokes? What makes Rodin’s Thinker so appealing? Don’t just read other peoples points of view, develop your own opinion.
  • Quiet the mind. Whether it’s in front of the fireplace with my three kitties and Jessica or just laying in bed daydreaming. Allowing my mind to “de-stress” is equivalent to refilling my creative gas tank. It is a Yin and Yang approach to life and crucial to maintaining a creative mind.
  • Stay positive and keep on moving. One day it will take you somewhere.

    maintaining a creative mind, military sculpture, Gold Star Wife, Gold Star Woman, grieving woman remembering her husband, remembering the fallen bronze sculpture, Gold star woman with folded flag, folded flag bronze sculpture, Sutton Betti
    Life size clay for bronze sculpture of a Gold Star Wife grieving for her husband

Filed Under: Blog

#188, All Schools Day project

December 26, 2021 By Sutton Betti

All Schools Day

Since early 2021 I have been busy working on a large sculptural project honoring the 107 year history of All Schools Day in McPherson, Kansas.

In 1914, the community came together to celebrate the graduation of McPherson County 8th graders. Since then, the parade has become the largest celebration in the state of Kansas and has grown to honor high school and college graduates, as well as 8th graders. The completed monument will be permanently installed in early 2022 in time for the event.

COMPOSITION

The composition of the five kids dancing around a May pole was inspired by traditional ceremonies of the May pole dance with a more modern take. Traditionally, school age girls wore long dresses with flower crowns and were the primary entertainers. However, I felt it was important to include both girls and boys in order to be “all-inclusive”.

Although each of the five kids are walking in the same direction doing the same thing for the most part, I was concerned with creating each of them in a unique pose with unique clothing and slightly different facial expressions. As such, each child maintains a sense of happiness and playfulness throughout while maintaining a sense of individualism.

In the center will be a 12 foot tall aluminum flag pole. And attached will be five colored streamers mounted to the top that each kid holds to create the unique weave pattern. 

At the rear of the May pole will be two 7 foot tall black granite tablets. Each tablet will be laser etched with text and images of the unique history of All Schools Day in McPherson. Off to the side will be two black granite benches that will hold two large circular shaped discs. These porcelain discs will have historical illustrations by two children commemorating the annual event. 

Linear pavers will be laid in a similar design and shape as the plaza of the Globe Refiners monument. Last of all uplighting will bring the monument to life at night.

UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES

• As in all of my sculptures, I pay close attention to little details. As such, buttons, shoe laces and hair have as much detail as a dress or shirt. Generally, I spend about 40% of my time on the facial details. I am amazed at how little movements in facial expressions can affect the feeling of a monument. Undoubtedly a simple smile can easily convey a sense of joy from the slight raise of an eyebrow, for example. 

• One of the children is straight from the 1930s depression-era, with his newsboy cap and suspenders. Importantly, I included this historical figure to connect our past to the present day.

• In an attempt to connect the nearby Globe Refiners monument with this monument, one of the girls is wearing low-top converse shoes. Details of the bronze converse shoes on the Globe Refiners monument was recently included in a book by Rich Hughes “If The Shoe Fits: How Sport Stars Fashion The Sneaker Culture”. by connecting two very different monuments in this subtle way and tipping the hat to the first Gold Medal Olympic basketball team, it is a show of respect albeit in a small subtle way.

concept drawing, Sutton Betti, children dancingclay sculpture of little girlstatue of boy playingMay Pole dance sculptureAll Schools Day celebration, Sutton Bettilife size child sculpturedetail of a clay original sculpture

Filed Under: Blog

#187, Remembering Heroes (Vietnam War) bronze sculpture

November 10, 2021 By Sutton Betti

Remembering Heroes (Vietnam War) is a life size bronze military sculpture and the third life size kneeling soldier in the Remembering series. The bronze sculpture is a Vietnam era US Marine with his hand against a wall. Remembering (War on Terror) is also a life size bronze military sculpture and the first sculpture made in the series. 

Both bronze sculptures are life size. Each of them remembers the sad and unfortunate cost of war and honors the fallen. The Vietnam soldier has an M16 rifle and the modern War on Terror soldier has an M4. Both are clutching a helmet in right hand although the Vietnam soldier has a pack of marlboros strapped to his helmet. Both have an outstretched left arm designed to rest against a stone wall. In addition, both are US Marines. But they are from two different wars separated by 30 years.

Remembering (War on Terror)

When I created the Remembering (War on Terror) sculpture I never imagined it would lead to creating other military sculptures. Remembering was the second military themed sculpture I had created (the first being a Tuskegee Airman). From the moment it was installed, I started getting inquiries about it and creating new sculptures. I get great joy in connecting with people and hearing their responses to Remembering. However, it is sometimes followed by a personal story of loss. 

Without a doubt, Remembering (War on Terror) was the first time I felt a sense of purpose with my art in honoring service members. I think a part of it was from my dads connection to the sculpture and what he did for Veterans. What I had created gave him joy, which in turn gave me a sense of purpose. And this continues to this day.

As a US Marine, my dad Dave Betti felt proud and honored at what I was creating and the direction I was going with my art. Enough so, that he visited me in Colorado in 2013 to see the sculpture in its early stages. As President of the Vietnam Veterans of Ventura county, it gave him joy to see what his only son was working on. A closer bond was formed, then had been previous. Sadly it would be the last time I’d see my dad. 

Remembering Heroes (Vietnam War)

Remembering Heroes (Vietnam War) bronze sculpture was created at the 6 year anniversary of my dads death. As such, the sculpture has a different meaning for me then it does to the Veterans who reflect on it. Although it is designed to remember the heroes we lost during the war in Vietnam, it is also a personal homage to my late father and all that he did for the Vietnam vets in Southern California. 

US Marine bronze sculpture, Loveland sculptor Sutton Bettikneeling soldier in bronze remembering fallenVietnam Veterans Memorial, Sutton BettiVietnam era kneeling soldier, Rome, New YorkRemembering Heroes, bronze military sculpture

Filed Under: Blog

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Commission a Bronze Sculpture

If you would like a quote on a bronze sculpture commission, portrait bust, or custom relief sculpture from Sutton,  contact him using the form below, or call (970) 593-2987.

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