Capturing the Human Spirit in Bronze: My Journey as a Portrait Sculptor
There’s something timeless about bronze. It carries history, permanence, and weight—both physically and emotionally. For over 30 years, I’ve dedicated my career to creating portraits in this enduring medium. I work to capture not just a likeness, but a soul cast in metal.
Each portrait begins with a conversation. Whether I’m working from life, photos, or memory, I spend time getting to know the subject—not just their features, but their story. I want the final piece to reflect their spirit, not just their appearance.
From there, I move into clay modeling. This is where most of the emotional and creative work happens. Once I’m satisfied with the form, the mold-making and casting process begins in the Betz Art Foundry, where I am involved in every phase of the casting process. It’s technical, exacting, and yet thrilling—because when the bronze emerges, it feels alive.
Current project Charlotte Baldwin Allen for the City of Houston
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sculpting. Each project has taught me something new—about technique, about people, and about myself.
There’s a reason we use bronze for memorials, statues, and timeless works—it endures. For me, working in bronze is a way to honor people. It’s a craft that connects me to thousands of years of tradition, while also letting me express something deeply personal and present.
My career in bronze portraiture has been one of constant learning, quiet observation, and deep appreciation for the people I sculpt. It’s a privilege to create something lasting in a world that moves so quickly. And with each new portrait, I’m reminded why I started—to see, to feel, and to share something real.
BonnieWilkinson
Wilkinson Elementary opened in 2009 in Conroe, Texas
Artist Lori Betz was chosen to created a bronze memorial of Bonnie Wilkinson for the new school
Jerry Stoller plaque and bust for the Stoller Foundation
Title: Sculpting from Memory: When All You Have Is an Old Photograph
There’s a unique kind of quiet responsibility that comes with sculpting someone who is no longer here — especially when the only reference is a single, aged photograph. No 3D scans, no video footage, no multiple angles. Just one still image, often worn at the edges, holding within it a person’s story, essence, and legacy.
As a sculptor, these are some of the most challenging yet meaningful projects I’ve taken on. Turning a flat, two-dimensional photo into a full, three-dimensional bronze sculpture isn’t just a technical task — it’s an act of interpretation, empathy, and creative reconstruction.
JC League with his daughter is the only photo I had to use. and the sculpture in the wax with his dog.
