Jean creates one-of-a-kind wooden dolls based on different models so each one will be very different from each other. Most dolls have carved hair and the bodies can be all wood, stuffed cloth, or cloth bodies with wire armature. The dolls range in size form 2 to 36 inches. Jean is not limited to wood and works with several different materials. "I've worked in several sizes but my favorite is 'cabinet size' - from 6.5" to 8", but yet I love the impact of huge figures and the mystique of minis!"

Jean Lotz is best known for her open edition version of "Hitty", a storybook doll based on the 1929 Newbery award winning "Hitty Her First Hundred Years" by Rachel Field. One edition of Hitty is in basswood and another in white ash.

"At first, I would just grab a piece of wood, sketch what I want directly on it and then start chopping away. Then I started to draw things out; drafting front and profile views to create "blanks" which my husband cut on a band saw. Lately I've been trying to sculpt clay studies before I carve them in wood. That way I can see and feel the form to make it easier to visualize what I need to chop away to accomplish my vision in wood. But for my tiniest dolls, I still just grab a piece of wood, sketch what I want directly on it and then start chopping away."

"I enjoy the dreaming/design and sculpting aspect of doll making the most. I often catch myself staring at people and can almost feel their faces with my eyes. At those times I wish I had a blob of clay handy. Hand sewing is also a very enjoyable task - so relaxing. I create all of my figures by hand and by myself, including the design, sculpting, painting, sewing and embellishment. They are a reflection of my unique vision"

Jean's dolls are in museums and collections worldwide. One of her Hitty's, dressed as Raggedy Ann, is in the Raggedy Ann Museum. One of her original sculpts of a little boy holding a kite won a rosette for best original sculpt, and a several other dolls won red ribbons in other UFDC competitions. One of her "Lotz Of Love" Babies was featured in the Contemporary Doll Collector's gallery section and Jean's Hitty dolls were featured in Kathy Witt's October 2003 Dolls magazine article, "Travels With My Hitty". This article has also been nominated for inclusion in the spring 2004 publication, 2nd Edition Dolls Annual, which is a compilation of the magazine's best articles of 2003. Kathy Witt also included Jean’s work in her 2004 book, "Contemporary American Doll Artists and Their Dolls".

Jean was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She started drawing and also developed a love for sewing at a very young age. She often created stuffed animals and odd dolls for herself. Jean explains, "My dolls didn't have a typical wardrobe since I loved to make Mardi Gras costumes for them. My family always got a good laugh over my wacky toys."

Mardi Gras was a major impact on Jean's creativity, because Jean's mother made all of her children special costumes each year. "These weren't the typical costumes! Mom made some of us fabulous mini Mardi Gras floats with us as the central character! What fun memories and an exciting inspiration!"

Jean has carved wood most of her life. She remembers getting gift of a little carved monkey made by her grandfather's best friend. She wanted to make one but was sternly warned "girls don't carve". That wasn't going to stop Jean! When, later that day, she came inside with her hands covered in blood; her parents decided they had better teach her to carve so Jean would know how to carve safely. "My parents didn't have any formal carving training, so they taught me to whittle and rasp wood." Only much later did she learn that classically trained carvers used mallets and special wood carving tools. Jean has since learned to use some of these specialized tools by trial and error.

After college, Jean was seriously sidetracked away from art for many years when she went to work for a huge oil company as a graphic artist. Her intelligence was quickly noted in the office as soon as she was exposed to CAD computers. She quickly taught herself basic script programming, then more complex computer programming languages on all computer platforms used by the company. By the early 80’s, Jean was still called a draftsman/graphic artist, but in name only. In practice, she was now a full time programmer in CAD support getting formal classes provided by the company. Her boss’s official job description of Jean summed it all up with “creative thinker / problem solver, programmer proficient in multiple platforms and computer languages”.

Unfortunately, in the early 90’s, Jean suffered a debilitating illness. She was given less than a year to live if she didn't immediately and dramatically reduce her stress levels. Jean’s doctor strongly advised her to leave her high stress, high-tech world, so Jean quit for a very low-tech, minimal stress lifestyle – as a doll sculptor. Her recovery has been painful and slow, but now she does really well with only very mild physical limitations.

This serious life event was actually a blessing in disguise since Jean was forced to refocus her life on her family and returned to her childhood love of dolls, woodcarving and relaxing hand sewing. Soon Jean accidentally fell into the doll business when someone offered to buy one of her dolls. Until then, she had NO CLUE there were serious doll collectors out there! Jean was truly shocked when she discovered huge the scope of the doll industry!

Jean has a BA degree in fine arts from UNO, an associate degree from Delgado, and advanced computer programming courses. Jean taught herself most of her doll sculpting skills but did take one very interesting doll sculpting class taught by both Martha Armstrong-Hand and George Stuart.

Jean says, “My mother was my biggest inspiration and supporter. She had a very inventive mind - super creative and always had the energy to follow through with any of her good ideas.”

Jean's doll sculpting is most influenced by her studies of antique wooden dolls. She has been researching this subject since 1980 and shares her knowledge freely on her website. She is most impressed by the elegant and powerful early wooden crèche figures, early European wooden fashion dolls, Japanese and Swiss portrait dolls, and early US colonial shoulder head dolls which were possibly carved by those who created fabulous ship’s mast heads. Jean also appreciates the artistry of contemporary wood doll greats such as: Francis Bringloe, Margaret Hoag, Mary Ellen Frank, Patricia Ryan Brooks, Michael Langton, and Hanna Hyland (a very good friend). Another good doll sculpting friend, Susan Scogin, gave Jean early encouragement and great advice. Susan told her, “work on your product, work on your product, then work on it some more. Keep working to make your dolls the best you can”. Jean also appreciates Jodi Creager’s advice, “stay true to your first dolls” meaning “always remember why you made your first dolls and keep that enthusiasm, love and individuality alive in all of your dolls”.

Jean was awarded ODACA artist membership in 1998 and has been very active in this organization since. She has served as the Public Relations chairman (1998-2004); web site / computerization (1998-2004); e-news editor (1998 - 2004); and the newsletter editor (2003 - 2004).