Betanzos Designs

Gila Welcome Mosaic

Finished ♥
This mosaic brings in the natural world with rich glass mosaics to create moments of visual delight. Home is your very own Oasis where rest and renewal await when surrounded by that which inspires you.

Gila Welcome Mosaic - 10" x 14" glass, porcelain, mirror. Interior/exterior. Available HERE.

Gila Monsters - beautiful, unique to the southwest. Metal frame option is available for this mosaic.

My Saguaro

My backyard isn't much to look at - a sand pit, a large rose bush, some brick, a palm.
The star of the yard is a giant Saguaro where Gila Woodpeckers nest every year. House finches and other birds like to perch at the top. They eat the saguaro flowers when in bloom and announce sunrise with sweet song.

Tall and super healthy, the Saguaro has a variety holes that have pecked out. I like to think it's the same pair of Gila Woodpeckers that nest each year. Every morning from early spring, they call to each other and start building the nest, making new holes.

Then the babies can be heard all day as the woodpeckers take turns feeding. I've seen the male chase off other birds and a even little dust up with an aggressive Western Kingbird (the woodpecker won :) who tried to take over the site.

My saguaro with Gila Woodpecker pair.

Oh, and lately on my morning walks I've been treated to close (like, 10 feet) viewings of Coopers Hawks. So close I can see their red eyes and feather details. Of course when I stop to stare, they take off in a few seconds to nearby trees!

Gila Welcome

My series of welcome pieces. This mosaic is almost done. Face taped, ready for mounting.
The Gila art has been popular because these are such interesting creatures that are becoming rare due to urban encroachment.
The Gila Monster is a large beautiful lizard and the artwork is about life size.

As with all handmade work, each piece is unique ensuring one of a kind art. They can be custom ordered thru my website, or contact me here :)
At least one Gila artwork will be available at the Tucson Bird and Wildlife Festival Aug. 14 - 16 where I will have work at the Riverside Park Inn along with wonderful animal lectures, displays for nature lovers.

Gila Welcome mosaic in progress

Gila Welcome Mosaic, Sold

Gila Dream Mosaic, AZ BiCentennial piece, Sold

Spotted Owl Ink

Playing with ink washes on a Spotted Owl. I'm drawn the the owls with the dark eyes. North american Barn Owls and Barred Owls also have dark eyes.

There is the Mexican Spotted Owl and the northwest Spotted Owl. Shy, secretive, beautiful birds.

India ink is Dr. Ph. Martin's Black Star Matt. Cotman round brush number 01, 02 and Micron 01 pen.

Happy Thursday!

Almost the big weekend!

Anna's Hummingbird watercolor study. Their wings announce their magical visits.

Has this ever happened to you?

You have a project you've been working on Way too many hours, trying a new technique.
It's about 11 pm, 95% finished and you're saying to yourself "at last - I'm almost finished - Yay!"
The anticipation, excitement of seeing it completed.

Then a small big setback ...
My studio day is off to a fine start.
Funny thing is last night I was moving this project board to make more room for glass cutting - red glass to finish the border.
This morning the board was bumped and fell over - face first of course.
Cleaning up now and deciding how to make the best of this. At least the dog glass stayed put :)
Too bad no pics were taken last night to review the "almost" and "so close" Ha ha!

Practice Shots - Bird Inks

These are "practice shots" to warm up drawing my skills. With all the spring activity I've been doing more birding to sharpen observation and memory.
Really fun and challenging plus the neighbors have bird feeders - how convenient!
This practice ink was done from observation and photo reference.

Brilliant yellow birds, bright rose finches and reds (cardinals & vermilion flycatchers).

American Goldfinch

With my binoculars I have spotted:

house finches, goldfinch (many), anna's hummingbirds, broad billed hummingbird, vermilion flycatcher, oriole (hooded), verdin, raven, dove, cooper's hawk, 1 owl, sparrow, woodpecker, phainopepla, cardinal.

Hello Goldie

This is Still in progress. It seems like it's taking forever to finish just because something always comes up and it's been through a few revisions.
There is always one piece that is a struggle to get right for most artists. The problem child :)

Latest and Last version!

Two Paws

Two paws, blue outline

Computer Color is Broken

Goldfinch Mosaic

New bird mosaics. A little Goldfinch (siskin) tweeting in the breeze. Some of my neighbors have feeders and I can hear their distinctive calls all day. The males have the dull winter plumage now, but in a couple of months they will start to have their bright yellow breeding colors.

Lucky & Mishka Home

Framed and at home over the mantel, Lucky and Mishka give a friendly greeting to holiday visitors. A 'hooty' hello :)

Best Friends Lucky and Mishka

Portrait of Lucky dog and his friend Mishka are at the framers and will hang in the living room in time for Christmas to greet family and visitors.

At 10 Lucky is so frisky, playful. Mishka will me-ow so sweetly at the sound of her name - really charming. Lucky got a make over, taking out the white/grey. Mishka's pose was changed so she could face the viewer. See Lucky and Mishka today at the end of this post. They are the sweetest of companions.