Welcome, Bienvenidos!

Ghost Dog

When paintings & mosaics are in the ugly duckling stages that is one of the comments made; "it'll be nice to see the ghosts filled in". Usually dog, cat, bird etc.
Painting from back to front, the layers are added on top then progressively glazed to bring forward or push back areas.

So here are a couple of pics of a current portrait in progress.
Companions Lucky the dog and Mishka the kitty.




Tucson Airport Mural Repair - Finished

Back at the Tucson International Airport for the repair/replacement of a stolen scorpion.
A new creepy bug is in place. Here's the progress of that.  It was nice to see them again with a fresh eye and appreciate their uniqueness. Plus I got nicer photos of the other mosaic murals.
Here are the murals on the west end, welcome lounge B.

Area prepped.

Bug is attached to piece of stained glass. Epoxy ready to apply to the back (Gorilla 2 part epoxy).

Piece is attached. Paper pad added to the front to prevent sticking & add pressure in the center for even distribution. Little stones added to the bottom side for stability and decorative appeal.

Waiting for epoxy to set. Killing time at the airport... tick, tock...

Fast forward 1 hour. Ready to grout.

Taped and grouted with same black grout. It will probably not match exactly due to previous aged grout. But it should blend.

Finished repair with new bug and decorative stones. Ringtail cat on night blooming cactus in a starry night with meteor showers. Fossils, gem stones, stained glass, reverse glass painting, mirror and Scorpion! The Ringtail Cat is Arizona's state mammal, nocturnal, super cute in person.

Men's side with the repair. Tiny bat that I wish I had painted a mural background. He looks lonely over the water fountain!

Both mosaic murals at the west end of the baggage level. On the left and the right as people come down the stairs to collect baggage at welcome lounge B.

The women's mosaic mural at the west end baggage level. The center of that Agave is a large amethyst crystal and there are lots of little details such as fossils, gem stones, mirror, stained glass, hummingbird glass painting above, bugs, the real feather suspended under glass.

Mural Repair at the airport

Did I mention one of the murals at Tucson International Airport was vandalized? Someone stole the scorpion (pried it off) the mural at the west end. It will be replaced this Monday with a new creepy bug.
Why would someone do that when they can go to Amazon or ebay and get one? Who knows. This one will have a different adhesive, see how long it lasts.
Oh, this bug was "farm raised" - picture that!

New scorpion replacement

Damage, missing bug.

Mural Before damage. 

St. Francis with Wildlife

I read all the time how post titles are supposed to have catchy lead titles to lure readers in, but no fluff here :)
Just a new little reverse glass painting of St. Francis of Assisi who travels (why not?) and hangs out with different animals, loved companions.
Here he is in a magical garden with a mexican wolf, quail, tortoise, hare and three tiny mice! Plus he decided to wear the hood for a slightly different look. The finished glass painting will be inserted into a wood frame that can be used as a scarf, coat, leash hanger.

More pics soon!

The back side of the glass that is being painted onto in reverse.


The front side of the glass that is viewed. 

Day Of The Dead Celebration

Nov. 1 & 2 are the official Days Of the Dead, a big celebration of life, remembering our loved ones.
This year I did a small piece of my Risa and a night of face painting sugar skull designs at Tucson Botanical Gardens for their Feast Of the Dearly Departed event.


The little details are all things that are so her! Prints available - contact me sue@suebetanzos.com

Made a border for a postcard with tiny paw prints (red, white, blue).



I love face painting the sugar skull designs which can range from slower, complex designs to fast simple painting. Either way, they are fun to wear!
Body art has been around since the dawn of humans - this celebration is an opportunity to have some fun painting them.

Took this off the iMac after returning (bad lighting in my little office), before I washed it off. The smudge on the nose bridge is where my glasses sat - yes I need glasses to paint!



Beautiful Student Project!

Wow - great first project Michelle!  Turned out so pretty :)

Glass mosaic Milagro Heart from the Day Of the Dead Mosaic class I teach at diMosaico.


Risa, Mi Amiga Para Siempre

Risa, my Forever Friend, Australian Shepherd.  Pet Portrait for Day Of The Dead Design 2014, Dogtoberfest for Handi-dogs event.


In progress.  Still needs some tweaking.

Just A Little Hello


After a few revisions with my little Goldfinch design, I decided to have the Hello on it's own and do another, different Hello with my bird.
Here is a sweet Hello with a twinkle for the garden or inside.






Tucson Open Studio Tour 2014

The Open Studio Tour is November 8 - 9 and great opportunity to visit talented artists working their mojo in their studio's. Questions about mosaics? Wondering how they are made? I will be at diMosiaco demonstrating mosaic in glass and have mosaics available on display as well as reverse glass paintings.

I will also be demonstrating the technique of reverse glass painting.






It's Dogtoberfest 2014

Fall is here with all the crazy activities jammed together in three short months. 90 days or so of lots of choices, so little time - Tucson style.


My booth at this year's Dogtoberfest is sponsored by diMosaico and will have animal and pet related artwork, demonstrration of mosaic, and a drawing for an art print and mosaic class.



Dogtoberfest is at the beginning of the activities whirl and well worth attending. If you're like most folks, we love to watch the parade of people and their pets in all sizes, shapes and colors. 
There are many fun dog activities if you choose to bring your Well Mannered Leashed K9 companion.


However, if you want to cruise and look - there are costumed doggies, activities, food, live music, and booths with lots of fun items.



Studio Class Time

Students are hard at work in this mosaic class creating some Bee-U-ti-ful mosaics!
I'm teaching classes at diMosaico for this fall. Put a mosaic class on your activities planner and play with a wonderful, traditional media.
Check out the classes/events section on my website for frequent updates as classes are added.

Mark the dates: Oct. 26 DogtoberFest and Nov. 8 - 9 Tucson Open Studio Tour.
More on these events coming right up!

Hi Emalie :) - what a gorgeous butterfly!

Lovely Milagro Heart!



Mosaic Class for Garden Flowers

O.k., moving along with the mosaic garden of flowers.
These will look great as individual mini mosaic projects too.

They are four inch squares. Classes for this project are currently available with Me through Mosaic Class at diMosaico.com

I'll demonstrate a different technique for each square such as background patterns, media, application.

Glass Mosaic Flower Garden - SueBetanzos.com

Mosaic Flower Garden - SueBetanzos.com