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Betsy's Santa Barbara studio resembles an archaeological dig as much as an artist's workshop. Carved lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, jade, petrified snails, plus whatever turns up in her forays into antique shops and gem shows are blended into imaginary landscapes. Betsy uses the antiquities conservationist's "double-reverse" mosaic technique when working with classical hand-made Italian smalti. She learned this complicated process in Ravenna, Italy. Betsy has also completed the Master in Mosaic workshop at the Orsoni Smalti Factory in Venice, Italy, where the glass mosaic and gold tessarae are made by hand in the ancient and complex open furnace tradition. Most recently Betsy completed a course at the Perdomo family studio in Cuernavaca, Mexico where mosaics were fabricated for Diego Riviera and David Alfaro Siqueiros in the Mexican muralist tradition. Betsy gives workshops at the Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art (www.allcrackedupmosaics.com) and works with local children to create public installations such as the McDonald’s and the Maritime Cultures mosaic murals. The artist uses the direct method for her more contemporary assemblage compositions. Betsy Gallery's mosaics are paintings in stone. Semi-precious gems, fossils, petrified wood, tile, heirloom silver and other personal mementos are combined with marble and granite in one-of-a-kind art. She uses handmade Italian glass smalti, 24 karat gold tessarae, and Mexican iridescent smalti for her classically inspired mosaics. Large commissions and installations are tailored to the client's requirements. The artist can create a design or replicate the client's artwork. She welcomes show room and studio visits by appointment. |
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Elizabeth Gallery - Mosaic Fine Artist and Artisan - Santa Barbara, California