Betinha Murta

What’s your background, Betinha?

I graduated in English and Portuguese Literature. "Totally" related to miniatures, of course! (laugs...)

And also not at all related to your real life job.

Absolutely not! I've always worked as a secretary, my whole life. I started as a receptionist at a dental office. But I always liked the administrative area. I wouldn't make a good salesperson, though. I'm lucky my miniatures sell by themselves, because if that depended on my selling skills...

How did miniatures made their way into your life?

I went to the US for the first time in 1990, and I bought myself a dollhouse in Orlando. It was a half-scale (1:24) one, which wasn't so easy to furnish and decorate. It was easier to find stuff in 1:12, they were everywhere. So I thought: "I'll buy it anyway but I'll make everything that goes inside it myself". I put it together, but in the end I gave up making the furniture and ornaments to put inside it. So I made it as if it was available for rent and also being partially renovated, with some newspaper scattered, some paint cans and brushes, and I put a sign "For Rent".

Then I began looking for groups on miniatures abroad, on the internet. I joined some, the first one being from Australia, then one from England, then another from the US. But I just couldn't accept that there were no groups in Portuguese in Brazil about miniatures. So I Googled "miniaturas" and "voila"! I found and joined MiniBrasil – the first one – then MiniClube, then Minimalizando, and finally Nação.

Why cold porcelain (Biscuit) – the material you're best known for?

That’s true! I'd already tried to work with Fimo (polymer clay), but I didn't get the hang of it. My first contact with cold porcelain was like this: my sister is very talented and skilled in most art techniques you can possibly imagine. I asked her to make me a "batch" of cold porcelain so that we could try and sculpt something together. Someday she gave me a "chunk" of it and I sculpted something. I still keep it and show it to people I teach. They came out hideous! – People who begin in miniatures think they’ll never be able to make anything nice, but after some classes they do, and that makes them really happy. It’s a way to encourage them: "if I could, you can too".

Anyway, in the beginning, I thought everything I tried to make was horrendous! So I gave up. I would still make other kinds of crafts, as I like all kinds of arts – every since I was a little girl. Two years after those first attempts I reconsidered and decided to try again: I just refused to be defeated by that material. So I tried again and made my first kettle. I’m addicted to kettles, I have a collection of them (life size). Then I made my "Biita" (cutie). I thought it was so pretty that I called it "Biita". When I saw it finished, I couldn't believe I had made it myself! I always have a picture of Jesus near me, everywhere around. I don't follow any religion, I respect them all, but I'm a great fan of Jesus, I talk to Him a lot. So I showed Him that little kettle and said: "This one is my offer to You. I know this is where my future lies". This was some 5 years ago. After that, I never stopped making miniatures. People just fall in love with them.

And even being featured in Brazilian magazines happened in a kind of "magical" way, right?

Exactly! That was about 4 years ago. Everybody praised my work and I thought: "Maybe some day I can have a picture of my miniatures in a crafts magazine, as I love those so much." That would be quite an accomplishment to me! I eventually was featured by a magazine published by Escala, but I spent two days trying to get in contact with someone in there. Then I finally managed to talk to the secretary of one of the editors (Roseli). I told her what I did and that I'd like to show them my work. We arranged a meeting during my lunchtime – as I work full time – when I'd bring them what I had made so far to show them. I put everything I could in a box and brought it with me. When I started to pull the items out of the box she couldn't believe her eyes! She asked me to leave them there so that she could show them to her boss – the magazine owner. I didn't feel exactly comfortable leaving them there but I agreed. Next day they called me to say I could pick my stuff, which I did right away! I didn't hear back from them for several days, I thought they had given up on me. Then, one fine day, I got home and my daughter gave me the news: they had called and wanted to make a whole magazine on me! I had to sit down, as I couldn't believe it was real. Roseli came home and chose the roomboxes they would show in the magazine (the flower shop, a dining table, and a pastry shop). Luckily there would be a holiday close to a weekend soon and so I was able to spend whole 4 days in their studio shooting some tutorials. It wore me down, but when it was over, I was so moved I cried!

I had asked them to give me a word when it was finally published, but one day someone called me saying he had bought my magazine and wanted info on classes. I completely froze! Then I pulled myself together and answered his questions, but, oh boy, that was a shock! As soon as I hung up I rushed out to try and find an open newsstand to buy the magazine – it was 8 pm on a Sunday. Shortly after that they did send me a few copies, but everything happened so fast that they didn't have time to send it before. After the magazine was published, it became much easier to get some sponsors. To this day I still use their products – Cascorez and Acrilex.

It's been hectic ever since, I've been working non-stop and teaching on weekends – as I still work full time as a secretary. But it was no doubt an amazing accomplishment!

Who is your audience, who buys your work?

The collectors.

Are there miniature collectors in Brazil?

Oh yes, many! We don't know that as they're usually quiet... (laughs) I have customers who buy only kettles, as they have a collection of those. Whatever I make, they'll have them.

And I'm very creative; I don't like to make 10 copies of the same item. I enjoy creating stuff. Ideas are always simmering in the back of my head. I get to wake up at night with new ideas of items to make. My mom says I'm inspired by the angels... I've been able to come up with so many items while I'm still working full time, I barely have any time to breathe. When I retire – in about 6 years from now – I'll be able to devote myself head and soul to this art.

Was it hard for you to adjust to the 1:12th scale?

Not at all, I used it from the very start. It's easier to fit in other scenes; it's what most people look for.

And tell us a little bit about your adventures into the "micro-minis" (1:144), how did that happen?

Oh, yes, wow! I'm 6'07". But the smaller the miniature, the more fascinating it is to me. People look at me and ask: "look at the size of your hands, how do you manage to make those miniatures?" I’ve joined an American discussion group on 1:144 and I've been learning a lot from them.

What are your plans for the future?

I'd like to go abroad. I want to conquer that market, and I know I can. I see myself teaching some classes abroad. I'll never leave Brazil, I love my country. But I also love the USA. I want to get an IGMA title, I'll apply again this year and if I don' get it, I'll apply again, and again, and again until I get i!

And I also want to be at MegaArtesanal next year [a huge crafts trade fair held annually in Sao Paulo and Rio].

Do you have any plans on writing a book on miniatures?

Yes, I do, but they are for a more distant future...

Update 2024: Currently Betinha lives in the USA and is a seller at several miniature shows there.