Conservation-Themed Puzzle Series: 'Urth Signs'
by Betsy Baytos
Renowned former Disney feature animator, illustrator, and product designer Betsy Baytos has combined her artistic talent with her passion for conservation in a new puzzle series called Urth Signs. With a career steeped in creativity and a deep love for animals and the environment, Baytos is aiming to make science entertaining while supporting global conservation efforts through art.
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A Career in Animation Meets Conservation
Betsy Baytos, known for her work as a Disney feature animator, illustrator, and product designer, has found a new way to channel her creative energy into a cause she is passionate about—conservation. With Urth Signs, Baytos brings her artistic expertise to a project that aims to entertain while raising awareness about critical environmental issues. Her goal is to make science engaging and accessible through art and character licensing, with puzzles serving as the starting point.
The Inspiration Behind Urth Signs
The first puzzle in the Urth Signs series was inspired by the award-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher. When Baytos learned that renowned conservationist Jane Goodall was collaborating with Craig Foster, the filmmaker behind the documentary and a member of the Council for Hope for the Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation, she reached out to Foster to donate her octopus art and express admiration for the film. In a surprising turn of events, Foster invited Baytos to illustrate the octopus featured in the film. This collaboration became the foundation for her debut puzzle, which features a beautiful illustration of the octopus from My Octopus Teacher.
Interactive Puzzles with a Purpose
The 500-piece, 16×20-inch puzzle not only offers a visually engaging challenge but also serves as an interactive educational tool. Each puzzle includes a QR code linking directly to the trailer for My Octopus Teacher, allowing participants to experience the story behind the artwork. Baytos hopes this added feature will inspire more people to watch the documentary and connect with its conservation message.
Supporting Conservation Organizations
In keeping with her passion for wildlife preservation, Baytos has committed to donating a portion of the proceeds from the puzzle sales to two prominent conservation organizations: Craig Foster’s Sea Change Project and The Jane Goodall Institute. These partnerships emphasize Baytos’ dedication to using her art to support meaningful causes.
Sea Change Project, co-founded by Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck in 2012, is a nonprofit focused on environmental storytelling and conservation, particularly of the Great African Seaforest. Through films, books, exhibitions, education, and marine biology research, their work highlights the importance of connecting humans with nature. Their Oscar and BAFTA-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher sparked a global movement in “emotional ecology,” encouraging people to engage emotionally with the environment. Sea Change Project’s mission is guided by indigenous wisdom and aims to inspire worldwide conservation efforts.
A Work of Art for Display
Beyond being a puzzle, Baytos’ Urth Signs series offers participants a way to turn their completed work into a lasting piece of art. Each Jiggy puzzle set comes with a tube of puzzle glue, allowing the finished puzzle to be sealed and mounted as a decorative piece. The puzzle company, https://jiggypuzzles.com, empowers female artists worldwide and is a media favorite, including Oprah’s ‘Favorite Things’ and Time Magazine.
Meet the Artist
Betsy’s award-winning career spans visual arts as an illustrator, designer, and filmmaker. She began at Walt Disney Studios, working as a feature animator and choreographer on films such as The Rescuers, Pete’s Dragon, The Fox and the Hound, The Emperor’s New Groove, and The Princess and the Frog. She later collaborated with Jim Henson, performing the ‘Betsy Bird’ on The Muppet Show and at the Kennedy Center’s International Puppet Festival.
Betsy has contributed to projects ranging from Coca-Cola’s Polar Bears to Cirque Du Soleil and Jimmy Buffett and has led workshops worldwide. Her current work focuses on The Watering Hole book series, benefiting African wildlife and raising awareness about climate change. Discover the creative mind behind the Urth Signs puzzle series. Learn more about the artist’s journey and vision for conservation by visiting the following links: