Betty Jean Kennedy, Artist of the Fall Season

It doesn’t take long for a new member of the Art Club to meet Betty Jean Kennedy.

A former president of the club and the Artist of the Year in 2014, Betty Jean has held more jobs and created more programs than most can count, including the very popular 30-30 Sketching Group that keeps club members engaged over the summer. She worked hard to keep the Wednesday sessions for members going, taking over the monthly critique when its organizer moved away. She started sketchers workshops as well as the Copying the Masters series with another club member. She’s a fixture at Open Studio and for many years took care of the Coyote Room, ordering supplies and keeping all in order. When a volunteer is needed, Betty Jean is often the first to answer the call.

Born and raised on a small farm in Nebraska, she had little exposure to art until she and her husband David retired and spent their winters along the Texas gulf. There she joined a small group of watercolor painters who met informally once a week. She enjoyed it – but the paints sat unused until it was summer again.

She says her artistic journey really began in 2011 when they moved to PebbleCreek to be near their daughter’s family. She joined the Art Club and began exploring other mediums, particularly acrylics and pastels.  Read more....