BeBe Becomes an Artist

By Emily Holden

She is a wife of 43 years. She is a grandmother, or BeBe, to six, including a Zachary High championship game right-fielder. She loves traveling around the globe, and she recently had surgery to remove three cervical disks from her neck. But beneath all the roles and experiences that define her, she is an artist.

Betty Richardson felt her creative side calling out for an avenue of expression for years before she responded. She said she began with embroidery and quilting but was not satisfied. She soon moved to ceramics, painting Christmas ornaments and arranging flowers. She eventually found herself "hypnotized" by beading.

But Richardson, 62, only found the courage to start painting about five years ago. She said she always wanted to paint but never had the time because she was busy with her children and jobs.

"I kept putting it to the side like most people do," she said.

Interest Sparked
But when her children grew up and moved out of the house, her interest in painting was once again sparked. She spent time in the Zachary Library researching art and stayed up late reading instruction books. Even after the research, Richardson said it took her a long time to work up the courage to risk failing. She said the blank canvas was daunting.

"I'd lie awake at night thinking about it and knew it was something I had to do," she said. "These images wouldn't go away, and the only way I could show somebody them was to paint them."

Richardson finally began drawing with colored pencils and chalk, teaching herself from sketching manuals she found at the library. She said she didn't want to enroll in an art course because she wanted to spend her time actually experimenting.

"A lot of my stuff ended up looking like instruction books in the beginning…but it wasn't long before I got bored with that," she said.

More Color
Richardson said she felt an urge to jump onto the canvas and start using more color. She sometimes uses photos but also paints from her imagination.

"Probably more realism comes from the pictures but more uniqueness comes from my head," she said.

Producing art isn't just a form of expression for Richardson, it's an emotional release. She crafted an entire necklace during the Zachary High championship baseball game while she watched her grandson play.

"I was nervous so I beaded," she said.

Richardson often paints scenes with special meaning to those she cares most about. She dedicated her first exhibit at the Zachary Library to her younger brother, Kerry Day Yoes, who died this past year after a battle with cancer. When his health was declining, she painted " Running Catfish Lines- Atchafalaya Basin" for him. The painting depicts their father enjoying his favorite activity.

Magnolia Scene
Richardson paints for almost everyone in her life. She is currently working on a magnolia scene for her daughter. She painted three 18-inch by 60-inch panels for her son's home. Her first portrait was of her grandson in his baseball uniform. And she made a jewelry set for a friend to wear to her daughter's wedding.

Richardson said she talked about painting for years before she finally started. As she grew older, she became released from many of the responsibilities that once held her back. She said she no longer had any excuses.

"I guess that's really why my family and friends are still kind of surprised that I'm producing the art I'm producing," she said.

Richardson encourages the hesitant to try producing art. She specifically directs this message toward the younger generation. She said her story proves it is never too late (or too early) to become an artist.