We had the good fortune of connecting with Bettyjean Hoaglund and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bettyjean, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
Once I retired as an executive headhunter, I decided to give my art the same focus and study and planning as my career had. I vowed to learn new techniques and create my own interpretations. Taking risks often leads to wonderful results. My curiosity guides me to learning new ways. Technology gives us a plethora of tools to learn. I start my mornings with coffee and online tutorials. Learning has kept my art fresh.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been an artist since the age of three years old. I have always studied faces and seen their beauty at any age. It’s important to always have a sketchbook nearby at all times because you never know what will inspire that next painting. My style is colorful and fun. My ladies always have a blonde based on my lovely daughter. The small Red Cross for their lips represent the crossroad I reached in life to become a full time artist. My ladies have gone from Woodstock to Paris and sometimes under the sea. Recently I learned to paint on silk which led to PBS doing a show about me. At 75 I was a testimony to you are never too old to succeed at something new. Always stay curious and create what is in your heart and head.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Arts District in Dallas, the Dallas Museum of Art and Deep Ellum are an eclectic appeal to the visual and culinary tastes. Talk to the artists, the chefs if you can or the artisan bakers. Absorb yourself in the atmosphere. Learn from them .

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My daughter Danielle Stacey Abelson and my husband Richard Hoaglund are advocates of my art. They were my number one fans in the Green Room at KERA when I filmed a show for PBS.

Website: www.mypaintofview.net
Facebook: Betty Jean Hoaglund/My Paint of View
Other: FaceBook Silk du Soleil / silksuncatchers

Image Credits
Betty Hoaglund

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