We recently connected with Betty Refour and have shared our conversation below.

Betty, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

My sister Rose and I are six years apart in age. She’d often draw or write on my homework. Initially, it didn’t occur to me that there were words spelled correctly. I was annoyed by having to redo it. One day I took more than a cursory look and noticed the correct spelling and whimsical characters. I felt she was trying to communicate. She didn’t say much if anything, so I was surprised. It told me she had been paying attention and absorbing the reading and spelling I did with her. I saw art as a way for us to communicate. We’d sit for hours drawing on notebook paper. She got her own typewriter and notebooks to write in, and I was spared having to redo my homework.

Rose would draw whimsical characters who were often smoking, along with flowers, and hands, because she loves nail polish. I’d draw lines circles and squares. Exploring color combinations. And eventually, I started drawing my obsession, which was clothing. I wore uniforms to school and longed for the day I could wear something different and unique.

I decided to pursue a degree in Fashion Design. I don’t think if Rose hadn’t drawn on my homework, I ever would have started to draw. And I don’t believe I’d be an artist.

Years later while recovering from an injury, I started painting as a form of therapy. A few years later I started a line of note cards that featured our art. And when we lost our mom and I became the caregiver for Rose, we started painting together. Our work can be found in private collections around the world. And much like when we were growing up Rose still writes notes about shopping.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Rose and I grew up in Oklahoma City and Chicago. I was born in Oklahoma, Rose was born in Chicago. A few months before my 10th birthday we moved back to Oklahoma City. Rose had been diagnosed with autism, and our parents were separated. We moved to Oklahoma to be near our maternal grandparents.

It was 1970 and very little was known about autism. I believe at the time one in 10,000 children was diagnosed with it. It was difficult to find resources and what our mom heard the most was that she should institutionalize Rose. Our grandparents were wonderful in helping Mom with us.

Our grandfather had an amazing voice so he’d sing to Rose when her anxiety was high and rock her in his rocking chair. Our grandmother would take her everywhere with her. She’d get down on the floor with her when she had a meltdown in public and rock her until she calmed down. They were kind and patient. Hardworking, and generous. Because of them, I knew that if I ever started a business I wanted there to be some element of giving back.

In 1999 I started a line of note cards that featured our art. At the time I lived in the DFW area. We sold them through local craft shops, as well as via our website. While I had been selling my original art to new home buyers via staging, I didn’t think anyone who didn’t know me would buy it.

In 2000 I approached a gallery to have our cards added to their space, and they asked about having my originals. Painting was something I taught myself, so to be included in a gallery seemed unattainable. I then did my first show at Dallas City Hall.

By 2005 I had been selling my originals for ten years. And we had been selling the cards for six. I had been a Flight Attendant for 16 years and I started planning my exit. I went back to school for Graphic Design in February. In August while in my one and only painting class I got a phone call from my mom letting me know she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I moved back to Oklahoma City to help her and Rose. And when she passed away in June of 2006, I became the caregiver for Rose. I have never been married, I don’t have children so I had no idea how hard it would be. I don’t know how people manage it all. I still haven’t figured it out.

I opened an eBay store for our cards a few years before moving back and they have a program called eBay Giving where you can donate a percentage of your sales to charity. I designed some Breast Cancer Awareness note cards that were being sold there as a tribute to our maternal grandmother who lost her battle. After our mom passed away I started painting with Rose and we offered her art there as well. One of her cards was featured on the front page of eBay. At the time we had the most items with a percentage of sales going to charity. As a result of the feature, we had people contact us from different organizations around the country to feature Rose in shows with other artists with developmental disabilities. She also got to do a show in London.

Since then we have done numerous group shows here in Oklahoma. And our work can be found in private collections around the world. The thing that I am most proud of is never giving up on us. It has been very difficult. And because she only talks when she wants to shop for nail polish, it makes it tough when she is sick.

How did you build your audience on social media?

After our mom passed away I honestly had no idea where to begin. One day my cousin called and we talked about it. He suggested I join MySpace. I thought he was crazy. He told me that there were probably parents of children/adults with autism that I could connect with.

I joined and shared our art daily. With each art post, I told a story about our journey. And not only did people follow us but some people reached out to me for advice on getting their child involved in arts. They were creating but hadn’t thought about selling or showing it. As Myspace died down they followed us on other platforms.

My advice would be to share your story. People want to connect with you. Be as honest and genuine as possible. Why are you creating? What drives your passion? Tell your audience.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing my work hanging in a gallery or home. Being asked to collaborate on projects. Getting paid to do something I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bettyandroserefour.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bettyandroserefour
• Facebook: htts://www.facebook.com/bettyandroserefour

Image Credits

photo of us two only: Amanda Scott Photography