Creative Q&A with local hairdresser and painter Betty Hansen

WASILLA — Betty Hansen runs B Bella Hair Design in downtown Palmer. When she’s not busy with the art of hair, she occupies much of her time with painting and other creative hobbies.

Below is a question and answer interview with Hansen discussing her attraction toward creative endeavors and how she channeled that energy into a method of self care throughout the pandemic.

Q: How have things been?

“We’ve been hunkering down since COVID and things. I’ve been working. The shop’s open, but it’s quite a bit smaller than it was. I have one other hairdresser with me. It’s just been kind of a tough time… I’ve been really just kinda working through art to work through the pandemic, kind of process what’s going; because I’m such a social person and to shut that down has just been hard.”

Q: Have you been artistically inclined since you were a kid?

“I think I enjoyed it as a kid, but then I stopped because, life, you know? Having a baby and going to school and working. So, I really got into it 10 years ago. I got back into it… But, When I was 50 is when I really started painting and drawing and really got into that aspect of the visual arts.”

Q: So, it’s been picking up and it’s something you do on a regular basis?

“Oh, definitely, definitely yeah. When I was 40 I went to Europe and met a friend. His girlfriend was a mosaic artist. She got me into mosaics, and I loved that. At 50 I got more into painting, watercolor, alcohol ink, just anything with color and vibrancy. I just really enjoy that. Now, going through the pandemic, it’s been kind of an evolution. I’m doing it every day.”

Q: What mediums have you been gravitated towards lately?

“I got back into the alcohol ink again… I love alcohol ink because there’s a lot of vibrancy and color and it’s very chaotic, but it’s really wonderful to work with. So, I’ve been doing some colorful canvases with that. But, mostly before that, a lot of watercolor.”

Q: Would you say that art has been therapeutic for you?

“Oh definitely. It’s definitely therapy for sure.”

Q: So has the general act of creativity become pretty important to you?

“Yes, and I think the art for me is in many mediums. One is cutting hair and creating hairstyles for people. That’s been with me for gosh, 40 years now. Then there’s the mosaics, and there’s the painting and the drawing; and since I’ve been together with my husband we’ve been playing music… I use the creativity as inspiration every day in many ways.”

Q: How would you encourage others to channel their own inner creativity as a way of coping with the times?

“Set aside a time… even for like half an hour. Pick up a pencil and piece of paper and just start scribbling, doing watercolor or whatever you feel like. Just get your hands moving and loosen up a bit… Just to do something creative and not even be limited… Just get started that’s the key… and be willing to make mistakes.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com