Betty Kennedy's interest in art began with classes she took in high school. She continued with courses at SUNY Brockport, where she earned a baccalaureate degree in elementary education.

When she moved to Genesee County with her family, she began taking drawing, painting, and photography classes. She started to paint with oils. When her children became adolescents, she returned to her artwork, first painting in oils, then acrylics, and most recently watercolors. She has taken watercolor lessons from John Hodgins, Sandra Tyler, Linda Lucas, and Paul Allen Taylor.