Camano Island of Artists: Meet Betty Dorotik

By Jason Dorsey

About Camano: Island of Artists

Camano: Island of Artists is a promotional partnership between Sunnyshore Studio, the Meyer Art Center and the Camano Arts Association (CAA). Led by Jason Dorsey, Sunnyshore Studio's artistic director and the Meyer's executive director, the campaign promotes CAA's May Studio Tour and, more broadly, Camano Island as a destination for art. Ten Camano artists will be interviewed, with their stories, videos and photos shared by partners across websites, newsletters and social media.

Meet Betty Dorotik

Beautiful Camano, nestled among the islands of Puget Sound, is an island of artists. Its rich history of art, legendary artists and natural beauty make it Washington's premier destination for art lovers and collectors. My family of artists has called Camano home since 1946, and I'm honored to share some of the artists “on my island.” Let's begin with Betty Dorotik, who weaves nature and art together seamlessly.

Betty is president of the Camano Arts Association, but she hasn't always been an artist, at least not with a paintbrush. Before she and her husband moved from Bellevue to Camano in 1991, she was known as an avid gardener. During the two years their home was being built, there was no garden to tend, so she took up art.

My sister, April, was in that first class at the old Camano community center, and Betty says she learned so much just watching April paint. Before long, Betty discovered her own style.

Betty paints birds

“I was doing landscapes and things like that, and I wasn't happy or satisfied,” Betty says. “But while we were building the house, I put out a bird feeder and water for the birds, and got enamored by all the birds that were here.”

The birds still gather at her home. On last year's Studio Tour, one guest stepped outside and came back saying she'd never heard so many birds.

Betty traces her bird paintings to a John James Audubon exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. “It was like a giant light bulb over my head, and then and there my heart knew this is what I want to do,” she says. “The ironic thing is that I still have some Audubon prints I ordered from a catalogue when I was twelve years old.”

She has been painting birds for more than thirty years. “Most everybody loves birds,” Betty says. “If you paint what you love, then you don't care if it sells or not.”

Betty loves Camano

“The island offers so much solace and quiet,” Betty says. “Living on the water, I can look out the window and it's a different picture out there every day.”

From her window, she watches whales turn on their sides and dig into the sand to dislodge sand shrimp. The holes they leave fill with water and become what she calls “hot tubs” for seagulls. Betty also loves that the island is home to so many artists.

Visit Betty's studio

Each May, on Mother's Day weekend and the encore weekend that follows, the Camano Arts Association hosts the Camano Island Studio Tour. See Betty's work at Studio #3. She'd love for you to stop by.