- TONIGHT ON SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR, MURALIST NADYAA BETTS IS JOINED BY STEVE MCGOWAN AND DR. O'DELL OWENS.

STAY TUNED, SHOWCASE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

(MUSIC) KELLAR: HI, I'M BARBARA KELLAR.

WELCOME TO THE SHOWCASE.

AND TODAY I HAVE SOME REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL GUESTS BECAUSE WE HAVE O'DELL OWENS, WHO IS KNOWN TO EVERYBODY, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HIM IN A SECOND.

BUT STEVE MCGOWAN FROM BRAVE BERLIN, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BRAVE BERLIN, BUT OUR STAR TODAY IS NADYAA BETTS, AN ARTISTS AND WE'LL TELL YOU WHY SHE'S BEEN CHOSEN TO DO THE MURAL OF O'DELL, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OUR BUILDING.

NOW, SO LET'S HEAR ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, NADYAA, YOU'RE AN ARTIST AND TELL US HOW YOU WERE CHOSEN TO DO THIS MURAL OUTSIDE.

BETTS: SO SOME OF MY ARTWORK WAS SELECTED TO BE PUT ON FACEBOOK.

AND STEVE ACTUALLY CAME UPON IT AND HE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT HE WOULD LIKE DR. O'DELL OWENS TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY WORK AND SEE IF I WOULD WANT TO BE ONE OF THE ARTISTS TO DO THE MURAL THAT'S OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

KELLAR: WELL, LET'S TELL PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL, WHY WE PUT O'DELL'S PICTURE ON THE WALL OUTSIDE OUR BUILDING.

O'DELL'S BEEN THE MOST WONDERFUL FRIEND OF CET FOR OVER 10 YEARS, AND O'DELL IS PROBABLY THE MOST INCREDIBLE RENAISSANCE MAN IN THE CITY.

HE'S DONE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

HE'S HAD SUCH AN INCREDIBLE CAREER THAT, O'DELL, HOW DID YOU COME TO WANT -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL, O'DELL IS A DOCTOR, RIGHT?

I SHOULD SAY DOCTOR OWENS.

THEN HE BECAME A COUNTY CORONER BECAUSE THE CITY, THE COUNTY NEEDED A REALLY OVERDO OF THE CORONER'S OFFICE.

AND HE STEPPED UP AND DID THAT.

AND THEN YOU WERE PRESIDENT OF CINCINNATI STATE AND THEN INTERACT FOR HEALTH.

OWENS: HEALTH DEPARTMENT FIRST, INTERIM HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

KELLAR: OK. AND THEN CINCINNATI STATE.

OWENS: THEN INTERACT FOR HEALTH.

KELLAR: YES.

I GOT THEM THE WRONG ORDER, BUT I KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM.

HE'S BEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI.

BUT MOST OF ALL, HE'S JUST A REALLY INCREDIBLE HUMANITARIAN WHO STEPS UP AND DOES WHAT HE THINKS IS RIGHT.

AND WE WANTED TO HONOR HIM AND WE HAD THE IDEA OF PUTTING HIS FACE ON OUR BUILDING.

AND IN COMES BRAVE BERLIN AND, STEVE, TELL US ABOUT YOUR PART IN THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, REMIND PEOPLE WHO BRAVE BERLIN IS.

MCGOWAN: WE'RE PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR, AND ACTUALLY WE JUST HAD THE ANNIVERSARY, IT WAS KIND OF FUN ON FACEBOOK SEEING PHOTOS POP UP.

BUT LUMINOSITY WAS SORT OF OUR FIRST INTRODUCTION INTO PROJECTION MAPPING AND CREATING THE SPECTACLES FOR OUR CITY THAT PEOPLE COULD REALLY KIND OF ENGAGE IN AND CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN BLINK, OF COURSE, IS OUR BABY THAT WE PUT ON EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THEN WE'RE HONORING DR. OWENS THIS YEAR IN THIS., WHAT WE'RE CALLING CET IS ME, WHICH IS A NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY WHERE WE'RE DOING PROJECTION MAPPING ONTO THE SINGING MURAL OUTSIDE.

AND PART OF THAT WAS TRYING TO FIND A UNIQUE WAY TO HONOR DR. OWENS.

AND THAT WAS PUTTING A MURAL.

OUR CITY IS A GALLERY OF MURALS AND WE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PERFECT TO SORT OF CELEBRATE THE OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING BECAUSE SO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPEN ON THE INSIDE.

KELLAR: YEAH, WELL, AND THEN THE MOST IMPORTANT PART ABOUT THE MURAL IS WHO'S GOING TO DO IT, BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE A PORTRAIT OF O'DELL AND IT HAD TO BE GREAT.

AND THE PROCESS, WERE YOU IN ON THE PROCESS?

MCGOWAN: YEAH, WELL, I SAW -- SO NADYAA AND I REALLY KIND OF MET THROUGH HER FATHER, WHO'S A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, TYSON BETTS.

AND TYSON HAD POSTED, I THINK, UNBEKNOWNST TO NADYAA, HER SELF-PORTRAIT THAT WAS AN ILLUSTRATION.

I WAS LIKE, WE -- PORTRAITS ARE REALLY TOUGH BECAUSE THEY CAN YOU KNOW, IF THEY LOOK TOO REAL, THEN IT GETS -- IT CAN BE SORT OF FUZZY.

SO WHEN IT BECOMES AN ILLUSTRATION, YOU CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT LIBERTIES.

AND KNOWING THAT DR. OWENS IS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF A LARGER THAN LIFE PERSONALITY.

AND WE WANTED TO LINK IT TOO TO CHILDREN'S PROGRAMING, BECAUSE HE'S SUCH A FAN AND SUPPORTER OF ALL OF THAT, THAT IT JUST SORT OF MADE SENSE FOR THEM TO MEET AND THEN TO THEN REALLY KIND OF DO RESEARCH AND DIG IN, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DID.

KELLAR: AT WHAT STAGE, O'DELL, DID YOU COME INTO THE PICTURE TO HELP DECIDE?

OWENS: I CAME IN WHEN THEY WERE JUST ABOUT READY TO CHOOSE AND ASKED IF IT WAS OK TO CHOOSE NADYAA.

SO I WAS IN A ZOOM CALL AND I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET HER.

AND SHE WAS A VERY MATURE YOUNG LADY AND SHE'S COMING FROM WALNUT HILLS AND GOING TO OHIO STATE AND SHE WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL.

AND THE THING THAT I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH HER WHEN EVER STEVE OR SOMEONE WOULD MAKE A SUGGESTION, SHE WAS JUST SO WILLING TO SAY, "YES, I CAN CHANGE THAT."

AND AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ARTISTS GET VERY TEMPERAMENTAL.

KELLAR: OH, YES.

OWENS: SHE IS VERY PROFESSIONAL AND CAME UP WITH SOME GREAT, GREAT IDEAS THAT I REALLY LOVED.

KELLAR: AT WHAT POINT DID YOU ACTUALLY MEET?

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST MEETING?

BETTS: SO, A LOT OF OUR MEETINGS WERE OVER ZOOM AND SO I NEVER MET DR. OWENS UNTIL WE DID THE DEDICATION IN PERSON.

KELLAR: REALLY?

BETTS: YEAH.

OWENS: ZOOM, THAT'S THE NEW WORLD.

KELLAR: YEAH.

AND I SAW YOU, BUT ONLY WITH A MASK ON.

BETTS: YES.

KELLAR: AND WHAT YOU REVEAL IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL FACE.

WELL, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR CAREER.

WHEN DID YOU START THINKING OF YOURSELF AS AN ARTIST?

BETTS: SO I'VE ALWAYS KIND OF JUST FOLLOWED IN MY DAD'S FOOTSTEPS, YOU KNOW, DOODLING ON PAPER OR, YOU KNOW, DRAWING, PAINTING, WHATEVER.

AND I TOOK A DIGITAL IMAGING CLASS AT WALNUT MY NINTH GRADE YEAR AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH GRAPHIC DESIGN OR PHOTOSHOP OR ILLUSTRATOR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WITHIN ADOBE.

AND SO I STARTED EXPLORING WHAT I LIKE TO DO.

AND I REALLY LIKED GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION AND PAINTING.

SO THAT'S WHAT I KIND OF STUCK TO, THEN FIGURED OUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO FROM THERE.

AND SO THAT'S HOW I FIGURED OUT.

KELLAR: YOUR DAD IS AN ARTIST?

BETTS: YES.

KELLAR: TELL US ABOUT HIM.

BETTS: SO HE'S GONE TO ART SCHOOL EVER SINCE HE WAS LITTLE.

HE WENT TO ART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ART HIGH SCHOOL, WENT TO COLLEGE FOR ART.

SO HE KNEW HIS HEART WAS IN ART.

KELLAR: YEAH.

AND SO THE APPLE DIDN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE NOW.

BETTS: YES.

KELLAR: THAT'S RIGHT.

SO YOU CHOSE OHIO STATE?

BETTS: YES.

KELLAR: BECAUSE?

BETTS: THEIR PROGRAM FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS IS REALLY STRONG.

BUT I WANTED TO GO TO TOP PRIORITY ART SCHOOL, BUT SCHOLARSHIPS GOT IN THE WAY OF THAT AND FINANCES.

BUT OSU IS A REALLY, REALLY STRONG SCHOOL.

SO I KNEW I WANTED TO GO TO A FOUNDATIONALLY STRONG SCHOOL.

SO JUST PICKING AND CHOOSING FROM SCHOOLS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, GREAT FOUNDATIONALLY, AS WELL AS WITHIN MY PROGRAM.

AND OSU WAS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THAT.

KELLAR: YEAH, I DIDN'T THINK -- I DON'T THINK OF OHIO STATE AS A DESIGN SCHOOL, BUT YOU THINK THEY HAVE A VERY STRONG PROGRAM IN THAT.

BETTS: THEIR PROGRAM FOR DESIGN, VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND JOURNALISM IS REALLY STRONG.

MCGOWAN: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF A WELL-KEPT SECRET, BUT THEY DO.

OHIO STATE'S VERY WELL KNOW, A LOT OF GREAT STUDENTS COME OUT VERY WELL TRAINED TO WORK IN COMMERCIAL ART.

KELLAR: YEAH, WELL, THEY -- WE KNOWN THEM FOR OTHER THINGS.

WE TAKE OUR DOGS THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE, WELL SECOND OPINION.

WELL, THEY HAVE THE BEST VETERINARY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY.

MCGOWAN: WOW.

KELLAR: YEAH, IT'S GREAT.

I KNOW THEY'RE WELL KNOWN FOR OTHER THINGS, INCLUDING THEIR SPORTS TEAMS.

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE, AND THAT'S GREAT TO KNOW.

SO WHAT SORT OF -- YOU WANT TO BE IN MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION OR JUST GRAPHIC ADVERTISING?

BETTS: SO, I FELL IN LOVE WITH COMMUNICATION DESIGN BECAUSE I DID THE YEARBOOK FOR MY SCHOOL.

AND SO JUST WORKING WITH FONTS AND PHOTOGRAPHY AND COLORS AND COLOR THEORY ARTICLES, THINGS LIKE THAT, I REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH COMMUNICATION DESIGN.

SO WHETHER THAT BE, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON A MAGAZINE OR A BOOK OR, YOU KNOW, ONLINE ARTICLE, I COULD SEE MYSELF ANYWHERE WITHIN THOSE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WHEN YOU STARTED ON THE PROJECT WITH O'DELL, DID YOU START FROM A PICTURE OF HIM OR SEEING HIM ON ZOOM?

AS A TOTALLY NON ARTIST, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

BETTS: SO I PULLED A LOT OF REFERENCE PHOTOS, DID A LOT OF RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, READING ARTICLES, FIGURING OUT WHO HE WAS AS A PERSON, AS WELL AS A DOCTOR, AND JUST FULLY GETTING TO KNOW HIM.

NOT REALLY HOLDING A BIAS OR, YOU KNOW, JUST READING ONE ARTICLE, USING ONE PICTURE.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO DIG IN AND FIGURE OUT WHO ANY PERSON IS THAT YOU WILL BE ILLUSTRATING.

AND SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID.

KELLAR: THAT SOUNDS -- THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, DID YOU TRY TO FIND OUT THE KIND OF PERSON HE WAS?

BECAUSE THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO GETTING THE CHARACTER IN ANY PORTRAIT.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS DOING PORTRAITS IN THE FUTURE?

BETTS: PORTRAITS ARE NOT MY FIRST OPTION TO DO.

KELLAR: THEY'RE HARD.

BETTS: THEY'RE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING.

BUT THE OUTCOME IS REALLY GREAT WHEN YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD.

AND THE EXPERIENCE IS ALSO REALLY FUN BECAUSE IT USES THE MOST TECHNICAL SKILLS, IN MY OPINION.

BUT SEEING THAT FINAL OUTCOME IS GREAT.

SO, OF COURSE, I SEE MYSELF DOING MORE PORTRAITS.

KELLAR: YES, DO YOU DRIVE BY ONCE IN A WHILE, EVERY OTHER DAY TO SEE IT?

ARE YOU PLEASED WITH HOW IT TURNED OUT?

BETTS: I AM VERY PLEASED ON HOW IT TURNED OUT.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT MY FIRST FEW SKETCHES TO THE FINAL OUTCOME IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I WOULD HAVE SEEN IT.

BUT I'M EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME.

KELLAR: YEAH.

BRIEFLY TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS, BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO, MOST OF US THINK OF PAINTING THE SISTINE CHAPEL CEILING WITH THE GUYS, YOU KNOW, LIGHTING UP THERE PAINTING.

BUT TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROCESS.

BETTS: SO I STARTED OUT WITH SKETCHES.

WE WENT THROUGH ABOUT 12 DIFFERENT SKETCHES, JUST ABOUT, AND WE FINALLY GOT TO THE ONE THAT'S ON THE BUILDING NOW, DOING DIFFERENT TWEAKS AND EVERYTHING.

BUT I ACTUALLY STARTED WITH A PEN AND PENCIL AND PAPER FOR MY SKETCHES, AND THEN I TOOK THEM TO MY IPAD, WHICH IS WHERE I DO ALL MY DIGITAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND IN APP.

AND SO JUST TWEAKING THOSE AND JUST TRULY KNOWING WHEN YOU HAVE TO SCRATCH, YOU KNOW, A SKETCH AND JUST KIND OF START OVER TAKING THE TWEAKS AND THE CRITICISM OR DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM HAD TO JUST GET THE BEST OUTCOME FOR DR. OWENS.

KELLAR: SO HOW DOES IT GET ON THE BUILDING?

BETTS: SO I FINISH IT ON MY IPAD AND WE SENT IT OVER TO A COMPANY THAT PRINTS OUT ON VINYL.

AND SO THEY BASICALLY INSTALLED IT ONTO THE BUILDING ON VINYL.

SO THAT WAY OF CET MOVES OR WHATEVER, THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT OFF AND THEY CAN TAKE IT WITH THEM.

KELLAR: SO IT'S A TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS, THAT YOU DON'T STAND UP THERE AND PAINT.

BETTS: NO.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WHICH THEY ACTUALLY DO IN THE URBAN WALLS.

MCGOWAN: YES.

I MEAN, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT, TOO.

WE WERE GOING TO PAINT IT AND HAVE -- AND FOR MANY REASONS, THAT JUST WASN'T PRACTICAL.

AND THEN THE IDEA THERE'S THIS REALLY GREAT MATERIAL THAT ADHERES TO THE WALL AND YOU REALLY CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

AND IT WASN'T ABOUT REALIZING THAT IT COULD COME DOWN ONE DAY.

IT WAS JUST REALLY MORE TO GET THAT SAME KIND OF WET PAINT LOOK THAT THAT'S THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE CITY.

SO, IT WAS QUITE A PROCESS.

BUT I DO HAVE TO REMIND EVERYONE TOO THAT IN THAT PROCESS, LIKE DR. OWENS IS A PART OF EVERY PIECE OF IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT ALSO MAKES -- I THINK NADYAA WILL LEARN THIS IN HER STUDIES, THAT THAT'S THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS.

THAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THAT IF YOU'RE IN IT TOGETHER, YOU'RE CREATING IT TOGETHER.

AND WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN THE MURAL, TOO, WHEN YOU COME AND VISIT IT, YOU'LL SEE LITTLE HIDDEN, WE CALL THEM EASTER EGGS, BUT LITTLE PIECES OF DR. OWENS, OF HIS CAREER, AND THEY'RE SORT OF HIDDEN IN THERE, BUT ALSO A WHOLE FAN BASE TOO OF CET AND PBS CHARACTERS THAT ARE THERE KIND OF ROOTING HIM ON.

KELLAR: AND ARE YOU PLEASED?

OWENS: WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK YOUR AUDIENCE SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU WERE THE ONE BEHIND THIS.

YOU WERE A BIG PART OF THIS AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH COMING FROM A FRIEND.

THAT'S A BIG DECISION WHEN YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO IMMORTALIZE ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE SAYS, "WELL, WHY HIM, NOT ME?"

AND I PROMISE I WON'T EMBARRASS YOU FOR THE REST OF THE TIME I'M ALIVE AS WELL.

BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT -- A GREAT SUPPORTER.

AND THE THING I LOVE ABOUT BARBARA IS THAT YOU HAVE MANY PEOPLE NEED TO BE OUT FRONT.

BARBARA DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OUT FRONT.

YOU KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WANT TO PUT THEIR MONEY IN ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF PUBLICITY AND GRATITUDE.

BARB AND HER HUSBAND ARE NOT THAT.

THEY DO SO MUCH, NOT ONLY WITH THE MONEY, BUT HELPING PEOPLE.

AS I ALWAYS SAY, THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE ON EARTH THAT TRY TO BRING A LITTLE HEAVEN TO EARTH.

AND BARB DOES THAT.

SO I WAS JUST HUMBLED AND PLEASED.

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CET PROBABLY FOR 20 YEARS, SO I'M SO HUMBLED THAT IT WAS JUST A STRONG GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS HERE, AS I'VE TOLD PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

I HAD BEEN HERE THREE YEARS BEFORE I DISCOVERED THAT THE PEOPLE I THOUGHT WERE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WERE FULL TIME VOLUNTEERS.

THEY WERE ALWAYS HERE, MORNING TO NIGHT.

NOT JUST THE AUCTION SEASON, BUT THE YEAR ROUND.

THE YEAR ROUND.

AND I WAS -- AND I FELT, WOW, THEY CAN GIVE THAT KIND OF TIME, HOW COULD I EVER SAY NO?

HOW COULD I NOT BE INVOLVED?

AND I THINK IN SOCIETY, YOU -- PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT THE BEST ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE JUDGED, CAN BE JUDGED BY THE KIND OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE PASSION FROM THE VOLUNTEERS.

MCGOWAN: YEAH, YEAH, DR. OWENS, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING ON THE PROJECT AND ESPECIALLY YOUR HEART AND YOUR SOUL AND YOUR PERSONALITY.

AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING GOOD CARE OF NADYAA, TOO, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE A YOUNG ARTIST LIKE THAT, IT CAN BE BRUTAL.

OWENS: SHE WAS A STAR.

SHE IS DEFINITELY A STAR.

BETTS: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WE'RE SO PLEASED THAT IT'S YOU.

YES, YOU'RE GREAT.

BETTS: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KELLAR: I JUST -- O'DELL'S WORDS ARE REALLY TOUCHING.

AND I, FROM MY HEART OF HEARTS, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE IN THIS CITY THAT I ADMIRE AND HONOR MORE THAN YOU.

AND I SAID THIS THE OTHER NIGHT, BUT THE LOVE AFFAIR BEGAN WHEN I WENT TO ONE OF YOUR TALKS.

AND I WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY.

I HAD NEVER -- I SAID, "THAT'S THE BEST TALK I'VE EVER HEARD."

YOU WERE JUST INCREDIBLE.

AND IT WAS WHEN YOU WERE CORONER.

AND SO I FOLLOWED YOUR CAREER AND THEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME FRIENDS.

AND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT HONORING O'DELL, WE'VE HONORED, YOU KNOW, WE HONOR SOMEBODY EVERY YEAR AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT AND NICE AND SOMEBODY STANDS UP AND WE MAKE A LITTLE VIDEO.

BUT I HAD A BIGGER IDEA.

OWENS: YOU SURE DID.

KELLAR: AND BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF THOSE, BUT SO I DID SUGGEST, "HOW ABOUT HIS PICTURE ON THE WALL?"

AND CHRIS, O'DELL'S SON, WHO'S ALSO A MEMBER OF OUR CET BOARD, SAID, "DAD WOULD LIKE THAT."

SO I KNEW IT WOULD BE OK. YEAH.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE SAID, "OH, MY GOSH, NO."

BUT I THINK ANYBODY WOULD BE MORE THAN PROUD TO BE OUT THERE AND WE ARE SO PROUD THAT WE HAVE YOU AS SORT OF OUR SPOKESPERSON, BECAUSE YOU'RE SO WELL-RESPECTED.

MCGOWAN: TRAFFIC HAS ACTUALLY PICKED UP ON CENTRAL PARKWAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW THAT OR NOT.

OWENS: PEOPLE COME OUT TO SEE THAT.

REALLY?

KELLAR: OH, THEY HAVE?

OWENS: I'M SURPRISED.

KELLAR: OH, GOSH.

OWENS: HE'S TEASING.

[INDISCERNIBLE] MCGOWAN: TRAFFIC JAM.

KELLAR: BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

THERE SHOULD BE AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER ABOUT IT.

OWENS: I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

MCGOWAN: YEAH.

KELLAR: THERE SHOULD BE.

OWENS: THEY SHOULD, ESPECIALLY FOR NADYAA.

MCGOWAN: I THINK THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE EVENT, BECAUSE THEN I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF EVERYTHING.

OWENS: I WISH THEY'D DO IT EARLIER SO THEY CAN INTERVIEW HER BEFORE SHE GOES BACK TO SCHOOL.

MCGOWAN: WE COULD GET ON A SKYPE OR SOMETHING.

KELLAR: BUT PEOPLE SHOULD, CAN START AT ANY TIME COMING DOWN TO SEE IT.

MCGOWAN: OH, YEAH.

IT'S AND READY TO GO, IT LOOKS GREAT.

KELLAR: YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO KNOW IF -- I MEAN I DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO LOOK UP THERE.

OF COURSE, I PULL IN THE PARKING LOT BEFORE I GET TO IT.

BUT YEAH, I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THAT SORT OF THING.

THEY WANT TO COME AND SEE THAT AND THEY'LL SEE YOU AS YOUR ARTWORK AND O'DELL AS A WORK OF ART ALSO.

MCGOWAN: WELL, AND OUR MURALS IN CINCINNATI, PEOPLE -- THERE ARE TOURS, IT'LL END UP ON THE TOUR AND PEOPLE WILL SEE IT.

KELLAR: OH, YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT GAVE ME THE IDEA BECAUSE I DID A SHOW ABOUT THE ART URBAN WALLS AND I THOUGHT, HMM, NOW I KNOW SOMEONE.

MCGOWAN: WE HAVE MURALS FROM CHARLIE HARPER AND JOHN RUTHVEN.

AND THEN WE HAVE DURING BLINK WE HAVE ALL THESE AMAZING INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL STREET ARTISTS THAT COME IN AND YOU KNOW, NOW NADYAA BETTS, SHE'S RIGHT UP THERE IN THERE IN THE MIX.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SO HOW DID YOU -- WHAT KIND OF THINGS DID YOU LOOK AT TO COME UP WITH YOUR FINAL VISION OF O'DELL AND WHO HE IS?

BETTS: YOU KNOW, DR. O'DELL OWENS HAS ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR CET.

SO CET TO ME IS VIBRANT AND FUN AND JUST HAS A, YOU KNOW, A PLACE IN EVERYBODY'S HEART.

AND SO FOR ME, THAT WAS FUN COLORS, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING SOME OF THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE ON, YOU KNOW, THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMING AND JUST TYING THAT ALL TOGETHER TO REPRESENT, YOU KNOW, HIS LOVE FOR CET.

SO I INCLUDED A LOT OF BRIGHT COLORS FROM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CHARACTERS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN FEATURED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MURAL.

AND THEN INCLUDING SOME OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITE CHARACTERS, AS WELL AS DR. OWENS CHARACTERS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM AS WELL.

KELLAR: AND WHO ARE THEY?

BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A PROFILE, SORT OF.

BETTS: YES.

KELLAR: AND PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, "NOW, I THINK I KNOW."

SO WHO ARE THEY?

BETTS: BOB ROSS IS ON THERE.

BIG BIRD, CURIOUS GEORGE, ELMO, AND WORD GIRL.

KELLAR: SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT SELECTION.

ARE THOSE YOUR FAVORITE?

OWENS: BIG BIRD IS.

BIG BIRD AND THE COUNT WAS MY FAVORITE.

KELLAR: OH, YES.

COUNT DRACULA.

OWENS: YEAH.

YEAH.

KELLAR: SO, O'DELL, WHAT INPUT DID YOU HAVE IN THE PROCESS?

OWENS: WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD MEET AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS ASK ME, "DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING?"

AND I DID EVERY TIME.

YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY VERY HUMBLED AND VERY COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, NADYAA WAS DOING THIS, THIS WAS HER WORK, HOW SHE PERCEIVES ME.

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO OVERLY INFLUENCE.

I THINK I MADE ONE RECOMMENDATION, AND THAT WAS THE COLOR OF THE EYES.

AND BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS IS HER PROJECT AND HOW PEOPLE SEE ME AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BECOME OVERBEARING AND SAYING THAT WAS EMBARRASSED.

I WAS A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO GET A MURAL.

SO I COULDN'T -- I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK OUT.

I WAS LIKE, WOW, HOW CAN YOU, YOU KNOW, LOOK SOMEBODY IN THE EYE WHO'S DOING SOMETHING WONDERFUL FOR YOU AND BE CRITICAL?

BUT I THINK ALL I DID WAS ASK THAT THE EYES BE BROWN, A LITTLE LIGHTER THAN BLACK.

KELLAR: YEAH.

OWENS: I THOUGHT THAT WOULD REALLY GIVE A SENSE OF WHO I AM.

MCGOWAN: WELL, AND WE WANTED TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT TOO OF THE AUCTION, SO THE PODIUM WAS ADDED.

OWENS: RIGHT.

BETTS: YEAH.

MCGOWAN: AND THEN AT FIRST, IT'S HARD TOO, AND I KNOW THAT YOU THIS IS A LITTLE CHALLENGING, WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON A PAD THAT'S ABOUT THIS BIG, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND HOW BIG IT'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE.

WE ENDED UP SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SORT OF ZOOMING IN TO DR. OWENS, TOO, BUT HAVING THE CET, HAVING HIS, YOU KNOW, HIS SHIRT REPRESENT THAT.

AND THEN BEING ON THEM IN CONTEXT OF THE AUCTION WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT THEN WHEN YOU SEE IT BIGGER THAN LIFE, THAT'S WHAT, I THINK, WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL?

KELLAR: YEAH.

MCGOWAN: IT'S THAT SCALE.

OWENS: AND THE EYES WERE IMPORTANT ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT WHENEVER I WOULD GO OUT WITH MY MASK ON TO THE STORE OR ANY PLACE AND PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME, AND I WOULD SAY TO THEM, "HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE ME?

I'M WEARING A MASK."

AND THEY SAY, IT'S THE EYES.

KELLAR: YEAH.

OWENS: IT'S THE EYES.

MCGOWAN: YOU DID CAPTURE THE EYES GREAT.

OWENS: SHE DID.

BETTS: THANK YOU.

OWENS: SHE DID, SO I SAID, OK. KELLAR: YEAH, BECAUSE YOUR EYES ARE PROMINENT BECAUSE YOU'RE SMILING AND YOU -- MOST OF THE TIME YOU'RE SMILING.

AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN YOUR EYES.

MCGOWAN: THERE'S A TERM FOR THAT.

I THINK DUCHENNE EYES, IT'S WHERE LIKE GEORGE CLOONEY HAS WHERE YOU SMILE WITH YOUR EYES.

KELLAR: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, EVEN WITH MASKS ON, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE YOU COULD TELL JUST FROM THAT, JUST FROM THEIR EYES.

OWENS: I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE YOUR EYES ARE CONNECTED TO YOUR HEART.

KELLAR: RIGHT, YEAH.

AND YOUR HEART IS CONNECTED TO US AND WE LOVE IT.

OWENS: OH, YOU'RE SO SWEET.

KELLAR: SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH O'DELL AND STEVE?

WHAT KIND OF MENTORING DID THEY DO?

BETTS: SO AS AN ARTIST, YOU HAVE TO SOMETIMES TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR WORK AND COME BACK TO IT TO, YOU KNOW, BETTER IMPROVE THAT.

BUT STEVE WAS A REALLY GREAT MENTOR WHEN I WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD CHECK INS AND BETWEEN ZOOM CALLS AND, YOU KNOW, NEW UPDATES WITHIN THE ZOOM CALLS.

BUT HE WAS REALLY ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE A BREAK FROM, ONE, YOU KNOW, SKETCH FROM IT TO THE NEXT.

AND HE WAS ABLE TO POINT OUT THINGS THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO CATCH OR, YOU KNOW, CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON DIFFERENT THINGS, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

YOU KNOW, JUST OPENING UP, YOU KNOW, A THIRD EYE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU NEED THAT AS AN ARTIST WHEN YOU AREN'T ABLE TO STEP AWAY FROM YOU.

KELLAR: YEAH, AND O'DELL, YOU HAD SOME OBSERVATIONS.

OWENS: WELL, I THOUGHT STEVE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M BLINDED BECAUSE IT'S ME.

AND THEN I THINK NADYAA IS THE ARTIST, SO SHE'S BEING CREATIVE, BUT STEVE BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER.

STEVE WAS ALWAYS THE MIDDLE MAN.

STEVE WAS A PERSON THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE'S DONE BLINK, IT SHOWS HIS CREATIVITY THAT HE WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, "WELL, THIS SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIGGER.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HEAD AND THE BODY OR CERTAIN COLORS," HE WAS THAT TECHNICAL PERSON, I THOUGHT, JUST REALLY BROUGHT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

MCGOWAN: YEAH, IT'S FUN.

YEAH.

WELL, IT'S JUST PART OF DIRECTION.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH AN ARTIST, THAT NADYAA GAVE US MANY OPTIONS.

SO THAT WAS ALSO GREAT.

IT WASN'T JUST LIKE THIS IS THE ONE AND THEN KIND OF WORK TO SORT OF TAKE CARE OF THAT.

AND THE WAY THAT WE WORK AT BRAVE BERLIN TOO IS LIKE EVERYONE KIND OF WORKS IT TOGETHER.

AND SO THERE WERE JUST A FEW LITTLE THINGS HERE AND THERE AND I REMEMBER JUST SORT OF POSING THEM AS IDEAS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT ULTIMATELY THEY COULD BECOME HER IDEAS.

AND SHE WAS JUST REALLY GREAT TO WORK WITH IN THAT CONTEXT, BECAUSE IT IS ART AND ESPECIALLY PORTRAITS CAN BE VERY, VERY HARD BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION, ESPECIALLY THE PERSON THAT'S BEING DRAWN.

KELLAR: OH, YEAH.

MCGOWAN: AND THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, LIKE DR. OWENS SAID, HE WAS HONORED AND ALLOWED NADYAA TO DO HER THING.

IT WAS IMPORTANT IN THE SELECTION PROCESS, TOO, THAT, YOU KNOW, A YOUNG ARTIST, A YOUNG FEMALE ARTIST OF COLOR.

AND I THINK FOR THAT TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN CONTEXT OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, TOO, IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, THAT WE JUST MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE.

AND I LOVE THAT IT WAS HAPPENING JUST ON THE HEELS BEFORE SHE'S SORT OF LEAVING THE NEST.

KELLAR: YEAH, ISN'T THAT GREAT?

MCGOWAN: YEAH.

KELLAR: A COUPLE OF DAYS FROM NOW WILL BE ON HER WAY TO OHIO STATE.

AND JUST TALKING TO YOU TODAY TELLS US HOW AMENABLE YOU ARE TO SUGGESTION'S.

YOU'RE NOT AN ATTITUDE, ANGRY.

BETTS: YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS WHAT HELPS DEVELOP YOU NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR ART, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SO STUCK IN HOW YOU WANT THINGS TO TURN OUT, BUT YOU CAN'T BE SHUT OFF TO THOSE TYPE OF THINGS BECAUSE IT'S WHAT HELPS YOU AND BETTERS YOU AS AN ARTIST.

KELLAR: AND THAT'S WHY YOU ARE.

MCGOWAN: HOW WAS YOUR DAD IN THE PROCESS?

BETTS: A LOT OF THE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM CAME FROM HIM, NOT ONLY JUST TO BETTER ME AS AN ARTIST, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT DR. OWENS GETS THE BEST MURAL THAT WAS POSSIBLE.

KELLAR: HE DESERVES THE BEST.

BETTS: YES.

OWENS: YEAH.

BUT HER FATHER IS ONE OF THE TOP PEOPLE AT PROCTER AND GAMBLE.

I MEAN, HE IS THE MAN AT PROCTER.

SO WHEN YOU SAID THE APPLE DIDN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE, IT WAS MORE THE WATERMELON DIDN'T FALL FAR FROM.

BOTH OF THEM ARE HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, THEY'RE VERY TALENTED.

HE'S VERY TALENTED AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN HIS DAUGHTER.

AND THAT'S SO WONDERFUL, I THINK, WHEN YOU CAN PASS YOUR PASSION ON TO YOUR CHILD AND THEY CAN BE JUST AS GOOD AS YOU.

KELLAR: ABSOLUTELY, AND TO HAVE ALL OF THIS TO CELEBRATE, THE PEOPLE, THE ART, THE CAUSE, IT'S ALL -- OWENS: SHE'S GOING TO OUTDO HER DAD, I'M TELLING YOU.

KELLAR: YEAH.

HE'S GOING TO BE A NOBODY.

OWENS: SHE IS SHE'S GOING TO OUTDO HER FATHER, I BET YOU.

I'D LAY MONEY ON IT.

KELLAR: YOU WILL.

AND THE HAPPIEST PERSON ABOUT THAT WILL BE YOUR DAD.

BETTS: YES.

OWENS: YEAH.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WELL, YOU'VE JOINED A REALLY GREAT GROUP, AND I HOPE YOU KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US.

AND IN FOUR YEARS WHEN YOU GRADUATE, OR MAYBE BEFORE, WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.

BETTS: YES, MOST DEFINITELY.

KELLAR: YOU PROMISE?

BETTS: MOST DEFINITELY.

KELLAR: OK, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.

BETTS: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KELLAR: YEAH, YOU'RE GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, O'DELL, I LOVE HAVING YOU HERE.

AND STEVE, I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST SO ABSORBED WITH TALENT.

AND NADYAA, WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

AND YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND REPORT HOW YOU'RE DOING.

BETTS: OF COURSE, YES.

KELLAR: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

OWENS: WE LOVE YOU.

BETTS: THANK YOU.

OWENS: WE LOVE YOU.

KELLAR: OH, AND I -- AND IT'S MUTUAL, THAT'S FOR SURE.

- JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLER RIGHT HERE ON CET.

CAPTIONS: MAVERICK CAPTIONING CIN OH MAVERICKCAPTIONING.COM