Local teacher takes her artwork from classroom to Cooper’s Commons

May 14, 2019 | Carling Willis
carling@thereminder.com

Alison Johnson's artwork.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

FEEDING HILLS/EAST LONGMEADOW – Alison Johnson has had an appreciation for art and painting her whole life.

The Feeding Hills resident grew up attending art museums and practicing different painting techniques with her parents. Johnson now incorporates her love for art as a hobby and in her classroom.

Currently her artwork is being displayed at Coopers Commons in Agawam. Johnson is a first grade teacher at Meadowbrook Elementary School in East Longmeadow. She has used her creative eye to provide opportunities for more hands on projects for her students. This year for Chinese New Year the student did paper mache projects. She has also helped her students to understand the importance of using recycled products by using them in art projects.

Johnson has been a member of the Agawam Artisans for about three years. She learned about them through an add in the newspaper and now, not only is a member but has been in their art shows. She has enjoyed not only being able to share her work alongside other talented artists but also the opportunity to learn and grow as an artist. The group organizes different artists to come and get together with the group in order to put on a demonstrations to teach the artists new styles or how to use different materials.

Through these demonstrations, Johnson shared that she found a passion for creating pastel landscapes which she previously did not know about.

“I tend to go through phases with my artwork, I love to paint but I’ve really enjoyed experimenting with other styles as well,” said Johnson.

Currently, Johnson has been painting with oils, producing art using gourds and exploring her talents with the pastel paints.

In the past Johnson’s artwork has been featured at the Burnett Gallery in Amherst and at the Sarasota Bayfront in Florida where she won $1,000 for best in show.

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