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Sunday, October 4, 2009 9:15 PM CDT
New studio starts with focus on art education
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — The new Art Smart studio uptown offers drawing, oil painting, ceramics making, and other art lessons for children and adults.
Artist Shannon Johnson of Charleston recently opened her Art Smart studio at 720 Jackson Ave., off the southeast corner of the courthouse square in Charleston.
Johnson, who teaches art for the Tuscola school district, said she opened the studio because she wanted to put her experience with paper making, jewelry making, and many other forms of two- and three-dimensional arts to work outside of a school setting.
“I have a pretty diverse background as far as education and art goes,” said Johnson. She is an Eastern Illinois University alumnus and is working on her master’s degree.
At Art Smart, Johnson and other art instructors offer workshops for adults and classes for children. Some current topics include drawing, painting, clay, paper making, and glass lamp work beads. Johnson said she is also seeking a water color artist to offer lessons. Private art lessons are available.
Johnson said she would like to eventually offer a Web site where the studio’s artists could sell their works, but is more focused on education for now. She said she wants to help offer more opportunities in the arts for the community.
“We hope to bring a little bit more art and culture,” Johnson said. “We are trying to fill a little niche.”
The studio is located in a storefront between the Sewing Salon and the Spence’s on Jackson resale shop. This storefront, which had sat vacant for many years, was renovated from top to bottom this year by Ed Carter Construction of Charleston.
Johnson said she was drawn to the storefront because it offers an old-fashioned facade and a modern interior uptown. She has put her personal touches on the space by painting the walls in warm shades of yellow with green trim. Her husband, Daniel, fashioned work tables from old doors and topped these tables with plastic glass.
Art Smart’s studio is available for group lessons as well as birthday parties, sewing circles and other gatherings.
Weeknight, weekend and other hours are available by appointment. For more information, contact call Art Smart at 549-8111 or e-mail art_smart_ charleston@yahoo.com.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.
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