Alberta Smith Johnson is a life-long Chicago area artist. She received her BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) from the Chicago Art Institute/Univ. of Chicago. She received her Masters Degree from National-Louis Univ. She is a recently retired K-5 art teacher from Oak Park, IL. She now devotes quite a bit of time to her artwork. Her work is noted for color and texture. She tends to work in themes and series, with flowers, animals, African art, and her travels being popular subjects. Alberta Smith Johnson sold handcrafts to many museum gift shops and other small gift shops across the country in the 1980’s . She currently does some handcrafts and paints pictures  on a regular basis.

Artist Statement:

“When I work with paints and pastels, I  go mentally into a different world–a place of fanciful colors and shapes. With acrylic paints, I usually start with a limited group of colors that I hope will make sense together. With soft pastels, I will normally choose quiet subjects and then get lost in finding the realism of those subjects with the layers of pastel. Each layer builds excitement for me as I get closer to where I’m going with a piece of artwork.

It’s interesting how each medium fulfills a different need inside my being: acrylics help me explore the world of wild colors and shapes while soft pastels ground me in realism.

The idea for a painting comes from many places: the kitchen table, looking at beautiful flowers in a garden, viewing African masks and sculptures, even my travels.

I’m excited when I gather my art supplies and spread everything out in my work area. A new idea is taking shape in my mind and the color scheme starts to present itself. I prepare my media and begin the process……

Through my work, I am filled with a sense of meaning and accomplishment.

When people see my artwork, I only hope that they can feel that same sense.”