1. William H. Johnson 1901–1970 Children at Ice Cream Stand

2. Early years of William H. Johnson Born in South Carolina in 1901 to a poor African-American family His father was injured and couldn’t work so he worked in the cotton fields with his brothers and sisters William began copying comic strips at an early age. A teacher who saw him drawing pictures in the dirt gave him some art supplies--pencils and paper. Life in segregated South Carolina was difficult for African Americans and he wanted to people to take him seriously as an artist Working a variety of jobs, he saved enough money to pay for an art education at the National Academy of Design in New York at age 17

3. Johnson in Europe He spent the late 1920s in France He met artist Holcha Krake from Denmark, whom he married in 1930 The couple spent most of the ‘30s in Denmark and Norway, where Johnson’s interest in simple folk art became very important to his work They traveled all around Europe and Africa working on their art Willie and Holcha, 1935

4. Johnson back in New York He returned to New York in 1938 to caputre the life of African Americans living in Harlem and South Carolina He has become best known for these paintings inspired by his childhood memories He focused on simple paintings emphasizing color and shape over lines Three Friends, 1944

5. How to Spot a William H. Johnson Painting Known for his simple and colorful paintings His paintings were often of the African- American community His works told stories of his own life experiences He used simple shapes and vibrant colors

6. Attributes We See in William H. Johnson Paintings Colors Shapes Objects Activities Ring Around the Rosey, 1944

7. Attributes We See in William H. Johnson Paintings Colors Shapes Objects Activities Children at Ice Cream Stand

8. Attributes We See in William H. Johnson Paintings Colors Shapes Objects Activities Ferry Boat Trip

9. Attributes We See in William H. Johnson Paintings Colors Shapes Objects Activities Folk Family

10. Attributes We See in William H. Johnson Paintings Colors Shapes Objects Activities Cotton Pickers, ca. 1940

11. Attributes We See in William H. Johnson Paintings Colors Shapes Objects Activities Early Morning Work, ca. 1940

12. Create your own picture in “William H. Johnson” style Pick a favorite memory, your family or friends

13. Where to see a William H. Johnson Painting in Kansas City See Going to Church, 1940-1941 at the Nelson Atkins Museum