THS Teacher Won Best of Fair for Watercolors

Each year, the Chattooga County Agricultural Fair happens on just about the same weekend. This year, 2026, the fair took place from August 27th to August 30th. Alongside the adrenaline-pumping rides, delicious food, and enjoyable attractions, the fair features various competitions where locals can submit entries. These competitions range from the judging of peppers to artwork to jams, and much, much more.

The art divisions seem to be very popular, with tables and display boards filled with photographs, paintings, paper mache, and many other beautiful crafts. Ms. Shelia Johnson is one of many who submitted artwork to the Agricultural Fair’s contest this year.

Ms. Johnson is the Technology, Engineering, and Graphing teacher at Trion High School. She also serves as the advisor for the school’s Technology Student Association chapter and its Film Society club. Despite being a STEM teacher, she has carried a love for art since an early age. In fifth or sixth grade, an art project sparked an interest that stuck with her. “I knew from an early age that art brought joy and happiness for me personally,” Ms. Johnson said.

Ms. Johnson has been painting with watercolors since 2022, when a friend gifted her a watercolor kit for Christmas. Her interest and skills grew gradually, and by 2024, she had become more passionate about the medium. When asked why she paints with watercolors, Ms. Johnson said, “I love that watercolors are transparent, and how layering colors creates depth and shadows, while leaving white space creates highlights. It’s really magical for me.”

Ms. Johnson has submitted artwork to the Chattooga Fair for several years. “I have been submitting art or photography to the fair for about four years, and I’ve lost count of how many total I’ve submitted,” she said. During those four years, she has won several awards, including first, second, and third place. This year, she submitted two watercolor paintings to the 2026 Chattooga County Fair in the watercolor division.

One of the paintings, titled Where the Old Road Ends, depicts an older blue truck sitting in a yellow field with an old brown barn in the background. The truck’s bumper, grille, and body have rusted over. Its headlights and windshield are cracked, with the left headlight completely shattered. Trees in the background are just beginning to take on their fall colors. The painting carries a strong sense of nostalgia and the quiet weight of time passing. For Where the Old Road Ends, Ms. Johnson was awarded the Grand Prize purple ribbon.

Her second painting, The Ballerina, portrays a little girl who appears to be four or five years old. Dressed in a pale pink ballerina’s outfit, she sits somberly with her pointe shoes touching the ground, picking at her fingers as a golden glow lights her right side. The little ballerina seems nervous and sad, giving the piece a gentle, gloomy feeling, as though she’s carrying a weight no child her age should have to bear. For The Ballerina, Ms. Johnson was awarded Best of Fair, along with the large white and gold ribbon that comes with the honor.

Both paintings made it into the final running for Best of Fair. Ms. Johnson explained that she “was told the judges were going back and forth, debating over the two paintings, until they realized they were by the same artist.”

To create both pieces, Ms. Johnson used 140 lb watercolor paper, Daniel Smith watercolors, size 8 and size 10 Princeton watercolor brushes, waterproof micro pens, and a white gel pen for highlights.

After judging, each painting received its own ribbon at the Summerville Agricultural Center. Reflecting on the honor, Ms. Johnson said she felt “very honored that professionals in the field of art saw something in my art that created interest.”

Beyond teaching STEM and entering contests, Ms. Johnson also keeps a booth at Sweet Beaux Mercantile in downtown Summerville, where she sells original paintings and prints. She also accepts commissions and shares a public watercolor album on her Facebook page. Those interested in her award-winning watercolor work can stop by her booth for contact information, or reach out to her online.