Karen Watson Johnson

Class: 1984
Major: Sociology
Minor: Communications
Current employment: Founder, Art Studio 109 & Real Estate Broker at Coldwell Banker Realty

 

Tell me about your career and your current job.

I founded a children's art school, Art Studio 109, in 2007 and continue to teach kids in the local schools as an enrichment program. I teach in Westwood, Dover, Sherborn, Medfield, and Millis elementary schools. We also host birthday parties, summer workshops, and special events. We travel with our studio and transform cafeterias, church halls, kitchens, and garages into studio space. We teach step-by-step painting with acrylic paints for children 6-13. 

I am also a full-time real estate agent. I sell houses in the suburbs west of Boston and have a knack for staging and photography. 

 

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Developing and growing a school for children to express themselves with art by way of painting what they love is by far my greatest accomplishment. I started this school on a shoestring budget and it's been a thriving business since 2007. I like how we have changed over the years and grown the business model to include Zoom classes and renting out space in nearby towns, as well as becoming a source of opportunity to bring the arts into the public schools. I provide children with the environment and tools needed to express themselves creatively. I love to see how their finished painting gives them a real boost in their confidence and self-esteem. 

 

What are some life lessons you learned at Regis that have served you well throughout your career?

Always find mentors and surround yourself with people that you admire and that inspire you. The quality of my Regis professors helped me see who and what I could be and opened up my world to have a purpose behind my work. I learned to thrive off the people that I liked being associated with and loved being in a classroom of like-minded people. I also gained a real appreciation for my community and religion which has stayed with me and grown even stronger. I hope that I have passed this on to my family as well.

My time at Regis also helped me perfect my organizational skills, public speaking, and critical thinking. In my profession, I need to prioritize continuing education in order to stay current with new research findings. The thinking skills I learned at Regis enabled me to carefully weigh my options when needed. 

 

Do you have any advice for current students or recent graduates?

Work hard at your goals and you will accomplish your dreams. Always look to the future as if the world is your oyster and you can create whatever it is that is in your heart. Find role models that you're attracted to and be curious about how they reached their goals—let that inspiration be your guide to finding your true path, calling, or career in life.