Living Artfully
Julia M. Conley
Retired Art Teacher
Julia M. Conley, originally from Chillicothe, Ohio, moved to Portsmouth, Ohio her junior year and graduated from Clay High School in 1970. She graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1975, with a BA in Art Education, K-12. She achieved her National Board Certification in Adolescent and Young Adult Art in 2005 and renewed in 2015. Julie taught in WV schools for 28 years, including Dunlow Elementary, Trap Hill Middle School, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School and High School, and Sissonville High School. She is married to the Rev. Dr. Ellis Conley, a United Methodist Pastor. They both retired from their careers in 2019 and reside in Hurricane, WV. They have two grown sons, John and David, and three grandsons. Julie spends her time caring for her grandsons, eco-printing, teaching painting classes, and volunteering one day a week at an elementary school as their art teacher.
Hey Retired Art Teachers!
Have you been looking for a place to use your talents or connect with other artists? Well, I have two opportunities for you! First, get involved with West Virginia Art Association activities. March is Youth Art Month, and the Beckley Art Center, guided by Director Sandy Shaw, is hosting a fantastic show of work by students from all over the state. https://beckleyartcenter.com Watch for more info in April about Arts Alive, a celebration of Visual and Performing Arts at the Clay Center in Charleston.
And second, check out the WV Creative Network https://wvcreativenetwork.org/ This is a statewide registry for artists that is filled with helpful information. Sign up to be a member (for FREE!) and get access to statewide conversation forums, event sharing, and bulletin boards where you can post opportunities, discover what’s happening in the arts, and connect with fellow creatives and art-lovers across the Mountain State.
Don’t hide your light under a bushel! Connect with other artists and retired teachers and join in the fun!