Since he could hold a pencil, Joplin High School senior Jeremiah Johnson said he has been drawing.

He made his skills known with the publication of a coloring book for kindergarteners in Joplin who will eventually attend Joplin high school.

The Joplin Schools Administration approached Art Feeds with the idea. Jeremiah worked with Meg, Art Feeds’ founder, and Joplin schools administration on the book’s development, which depicts a day in the life Eddie the Eagle, Joplin High’s mascot.

Jeremiah said he was excited to express school pride and share it with the kids.

“I hope, if not now, maybe in five or ten years, they can find it on a shelf and say, ‘Wow. This is my school,’” Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah went to each elementary school in the area to present the kindergarteners with the 11-page coloring book that urges students to be brave, to be fun, have respect, and share.

As a cadet teacher for Art Feeds, Jeremiah works in the classroom with kids every week.

“I knew Art Feeds was an opportunity to express my skills and get them out there,” he said.

Jeremiah said he relates to students because, like them, he has an active imagination.

“It’s good to see, at a young age, you can create things no one else can see,” he said.

Jeremiah plans to attend college and follow the field of art, and he is pleased that his artwork has already been published. For now, his service to Art Feeds gives him direction.

“I’m no longer just a high school student,” he said. “I have a little more purpose.”

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Love Naively. Give Generously. Be Foolishly Compassionate.

Art Feeds

@artfeeds