Prairiewood Elementary School art teacher’s work displayed at Woodstock Opera House

Brightly colored portraits featuring a wide array of writers, musicians, actors and personalities are on display at the Woodstock Opera House this month.

The artist: Prairiewood Elementary School art teacher Chuck Jones, who said in a news release that he chooses subjects who have inspired him in some way, often through their own art forms.

“Mostly they’re people who kind of live outside the norm. People who make their own rules and do it without compromise, especially in the case of someone like [Jim] Morrison. He was gonna do what he was gonna do whether he got rich off it or whether people liked it or not,” Jones said in the release issued by Woodstock School District 200.

The works went on display July 7 and will remain up through Aug. 2 with an opening reception to be held from 5 to 7 p.m. July 16, which Jones will attend.

Jones said in the release that he’s made it a point to show his artwork to his elementary students and overheard one of his favorite compliments when a student relayed her pride to a parent.

“She said, ‘Mom, he’s not just an art teacher, he’s a real artist,’” Jones said in the release.

“I think if you’re going to teach the subject, even at the elementary level, you have to work the subject, too. You have to make it a part of your life. This was part of my life before I started teaching. Teaching is the icing on the cake,” he said in the release.