Carol Brightman Johnson gained official recognition for her art while she was still in high school. The Boston Globe awarded her top honors in its prestigious statewide art contest. School faculty and parents of classmates commissioned her to paint portraits of their children. Carol continued to paint on commission after graduating with honors from Boston University School of Fine Arts.

Later, she drew weekly illustrations for The Litchfield County Times and produced a line of animal-themed limited edition prints. Her work appeared on the covers of The Chronicle of the Horse and Horse World U.S.A.

She continued painting commissioned portraits and did free-lance work for local and national businesses.

Carol Brightman Johnson works mainly in oils although she enjoys dry media and watercolor. She wrote and illustrated a children's book and has given art instruction. The artist's work, both in the book and on canvas, exudes warmth, intuition and perception: a direct result of her extensive experience with animals, plants, and the outdoors.

An abiding interest in the American West takes Brightman Johnson and her paints to the “less traveled” roads and trails of Wyoming , Utah , Arizona , New Mexico and California . She thoroughly enjoys hiking, painting and observing wildlife in the region.

Carol is a signature member of Paint America . Her painting “Morning at Paria View,” executed entirely “en plein air” [open air] at Bryce Canyon , was chosen for Paint the Parks Mini Top 50, ‘07 . Two of her studio pieces [one Grand Canyon, and one Yellowstone] are touring the U.S. with Paint the Parks Top 100 . Two more small works of Bryce Canyon have been traveling the country with Paint America 's Mini Top 50, 2006.

A partial list of National Shows where Brightman Johnson has exhibited: OPA National in Fredericksburg, TX; Western Heritage Art Invitational, OK; Richeson 75: Still Life, WI; Red River Valley International Juried Art Exhibition, TX; Twenty-fourth Annual Juried Show and Competition, NM; Central Coast National Fine Art Competition, CA; Associated Arts of Ocean Shores, WA; Memphis/ Germantown Art League's Celebration of Architecture, TN; Third National Juried Art of the Horse, NJ; 27th Annual July National Exhibition, Southport, NC; Cooperstown Art Association 72nd Annual National, NY; 16th Annual Juried Art Competition, Breckenridge, TX; National Greeley Art Exhibition, CO; 22 nd Annual Conservatory Art Classic, Clifton, TX.

In October, Carol will be one of two East Coast artists traveling to San Luis Obispo, CA for the Plein Air '07 Festival, a week long Plein Air Invitational. The Art Festival will end with a “Quick Draw” and two auctions of newly completed paintings. More information at: www.sloartcenter.org

Carol Brightman Johnson has garnered a number of prizes and honors. Her art is collected around the U.S. , Canada , England and Spain .