How this Artist Balances Science with a Passion for Painting

For the Women in Arts Network website, we spoke with Shakima Johnson, a New Jersey–based painter, about her transition from abstract work to pointillist portraits and how her background in lab science influences her artistic process. In this conversation, Shakima walks us through how painting resurfaced for her during the pandemic, the serendipity of an online exhibition that launched her professional path, and the practical ways she continues to create while travelling for work, from short studio rentals to setting aside extended creative breaks between assignments.

She shares the materials and methods she favours (fluid acrylics, watercolours, fine-tip pens, and meticulous stippling), the moment she steps back and knows a piece is succeeding, and why she treats a blank canvas as an invitation rather than a threat. What we take away is clear: making art for Shakima is about curiosity, disciplined practice, and aiming to produce work that stops a viewer and makes them say, “Wow.”

Shakima Johnson is an abstract and pointillist artist based in New Jersey. “Artists are essentially alchemists, creating art through a seemingly magical process”. I paint abstract and intuitively. I also create portraits in the style of pointillism (Also Known as Stippling). I once read “A blank canvas is an opportunity”. That’s how I choose to approach my art. I’m an Artist and a Scientist. I believe these styles are reflected in my art. Creating Art brings me great joy.

1. How did you get started in your art career?

My art career started by accident. I have been creating since I was a child. I went to high school and college for art. Ultimately, I graduated from college with a degree in lab sciences because I wanted to have a steady income. I started painting again during the pandemic shutdown. It was a challenging time for everyone, and painting again was a truly liberating experience. I submitted to an online gallery exhibition on a whi,m and my art was chosen, exhibited and bought. That marked the beginning of my professional art career.

There is a moment when I look at what I am doing and I get a feeling in my chest. It feels like a flutter of excitement and amazement.

Shakima Johnson

2.  When you’re creating something new, what makes you pause and say, This is working?

That’s such an interesting question. I would have to say that there is a moment when I step out of the zone, look at what I am doing, and I get a feeling in my chest. If I am to describe it, I would say it feels like a flutter of excitement and amazement. I am looking at something amazing, and I am trying to figure out how I did it.

3. How do you balance your personal life with your art career?

It’s tough sometimes. I travel for work, and the moving around and small rooms make it a little hard to get a good job done. I get art in where I can when I am on the road. After each assignment, I take time off to create. I will take up to 3 months off to dedicate to creating. I am very fortunate to have a career that allows me to take time off when I need to. One solution I have found is to look for art studio rentals in the area where I am working. I have had some truly positive experiences doing that. I have also met many talented artists that way.

4. How do you envision the future of your art and its impact on the world?    

I want to create pieces that evoke emotions in people. The kind of art that makes you say ” Wow”. That’s the way I feel when I walk through the Newark Museum, or any museum, and see so many beautiful pieces of work. That’s what I want to contribute. That’s the future I envision.

A blank canvas is an opportunity. That’s how I choose to approach my art.

Shakima Johnson

5. What mediums and techniques do you primarily work with?

I primarily use acrylic paint, watercolour paint, and fine-tip pens. I enjoy using the technique of fluid painting with acrylic. With that technique, you can add different additives to the paint, which then alter the effect of the paint on the canvas. You can add water to silicone. The results are beautiful and fascinating. I enjoy painting intuitively with watercolour. I usually start with a colour and go from there. I like to use the same colour from different hues. It’s fun. When I work on pointillism, my technique is to start with what I consider the hardest part. Then the next one. I also make a black and white copy to see better the shading involved.

6. Do you have any parting words of wisdom for our readers or aspiring artists? 

Make art that means something to YOU. Don’t compare your journey or technique with anyone else’s. Their journey is not your journey. Be proud of what you do and who you are.

Shakima Johnson’s work is characterised by curiosity, experimentation, and the pursuit of creating something that evokes emotion. Through abstract painting, fluid acrylics, watercolours, and pointillism, she demonstrates how science and art can intersect in surprising ways.

From starting again during the pandemic to finding her footing as a professional, her journey reminds us that opportunities often come when we least expect them. What we learn from her story is that making time for creativity, trusting the process, and following what excites you can open doors both in the studio and beyond.

To learn more about Shakima, visit the links below.