Meet Kim Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Johnson.

Kim, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
I started painting seriously in my thirties. I had just graduated from college with a degree in Psychology thinking I would continue my education to become a therapist. I came to the conclusion that we only go around once, so I had better choose carefully! And what I really wanted was to paint!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This was not a smooth road. I realized it wasn’t going to be as simple as I thought! I had a lot to learn! I had always drawn and painted in watercolor, but my first class in the arts after graduation from college taught me I had a long way to go! I enrolled in as many drawing and painting classes as I could and still work full-time.

I felt an urgency–almost as if I had wasted time and wanted to learn everything at once. I didn’t realize that only time and miles with the pencil and paintbrush were what was really needed, but I was willing to do whatever it took. The knowledge of how-to is good, but that knowledge would not make a great painting the practice would bring that about, and even then it was not guaranteed.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have mostly painted people on the beach, portraits, and animals/birds-both domestic and wild. All of my accolades have come from these types of painting, and most recently, I’m painting the beach, such as boats, people working on the boats, and scenes you would see on the beach. The paintings I’m most proud of are the ones that I feel I have expressed myself and moved away from copying my photo.

When this happens, I feel that it’s a really good painting and those are the ones that end up with awards. I don’t like to paint things that are perfect, like a perfect figure of a woman, this is not real! Painting the things I most enjoy, capturing what I believe to be their essence, and expressing that through the use of color is what I would say sets me apart.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I think I was quiet, but my Mother may say otherwise! I remember being somewhat of a people watcher and their interactions, and I know I preferred drawing and crayons, not so much Barbie dolls.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kj-art.com
• Instagram: @kimjohnsonart
• Facebook: @KimJohnson Nechtman