Woman gives up law for art

For most of her formative years, 26-year-old Shammia Reid saw art as a passion rather than a profession.

But after taking a chance on herself, the young artist's leap of faith led to an opportunity she never saw coming, hand-painting a Cybertruck. For Reid, the moment still feels unbelievable and simply “crazy”. The Westmoreland native, who once painted the walls of her bedroom, found herself transforming a vehicle valued at a starting price of US$69,990 (approximately J$11.o2 million) into a piece of art. She explained that the opportunity came through former schoolmate Vanessa Riley.

“She called one night saying someone wanted some artwork done on a Cybertruck. He didn't want the regular wrap on the car, he wanted some very authentic,” Reid explained. The project, however, required more hands, so Reid recommended another artist, Analise Virtue, to join. The three got to work, but for Reid, the assignment was not only exciting, but nerve-racking, as her 'canvas' was a vehicle worth millions of dollars, and there was little room for mistakes.

The trio had one week to experiment, gather materials and finalise the design for the truck, all while balancing their 9-to-5 jobs.

“We were at the studio in nights and even did an all-nighter. It was not just paint, but also permanent marker. We used Sharpies, too, and it was a white Cybertruck, so you know if we made a mistake, we get knock,” she said.

But even while working on the vehicle, Reid said she could not believe the opportunity she had received.

“Every single day I went into the warehouse I said, 'This is crazy.' Even my nephew was saying, ‘You are such a liar, nobody is going to allow you to do that on a Cybertruck. Do you know the cost for that?' Yes, it was just unbelievable,” she said.

For Reid, the word 'crazy' perfectly describes the journey that brought her to a warehouse hand-painting a multimillion-dollar vehicle.

“I studied the arts and indulged at Mount Alvernia [High School], but I have always wanted to be a lawyer. I was pursuing law, I did CAPE law for two years,” she explained.

While studying law at the Montego Bay Community College, Reid said she still did not see herself pursuing art professionally, until an eye-opening conversation.

“I met a lecturer, Lij Sinclair, and he had a talk with us about doing a career with something we are passionate about, because the work we do, we must find joy in it and it doesn't feel like work,” Reid recalled.

The conversation, she explained, stayed with her and forced her to reflect on what truly brought her joy.

“I looked into myself to see what I have been enjoying over the years, and that's when I was looking to study art. I did not go to Edna Manley [College of the Visual and Performing Arts] with a plan. I just convinced my parents that this is what I want to do,” she said. Her father was

Her fatConviBut moving away from the traditional career path of law to pursue art was not an easy decision, especially when it came to convincing her father.

“My dad was really questioning it because he never looked into the careers in art. I have always had the freedom to express my artistic feeling on the four walls of my bedroom. I painted on those and he saw the zeal for it, but never saw where I could make money from it," she said.

"But leading up to my final year of law, my aunt passed and they asked me to do the painting inside the grave, and while in there, a man was really just hyping me up, telling my dad how much I could make out of it." An uncle, who has since passed, also spoke with her dad, telling him of the possibilities for Reid. Her father eventually changed his mind.

With her parents’ full support, Reid completed her four-year study at the Edna Manley with a bachelor’s degree in fine art ceramics and now works as an assistant potter in the department of ceramics at The Mustard Seed Communities.

Still, after achieving something that had been buried in her heart for years, Reid told THE WEEKEND STAR that the feeling is still surreal.

“Every day is a new challenge. It is exciting because you never know what crazy thing someone is going to reach out to you about, and at Edna, you meet a lot of people who will know you and know the work you do. So they will call you up for different gigs,” she said.

But as she embraces the crazy ideas that will come, Reid, who shared that she is a Christian, expressed hope that her pieces will inspire conversations about faith and purpose.

“I hope my work will spark a conversation, and one about faith and God, because that explains my journey.”