Meet Tia Dye | Illustrator & Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tia Dye and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tia, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
One of the books that I’ve been reading is a book that was a secondary source for my graduate thesis research. It is titled The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Expression & Reflection. This book answered a lot of my questions, one specifically regarding the representation and importance of the black artist and black art within the visual art industry and its history and how we can establish more visibility to underrepresented groups. The impact that this book has had on my life has single-handedly validated my thoughts and experience as a black artist and creator and has brought forward different methods for creative thinking that comes directly from the lens of the Black designer and the imagination of underrepresented groups. It proposes new methodologies for creative thinking.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I recently decided to consider myself a Surrealist. My artwork focuses mainly on the experience of the black woman and embracing one’s imagination. Surrealism emphasizes the unconscious mind or the dream state of the human experience. I’ve developed a relationship with using spiritual tools and practices like meditation and using palo santo to cleanse my space. It helps with grounding myself and calming my nervous system. I am not afraid to admit that these practices are a part of my life because many spiritual elements and practices, numerology and astrology show up in my work often. I believe my work now and moving forward will continue to focus on the imagination. I focus mainly on fashion illustration, book illustration, character design and creating environments and assets. In my free time I curate themed playlists that I describe as musical storytelling. I’m a fine artist that typically works in oil paint, but I utilize all types of mixed media like: gouache, watercolor and acrylic paint, oil pastel, graphite and charcoal and pretty much anything else that’ll get my hands messy. My work is a mixture of realistic and cartoonish. The range I have is what is most fun to me because I can do anything with it. I’ve recently been learning the skills and techniques in digital art, per my Masters degree in Illustration, and it has been a journey. I’m still getting the hang of it, but I’ve been extremely satisfied with my results particularly with the work that I did from the beginning of 2023 until now finalizing my thesis project. This hasn’t been the easiest journey and most times I feel like I’m just getting started. My experience as a fine arts student before graduate school wasn’t easy either. I faced discrimination by an instructor and an identity crisis by the end of my senior year. It took some time for me to get back on my feet and through the love and support from family and friends, it led me to start receiving therapy. That work allowed me to regain my strength and courage again and got me to apply for a graduate program in Illustration at Savannah College of Art & Design here in Atlanta. I was extremely grateful and even shocked to get accepted. Even after the initial excitement, I found myself back in a similar rut like the one I was in after my undergraduate experience. There was a moment where I actually wanted to drop out of graduate school because I felt like I was not fit for the task and better yet not ready to change and sacrifice what literally was not good for my health. I was depressed, stressed and didn’t know how to ask for help. I knew I wanted change, but the many distractions and self limiting beliefs at the time brought me back into repeating the same cycle that I had yet to learn my lesson from. I decided to actively utilize the tools I had learned during my first time I started therapy back in 2020. It helped me develop the courage to set boundaries and focus on what I could control, like myself and my destiny. I’ve always put others before me, but never fully committed to loving and re-discovering my own greatness. It wasn’t until my 23rd birthday that I verbally told myself that “I’m a great artist.” I’m 26 now, so this has been a journey of self love of learning and unlearning and I’m just getting started. It was most recently where I felt like because I took a chance on myself, I decided to strengthen my relationship with God. Without God’s love, I would not be where I am right now. What I learned out of these moments is to never. give. up. My faith has grown stronger and I actively read devotionals with family and friends that have helped with regaining confidence and my own will to create again (without any academic responsibility) . I want the world to know that I intend on being one of the many voices that advocate for visual communication and its importance specifically within the black community. My priority is to become a role model and be a representation for kids that not only look like me, but for kids and young adults who deserve opportunities and experiences that are within the arts by giving them access to it. Representation matters. I want to tell the world that your journey won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.  You are one of the most important people in your life, so put yourself first. Say nice things to yourself and love all that you have become and all that you will be. Through understanding yourself and loving yourself, you can extend that same level of compassion for others which I think we need more of in this world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m originally from Irmo, South Carolina, so moving to Atlanta has been a thrilling and exciting experience. Since I’ve been in school, I’ve only scratched the surface with exploring the city and all its amazing happenings! If it’s the first Friday of the month, we can go to High Frequency Fridays at the High Museum. It’s pretty much a turn up session in a museum. We can go grab some food at a food hall like Chattahoochee Food Works or Marietta Square Market (Cafe Bourbon St. and Delilah’s Everyday Soul to be specific). Maybe on Sunday we can get brunch at Mojave Restaurant or Cultivate Food & Coffee. If you just want coffee though, I’d go to Urban Grind or Black Coffee Company. In my Keith Lee voice, they both get 8.9/10. Maybe one day we can go have fun at Skyline Park on top of Ponce City Market or we can get real cute and head to Rock Steady on Thursday or Friday night. I’m in love with listening parties so at the beginning and end of each month we could go dance the night away at For Players Only or Theory at Aisle 5 hosted by a DJ group based in ATL, Player 99. The Painted Pin is a fun adult bowling environment and after that we could go to Eclipse di Luna and eat some yummy tapas. Painting with a Twist is a great paint and sip vibe, too. Some of the best pasta I’ve had is from Taverna. Pancake Social is super yummy and Palo Santo has one of the best espresso martinis. I can’t forget about APT 4B and its Afro-Caribbean flavors. The food is excellent there. I heard Beat the Bomb was a really fun escape-room-ish experience and Atlanta StreetWear Market is a fantastic networking and shopping event of local and developing clothing brands around the country that is hosted 3 times a year. I still have a lot to experience here in the city, but I’ve been extremely satisfied with the journeys I’ve embarked on this far.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First off, I want to give a shoutout to God. God’s love, grace and strength has carried me through many trials and it is that love that has instilled confidence, growth and unwavering faith in me to never give up. I need that now more than ever. I’d like to give a shoutout to my mother, father and sister. Their support and unconditional love has motivated me to reach new heights in my journey. Shoutout to sisterhood and the connections I have made with the women who are in my life that love and support me. I pray we continue to grow, support and love one another.

Website: tmonetartwork.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiamonay_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tia-dye/

Other: https://music.apple.com/profile/teemonay https://open.spotify.com/user/pushatee15?si=1777e668ddaa4bef

Image Credits
Image 1: beauty in my solitude (liberation) from her. Balance by tia. Monet © 2023 Image 2: GIANT STEPS: the new atelier Dust Jacket Mockup 1 by tia. Monet © 2023 Image 3: GIANT STEPS: the new atelier Dust Jacket Mockup 2 by tia. Monet © 2023 Image 4: in my mind (to explore) from her. Balance by tia. Monet © 2023 Image 5: Recess Nostalgia by tia. Monet © 2022 Image 6: GIANT STEPS: the new atelier Endpapers by tia. Monet © 2023