December 2, 2016

Meet Vinings Illustrator: Latasha Moore

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Latasha Moore.

Latasha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As everyone says, I started drawing when I was about 3 or 4. My mom use to get very mad at me because I would draw in my children’s books and not color in coloring books. When I was in 5th grade in elementary school there was another girl, her name was Michelle, that knew how to draw very well. So, we got into a friendly competition where we would draw Lion King characters for our classmates and whoever drew the most, won. Unfortunately, she passed away suddenly one night and I think that was the moment where I decided to do art more passionately, because even at 9 years old, I can see that life is short. Then, in high school, I got into manga and anime, so I began to draw in that style. I constantly worked very hard and then I finally quit band my junior year, then went into art. I started doing commissions online, going to anime conventions and setting up an art table, and just drawing all the time. During that time, I was thinking about going to art school, but once I saw the amount of financial aid and what they thought my mom could pay, I decided to just go to community college after high school. I learned new techniques and the fundamentals when I went to community college. I was working and going to school. It was hectic at times, finally, I decided to go to Savannah College of Art and Design because one of my other friends started attending there. So, I applied, was accepted, saved money, packed my stuff, told my mom I’m going to Savannah and arrived in 2008. I became a Resident Assistant to assist with food and housing while going to school. I graduated with almost at 4.0, but I was really introduced into the Illustration world when I went to SCAD. When I graduated, I returned to Texas and didn’t know what or where I was going. I took a freelance gig doing illustrations for a Children’s Book called “Psalms for Children” by Don Gordon. I moved to Florida to work as a Graphic Artist at a production company, then moved to Savannah again to intern at a children’s social media website, then I had to move back in with my mom and my step-dad because I was broke. My car was broke, my mind was broke, and my spirit. It was hard, I ended up having a mental breakdown and was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. It was hard to hear, but I ended up deciding I need to do what I want to do in life. So, I applied to Floyd County Productions to work on their new show, that was later canceled, and ended up working on FX’s Archer. I packed everything in my car, got rid of most of my stuff that wouldn’t fit, and drove down. I have been working on Archer since October 2015 and am now working on Season 8. I currently do tutoring in the fields of Art, English, and Reading.

Has it been a smooth road?
NOPE. If it was, it wouldn’t mean as much, right? My mom never really approved of me drawing during schooling and the teachers thought I was ignoring them. When I got to community college, it was hard juggling working and going to school with projects without a vehicle in a city that didn’t have good public transportation. Then when I came to SCAD, I had to deal with a new world of different views, people claiming that my work looks like another person, and just general different atmosphere while working a basically “24 hr” job being a Resident Assistant. One Quarter (for SCAD does the quarter system and not semester), I literally slept maybe 2 to 3 hours a day and 6 hours on Saturday for 5 to 6 weeks. Then after I graduated, I was working 2 to 3 part-time jobs at a time, freelancing, applying to art jobs, working on my website, and trying to figure out where I am going to live cause my mom decided to move to Maine the same year I graduated. I moved in with my best friend’s mother and then got a position at a production company as a Graphic Artist. I packed up and moved, then when I got a position as an intern in Savannah, I packed up again, and moved. It was after I got to Savannah that things got really tough. I was working at the internship, working part time at 2 jobs, and living off someone’s couch. Then my car broke down. So, after the internship ended and I didn’t get the job I was gunning for in Atlanta, I moved to Maine. This is where I had one of my true breaking moments. I didn’t want to draw, I wanted to commit suicide, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder along with PTSD. Then, once I finished therapy and got a new job, I applied to Floyd County Productions, received the job and move at the end of August 2015. I have been in Atlanta since then and currently trying to cope with another blow of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes while trying to get my freelancing back on track.

Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
I believe “bad luck” has closed doors that needed to be closed and good luck has helped to keep me motivated to keep going. I believe you need both in your life to learn from. I also believe you go through “seasons” in regards to your life and I try to see when an opportunity ends, it is the end of that opportunity’s season in my life.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Persistence. The persistence to pick oneself up after a bad day or art piece went wrong or gig not going through. Without it, I think I wouldn’t be here. Persistence plays into the days where I was not working a job in the art field and going home to draw or sketch to become better. Also, the persistence to be a better artist.

Tell us about your favorite and least favorites things about our city.
The best thing I like about Atlanta is the diversity that is nestled throughout the city. I feel inspired when I see different types of styles that people portray. I also enjoy that there are numerous trees where I reside currently in Vinings. I love nature and need to have it around. The thing I like least is traffic. ALWAYS TRAFFIC…well except after 8pm and before 5am.

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