Rising Stars: Meet Dajha Gaines of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dajha Gaines.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am an illustrator based in Atlanta, Georgia, currently. I go to Savannah College of Art and design for Illustration.

I was born in Tallahassee, Florida, but my parents divorced when I was 3. My mother went in to the military and we moved around the east coast a lot until I was 12. We planted in Columbus, Georgia and I attended St. Anne Pacelli’s Catholic School. I was quickly recognized by my teachers for my love for art. I drew a lot in my free time, dabbled in animation, traditional artwork, digital artwork, and even some multi-media projects. I was also well known at the church my mother attended for being “the kid that draws.”

My mom remarried when I was 13, to my stepdad, who introduced me to video games. I was immediately hooked on games like Resident Evil, GTA5, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, Mortal Kombat, Little Nightmares, Five Nights At Freddy’s and more. One thing I noticed though, was I didn’t often see anyone that looked like me in these games. If i was represented as a black woman, it was through harmful stereotypes or blatant fetishization/sexualization. To me, the game and animation industry didn’t see my people as human, but instead a tool for whatever vices and beliefs they had.

Quickly, I found that my main passion to show through my artwork was representation and inclusivity. I decided that I wanted to go into concept art for video games so that other children my age didn’t have to feel that way when playing these games from these huge companies. It doesn’t stop at just for children that look like me, it extends to everyone. People deserve to be represented accurately in media and to feel included. They deserve for their cultures to be researched in-depth instead of being mindlessly and offensively inserted into a game or film.

Through my years at SCAD, I have focused on Black culture across the world, but more specifically black-American culture. I focus on the taboo elements such as: the continuity of African spirituality, rejection of organized religion (Specifically Christianity), fantasy themes and elements. My professors and the Dean of Illustration here at SCAD have been nothing but receptive and supportive of my dreams and hopes. They support my vision for my artwork and my hope to bring representation to as many faces as I can.

Now, as a Senior at SCAD, I am expressing myself through my artwork like never before. Though I am still finding exactly how to translate my voice through my artwork, I wouldn’t be here without them and their support.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road.

One of my biggest challenges growing up was that I was into “taboo” things with an extremely Christian family. I have had my artwork thrown away for being “demonic” and my possessions relating to anime and K-POP be tossed in the garbage for the same reason. The things I was drawing was nothing short of a child drawing fantasy characters she liked. It really stunted me artistically, but when I got to SCAD, I re-blossomed. When you find the right people at SCAD, they don’t care what you’re into. More than likely, they are also into it. If not, more than you!

In middle school and high school, I also worked very hard to show my black identity and interests through my artwork and it was difficult for some things to get approved. Though my peers in high school loved my artwork and expression, my peers in middle school thought I was strange and often outcasted me. I often turned to the internet for art community. Places like YouTube, Discord, and Amino really helped me preserve the things dear to me.

In college, I particularly have faced a lot of microaggression. People have found me abrasive because I say what is on my mind and I say what I mean. When I see these things happen to others, I also defend them. Though SCAD is a very accepting environment, I have had constant small encounters that have almost made me think otherwise. Though, I think that this problem will be prevalent in any environment because the world is not perfect and ignorance still exists.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a digital artist that specializes in Illustration and Visual Development. I would say that I am mostly known for the way I draw women and the fact that it’s not always the most PG-13 artwork. I represent women in all the forms they come, even if that makes people uncomfortable. I would also say I’m known, maybe even more known, for including lots of Hoodoo references and Yoruba Goddesses (Most notably, Oshun and Mama Legba) in my artwork. I am most proud of how I make the art that I want to make without leaving room for imitating thoughts.

While those things set me apart from other artists, I also think that all artists make work based on their life’s culmination of experiences. To me, it isn’t a competition and all artists make beautiful work in their own ways. Art school has really solidified my respect to all artists. Making art is hard and making “good’ art is even harder.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I feel like I need to be consistent. Being consistent at something is bound to bring you success, even if you’re not that good at your craft at first. That and being authentic!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dajhaillustrations.carrd.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugars4int
• Twitter: https://x.com/sugars4int
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sugars4int