Rising Stars: Meet Taj Pace of National

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taj Pace.

Hi Taj, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been drawing since I was a kid. I always love drawing cartoon characters. When I was a kid I used to draw my own made up characters and cut them out and played them like toy, creating my own action figures. I came from a family of artists. My grandfather was a really good artist to his sons my uncles and to one of my cousins. So the talents run deep in my family really. When I was a kid I won the SCAD Side Walk Art Festival for the kids division at only 9 years old. So winning that contest help my confidence in my talent to draw through my early years all the way through high school. I sat out some years until I went to SCAD and hone my skills with my talent to found my style in the caricature field as an artist. I was a illustration major at SCAD when I took a caricature class that change my life in what I wanted to do in that field. Drawing for comedic relief and satire is something I wanted to dive in. That spawn me to become a live caricature artist, gone viral with my art, work with celebrities and made a name for myself.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No the road has not been smooth. There was a lot of up and downs especially doing freelance at times. The struggle sometimes be being sort after for a live gig to have it cancel or the company or person going the other direction. Or doing a commission work for a client and they pull out last second or changing their mind. Or your art not selling on line at times because art is a leisure not a necessitate. So that is just the nature of the beast as an artist.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Well I’m a cartoonist, illustrator/animator, graphic designer. I specialize in doing my style of caricature drawings. I’m known for my pop culture, hip-hop, sports theme art. I most proud of graduating SCAD in 2016 and having a featured interview on Nessa On Air on Hot 97 back in 2015 and working with T.I and his Grand Hustle label doing clothing merch art back in 2017. Also having a couple of local TV interviews in my home town Savannah, Georgia on the CBS Affiliate WTOC News In 2016 and 2017. What set me apart from others is my creativity. I think outside the box with deep meaning in my art.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Well luck always plays a big roll, but I like to say being bless. Just doing things at the exact right time. Timing is everything when you want to have success. For me to manifest that I will have a big radio or podcast interview back then and did it being on Hot 97 was huge. Drawing the DJs and Radio Personalities and posting it on Instagram and tagging them and them seeing it was not just luck but a blessing. That the success you want to achieve in any field can happen.

Pricing:

• Cartoon Caricatures in Color $70
• Caricature Live events $100 and hour
• Logo Designs $100 and up

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cartoontaj/y
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cartoontaj