Interview with TJ Reese

Who are you and how did you become an artist?

Yo! I’m TJ, a visual artist based out of Georgia. I was born in Marion, Indiana but made the move to Georgia with my mom and older brother when I was around four or five years old – haven’t looked back since.

I’m actually not quite sure where the urge to create originated from. One day in kindergarten I chose finger painting over playing outside and that became the norm. I took that desire home and asked my mom for sketchbooks, so naturally Walmart was the move. Back then I could fill a sketchbook in no time because I was just always drawing in it. Now, I’ll be lucky to fill a sketchbook at all. I initially only viewed art as a hobby, nothing to pursue professionally just something to keep the boredom at bay, but I’d say around my senior year of high school is when I truly decided to center my life around this passion of mine.

From there, it grew – slightly out of control I might add, but it grew nonetheless. I needed to get better than what I was, so that was my goal with each and every piece and still is. Improvement. I had my first art show in 2017 when I was still not the most skilled artist. I think because of my lack of skill and lack of confidence, I didn’t feel like I belonged. A couple of other art shows throughout the years felt the same. I wasn’t up to par.

It wasn’t until 2020 that I felt as though my work really started to flourish and take on a style separate from everybody else’s. That was the year I opened my online shop as well. This year, I’m really focusing more on participating in shows and getting my work to sell more. I don’t lack confidence because I know my skill is undeniable, so I feel as though I belong. I’m just looking to set a solid foundation this year for next year’s take off.

What meaning lies behind your work?

The meaning behind most if not all of my work is Love. Love plays a huge role in almost everything that I create, from my writing to my visual work. I contemplate Love a lot. I like to fantasize about the idea of Love, I like to think about how it is given and received, and I love viewing it as a force that exists in a pocket between this dimension and the next – a real surreal type of view of it. I could also say the any work that isn’t derived from my fascination with love is simply my attempt at getting any and all ideas out of my head and onto paper. My mind moves a million miles a minute, so it’s quite difficult staying focused on one project at a time which is why I find myself doing little projects alongside bigger ones.

All of my pieces typically start the same way. The idea is sparked, I write it down so that I don’t forget, then when the time comes to execute I do so with the intention of there being revisions or add ons to the initial idea. My “base” sketches are very rough and loose, just setting up the shapes and placement of objects. My “secondary” sketch is more refined. I finalize the composition here and add in some slight shading and differing line weights to make it easier for when I begin inking the work. If it’s a graphite piece, then I go right into the detailed shading once the second sketch is fully fleshed out. If it’s a piece I’m using markers to render, then I go typically take my time choosing the colors I want to use before diving into finishing the piece once the inking is done. Color choice is very important. It can truly make or break a piece of artwork.

What role does the Black artist have in society?

The role that black artists have in society is to just be themselves authentically, and that is very different from person to person, artist to artist. Some black artists use their creativity to uplift black culture and highlight social injustices that are prevalent in America while others shine by breaking a mold that society has so desperately tried to fit us in. Our role is to create change in perception, create awareness, and give the artists coming after us a perspective that this passion, this path is righteous and filled with success.

How can we grow and empower the Black art community?

This magazine is a great, GREAT example of how we can do this. Create outlets, events, organizations for us! Art shows dedicated to black artists, magazines dedicated to black artists; hashtags, trends, gatherings created to put bass behind our already powerful voices. What we’re saying is necessary, it just needs to be heard, and getting together to celebrate, contemplate, execute plans allows for the muted whispers to become echoed screams.

Do you feel that your art community challenges existing barriers?

Yes, I do! We honestly have no choice but to because if not then the growth any of us want to see would continue to elude us. I feel as though I am seeing more nuances in the way that our creativity is utilized beyond the genius that we already put out into the world. We are destroying barriers, assumptions, stereotypes, etc. with the way that we think, plan and execute.

What is integral to the work of an artist?

What I deem to be most integral to the work of an artist is the mind, clarity of mind to be more precise; however, creating can also be an outlet to allow for clarity of mind as well. I think taking time to really hone your skills and refine your “style” can allow for more comfortability when creating and also higher confidence when doing personal work and tackling client work.

What are you besides an artist?

I’m a family person, a role model to the world. I’m fulfilling my purpose by being an motivational speaker, inspiring the youth, and mentoring my peers.

What’s your biggest barrier to being an artist? How do you address it?

My biggest barrier to being an artist is my day job and my mental state at times. I’ll have so many things on my mind that I need to do it ends up hindering my creative process because I just can’t find it in myself to focus. With my day job, I just have to constantly remind myself that it is a temporary means at attaining a consistent check until my artwork is what provides my financial stability. I am quite often exhausted balancing the two worlds, sometimes falling asleep out of nowhere because I’m so tired, but as long as I know what I am working toward then I’ll push through the temporary hardships.

What types of art and culture do you like to consume?

I love anime. My favorite anime would probably be Samurai Champloo and One Piece! I love art that is different, though. I love colors, I love work that makes you delve into the details, I love anatomy and flowers. KAWS and James Jean as well as Khari Raheem are all artists that have influenced my work. I look to their pieces for motivation if there’s ever a day where I’m short on it. I want nothing more than the name TJ Reese to be mentioned with the likes of those very talented, very skilled individuals.

How do you define success as an artist?

I define success as an artist in your comfortability and confidence in your ability to create. Success to me is knowing that “I can draw or paint or sculpt whatever I please because I am that good and my skills are that refined.”

How’ve you developed your career?

I’ve just been a little less shy about putting myself out there for the world to see. There’s a face to accompany the artwork and a personality to the person behind the genius. It’s not just me posting only my work and going, and I feel like that helps people gravitate toward me and toward my work as well. I’ve attended shows, opened my shop to sell prints, merch and stickers and just continued to cultivate my craft.

How do you work and how has your practice changed over time?

I work in “layers” or stages. Everything starts very very rough around the edges, almost unrecognizable sometimes, but I quickly refine it to my liking because I enjoy my work being very clean and crisp. I never just dive straight into a piece like I used to. Everything spawns from a thought I’ve had, whether it be one that was just passing or a thought that happened to linger for some time. I brainstorm, contemplate themes and execute when I feel as though I’ve got the idea fully fleshed out or at least have the core theme fleshed out. I just wish I had more confidence years ago. Confidence to delve into anatomy, experiment with color and really bring my imagination out into the real world.

What inspires you?

Flowers. Humans. Space. Anime. I’m inspired by any and everything that I deem to have some sort of creativity flowing through it. I look up at the sky and see the clouds posing with brilliance or I look at the sea and see the waves dancing beautifully. I see frightening power and gentle goodness in the world, and that’s something I try to convey in my work. I like to keep things flowing and I feel like that’s what I’m most inspired by, things that flow.

What do you like most about being an artist?

I love that I have a means to bring my imagination to life, and I’m good at it. I love just the activity of drawing or writing, and I love getting lost in the zone when your mind transitions to autopilot and your body moves with the knowledge of what to do next ingrained within it. Everything about being a creative is what keeps me going in life, honestly. I can share the darkest, most beautiful, twisted thoughts that I have with the world. I can put my pain or happiness on paper, and that can touch people’s hearts. Even just being able to insight a reaction because what I create is visually pleasing is an amazing feeling. I just love how art is an outlet turned passion and it also allows me to directly or indirectly touch the lives of others.