Today we’d like to introduce you to Tahanie.
Hi Tahanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m Tahanie, a creative strategist and an acrylic painter. My journey started with a deep love for animation. As a kid, I was completely fascinated by cartoons and dreamed of creating my own animated series one day. I was drawn to how movement and storytelling could build entire worlds.
As I got older, my path shifted and I studied Strategic Advertising at Virginia Commonwealth University and earned my bachelor’s degree with a minor in business. That pivot introduced me to marketing and strategic storytelling, which became my professional foundation. I realized that campaigns and creative strategy are also forms of world-building. You are shaping perception, emotion, and connection.
At the same time, I never let go of my artistic identity. I began focusing more intentionally on painting. Recently, I had the joy of creating my first solo exhibition, which explored global philosophical themes through surrealist imaginative realism. That experience felt like everything came full circle. Strategy, storytelling, symbolism, and imagination all living in the same space.
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?
It definitely has not been an easy or linear path.
One of the earliest challenges was art school not panning out the way I originally envisioned. When you grow up dreaming about a very specific creative path, it can feel disorienting when that door closes. For a while, I had to sit with the disappointment of that and figure out what it meant for my identity.
Over time, I realized that not going to art school did not mean giving up on the dream. It just meant I had to build my own path. That required a lot of self discipline and belief in myself. I had to seek out my own growth, study on my own, experiment, fail privately, and keep going without the structure of a formal art environment.
Another ongoing challenge has been balance. I have worked full time in communications and marketing while also doing freelance consulting and actively preparing for exhibitions. There have been seasons where my schedule felt overwhelming. Managing my time, protecting my creative energy, and avoiding burnout became essential. I had to learn that rest is not laziness and that creativity cannot thrive if you are constantly depleted.
Keeping the artistic dream alive while building a professional career has required intention. It has meant late nights, early mornings, and sometimes choosing discipline over comfort. But looking back, I am proud of that perseverance. The path may not have been traditional, but it has been deeply personal and shaped entirely by my own determination.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Professionally, I specialize in strategic communications and marketing, particularly for mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, and small businesses. My work has ranged from brand positioning and audience research to lead generation systems and email marketing automation.
One concept that deeply influenced me in school was the idea of universal human truths. The strongest campaigns tap into something deeply relatable, something almost anyone can see themselves in. That philosophy carries directly into my art practice. When I create a painting, I am searching for that emotional thread.
What sets me apart is that I genuinely live at the intersection of structure and imagination. I think like a strategist, but I create like a storyteller. I care about clarity and data, but I also care about symbolism and emotional resonance. Whether I am building a campaign or preparing a body of artwork, my intention is the same. I want the work to connect. I want it to feel honest and I want it to matter.
In many ways, everything I am building now feels like it is leading somewhere. The strategic discipline, the storytelling practice, the visual world-building through painting. I still carry that early dream of creating animated stories one day. If and when I return to animation, I will be bringing all of these layers with me.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would not be where I am without my family.
My mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and grandmother have been a constant source of encouragement and honesty. They celebrate my wins, remind me of my strengths, and keep me grounded. Having a family who sees you clearly and still supports your dreams is a gift.
Along with my family, joining the Urban individualists art collective has made the greatest impact on my creative journey. The collective was founded by artist and activist Helene Ruiz, and is composed of a diverse array of artists of which it has been a true joy meeting and collaborating with. I have met the most inspiring people and their encouragement keeps me motivated. For the past 10 years I have had the privilege of creating art and exhibiting in galleries with this remarkable collective of artists.
None of this is done alone. Every exhibition, every campaign, every leap of faith carries the love and encouragement of the people who believed in me along the way.
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