We were lucky to catch up with Tashasa Colton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tashasa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Honestly, it all started when I was a little girl. I’d say around first or second grade is when I really started exploring my creative abilities, anything I could get my hands on I somehow found ways to create something out of nothing. I began taking my craft seriously once I started high school in’09 when I took AP art classes to expand my knowledge of different areas in fine arts. I remember telling my teacher that I struggled to find my niche, my trademark, something that says “this is mine”. She was the one who introduced me to the art school Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) which I ended up pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Illustration. I still give her credit to this day for that because now I can say where I started versus where I am now is indescribable! I started working as a graphic designer for a few years until I started my career as an art teacher in 2019. It’s a rewarding experience I must say when you are in charge of influencing the next generation of artists. During the pandemic in 2020, I started my business 4 KULTURE LLC which focused on the customization of shoes, apparel, paintings, and more! This year in 2022 I have started tapping into the tattoo industry which I am very excited about! I think for me choosing an artistic path gives me the freedom to explore whatever I want, do whatever I want, while establishing my uniqueness. That’s what sets this career path apart from others. I love it!

Tashasa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an artist, educator, and entrepreneur. I have been creating art since I was young girl making drawings on any and everything I found around the house. It wasn’t until my high school year that I really started taking art seriously and decided that this is the path I wanted to take on full force. I spent time after during my undergrad years dipping and dabbling in different areas like graphic design, illustration, digital marketing, education, and so forth. I started my business 4 KULTURE LLC back in May 2020 which immediately took off during the pandemic. My business focuses on customization of various products such as shoes, apparel, portraits, etc. I have to say there is so much that I’ve learned from becoming a black business owner in such an open yet creative field. I think one important takeaway is no matter what you have to always stay ahead of the game. Everyday art is constantly evolving, technology is growing, so, you have to make sure to stay relevant. One thing that I think sets me apart is I’m very versatile with my creativity, the girl who is “The Jack of All Trades”. I feel that when there is an opportunity available I have to take it because there’s nothing like an artist who can make herself an asset in a competitive industry.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Sheeeshh!!! There are so many but right now I’d have to say the most rewarding aspect would be seeing the impact that I have on my students. As an artist and educator you kind of live two different lives. One is living by the rules the way we know it or they way we were taught to anyway, and the other is actually being the one making the rules and calling the shots. The ones who know me I like to tell them all the time I’m an educator by day and a creative by night. As an artist I have the freewill to create unapologetically without limitations. I teach my students to always be themselves and to be expressive in their work.. It’s your identity in a such and its the one thing that will set you apart from everyone else who may have similar skills as you. One motto I will forever live by is “If you can be anything in this world be unpredictable”. You have something to offer to the world surprise them with it, catch them off guard and never tell anyone your next move.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One thing I had to unlearn was the saying “it matters what people think”. Totally not true at all! I feel sometimes artists live in this life timid to put their work out there because they’re afraid of what people might say, judge, or criticize. One thing I thing I’v learned from my experience is you really don’t know what to expect unless you try it. Even if what you do or create isn’t fitting for one person the next person might see it as a “gold mine”. I mean think about it… if every artist spent time creating something based on pleasing everyone there would be no point in other artists right? That’s the whole idea, every one has something to cater to another person. I think its important to just focus on what makes you happy and what you love, you never know who’s life you’re touching with your creative gift.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.4kulture.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4kulturellc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4KULTURELLC
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tashasa-colton-5802ba71
• Other: TikTok: @xcuszemybeautyy