Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Ta
Hi Nina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi there! My name is Nina, and my journey is a blend of diverse cultures and experiences. I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, but my heritage is Vietnamese. In 2018, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my passion for animation, a dream that had been with me since I was young. I attended Santa Monica College and California State University, Northridge, where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Art after four transformative years.
After graduating, I spent a year working at the Santa Monica Repertory Theater as a Social Media and Community Engagement Coordinator. This was a pivotal time because I could immerse myself in the creative world while sharpening my organizational and engagement skills. But when my visa expired, I had to return to Russia, which marked the beginning of a period of deep reflection.
2023 was a challenging year for me. The last two years of my studies took place during the pandemic, with online classes from a different time zone. This caused severe sleep deprivation and burnout, especially from working on animation projects. I never imagined I would lose my passion for animation. Still, I needed to pause and reevaluate what I truly wanted.
During this break, I realized that while I still love the arts, I was drawn to a different path. I decided to return to school to study business. My current goal is to work in an art-related environment but in a management role, perhaps as a production manager in the game or animation industry. This way, I can combine my passion for creativity with the leadership and organizational skills I’ve been developing.
My artistic journey started when I was just three years old. I always knew art would be a part of my life, but I wasn’t sure what form it would be. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I discovered my love for digital art, inspired by a simple YouTube video. In 2017, I launched my art account on Instagram, where I share a mix of traditional and digital works. Art has always been my way of expressing myself, and I look forward to where this new chapter will take me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not been smooth. There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way. Growing up in Moscow, I attended art school where we practiced still-life drawing. There was always a sense of competition because the best works would be selected for exhibition in Moscow museums. That pressure was something I had to deal with early on, as I was constantly surrounded by other talented artists. I also participated in many art competitions, representing my school and testing my skills. While these were exciting experiences, they added a layer of stress to an already competitive environment.
In 2012, I began experimenting with digital drawing, initially using a mouse. Although the process was challenging, I found that I wasn’t too bad at it. A few years later, I got my first drawing tablet, which opened up a whole new world for me. However, the transition from traditional to digital art wasn’t easy. For me, creating art on a canvas felt more authentic because it didn’t allow for the easy undo options available on digital platforms. Despite the challenges, I’ve always tried to balance my love for traditional art with the possibilities of the digital world.
Another major challenge has been growing my art account on Instagram. Balancing content creation with the business side of things has been a learning curve. Consistency has been tough, and I’m still figuring out how to manage my online presence while staying true to my artistic vision. As I continue learning more about business and marketing, I hope to apply those skills to grow my account and turn it into something even more meaningful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an artist who works across both digital and traditional mediums, specializing in digital art, mini-comics, and animation. I’m particularly known for creating cute chibis, anime-style characters, and playful mini-comic doodles. One of my proudest accomplishments is the growth of my skills over time. I’ve gone from pencil sketches on paper to producing full 3D animation projects. That journey of improvement has been long but incredibly rewarding, and I know there’s still so much to learn. The beauty of art is that it’s a never-ending process of discovery.
What sets me apart is my unique art style. I love creating goofy, whimsical characters with a cute, lighthearted touch. I also like to balance my digital work by continuing to create traditional art, because I believe there’s a certain authenticity to working with physical materials that digital mediums can’t quite replicate.
One of my fondest memories is from my time in school in Moscow, where I had a tradition of drawing my classmates in chibi style every year. I would create group portraits, and my friends would eagerly look for themselves in the drawing. These pieces would get displayed in the classroom, and it brought me so much joy to see students from other classes admiring my work. It became a tradition everyone looked forward to, and my classmates always knew that it was my piece of art. Although I’ve had to pause this tradition due to my busy schedule, it’s something I hope to return to whenever I have the time.
What I love most about creating art is the way it connects with people. Seeing someone smile or be amazed by something I’ve created is incredibly fulfilling, and it’s what keeps me going.
How do you think about luck?
One of my greatest strokes of luck was being born with a natural talent for art. From an early age, drawing came easily to me, and I found that I could express myself creatively in ways that felt almost instinctual. Another piece of good luck was having access to art education and being surrounded by talented artists who inspired me to think about art from a business perspective.
Back in high school in Russia, I had classmates who were incredibly skilled and had developed unique styles. They introduced me to making art for commissions. I saw how they used their talent to build an online community that supported their work. This exposure encouraged me to create my art account on social media. My first step into this world was on VK, a Russian social media platform.
However, starting wasn’t easy. I was hesitant to create an account because I knew that being active on social media meant more than just posting; it meant engaging with others and building a following. Plus, I initially had reservations about making art for money, as I always enjoyed creating pieces as gifts from the heart for my friends, without expecting anything in return.
When I finally took the plunge and created my account, it was challenging to gain visibility and build an audience. I don’t think I had much good luck in that aspect, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The struggle taught me to treat my art as a business that requires dedication, strategy, and effort to grow. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realize that success isn’t just about talent; it’s also about persistence and learning how to navigate the business side of things. Although I still have a long way to go, I’m grateful for the journey and the lessons learned along the way.
Pricing:
- It’s negotiable based on your commission request
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ninata.art
- Other: https://www.artstation.com/ninata
