Faculty Highlight: Katy Tanis

Professor, children’s book author, lifelong illustrator, and explorer, Katy Tanis’s quest to spur creativity and positivity in her students

Photo submitted by Katy Tanis

Katy Tanis, SCCC Adjunct Faculty teaching Children’s Book Illustration, is an explorer, illustrator, and children’s book author who lives and works at the Jersey Shore. She spends most of her days chasing deadlines but occasionally wanders to far-off places, like Madagascar, where she chases primates instead.

Artwork submitted by Katy Tanis

Her work is inspired by specific ecosystems and the wonderful webs of life that they contain. Katy has a soft spot for the weirdos of the animal kingdom, and she has never met a color she didn’t like. 

Katy’s class allows students to develop a children's book from an initial concept to a “dummy book” ready to submit to publishers.  Students have the opportunity to explore a variety of mediums and diverse illustration techniques using video enrichment and lectures about illustrators, writers, and the publishing industry. Developing students' drawing skills is emphasized in all class work, from preliminary sketches to final works.  

Students work on developing creative thinking skills as they learn how to transform ideas into images that tell a story, which helps them reimagine classic fairy tales and put their own modern-day twists on. Exploration of the different children’s book genres is covered.  Students love this class! 

Artwork submitted by Katy Tanis

Artwork submitted by Katy Tanis

Artwork submitted by Katy Tanis