ABOUT
Allow me to introduce myself.
Hello, I am Tara, a red headed curly mop top, dyslexic, Italian American, beachcomber, illustrator who lives in eastern, PA. I grew up in a small New Jersey town known for being “The Children’s Town” home to the historic Gingerbread Castle and minutes away from the legendary Action Park. It was in my hometown where I fell in love with art and creating art. In my childhood room, I lay on my green carpet with my dog at my side while coloring in gigantic coloring books and creating art on the unusable ends of green and white striped paper. It was in that room where I started creating imaginary worlds from Captain Kangaroo to Holly Hobbie to The Muppets.
My elementary school was where I was introduced to art history. Our hallways featured prints from NC Wyeth’s Christina’s World to Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware to sculptures to sports jerseys. In 1983, we were featured on NY ABC 7 thanks to our Principal who wanted to make sure his students were culturally enriched.
Thanks to a college professor I was introduced to Degas and the world of children’s book illustration.
I was a bookstore manager who enjoyed the voice, chaos, and color of the Children’s Department. Even today the Children’s Department is my first stop in any bookstore or library.
Fast forward to the last 15 years. I am an after-school art instructor/mentor, an award winning illustrator who is working toward a career in children’s book publication. Who has been featured on 6 ABC Philadelphia talking about art in my community (https://6abc.com/paint-a-hydrant-fire-art-community/10964323/)
When all of this comes together and I am asked what I want to do with my art my answer is “To inspire and be part of the reason you turn the page and pull the book off the shelf.”
Thank you for taking the time to visit my page and taking the time to learn about who I am. Please visit my website www.taramsantoro.com or email me at TaraMSantoro13@outlook.com.
I hope you enjoyed my work 😊
Education
Highlight Foundation Artist Retreat run by Kelly Light, Courtney Pippin-Mather and Aram Kim 2022
Mentorship With Kelly Light 2022
Illustration Dept Character Design Course with Kelly Light 2021
UC San Diego Illustration and Writing Courses 2020/2021
Highlight’s Foundation online course So You Want to be an Author Illustrator June 2020
Illustration Dept.- 12 week Mentor Program, April 2019 - June 2019, February 2020 - June 2020
Highlight’s Foundation Writing for Illustrators Sept 2019
"Craft and Business of Illustrating Children's Books" class with Mira Reisberg, Summer 2018
Illustrator Intensive at Highlights Foundation, July 20 - 23 2018
Illustration department 3 - week illustration with Guiseppe Castellano
- Gamblin paint lecture, Fall 2016
- Pan Pastel talk, Summer 2017
- Copic certification Level One and Flowers, 2016
Webinars
- Alyson Stanfield Art Biz Success Teaching Art Online Summit - March 31, 2020
- SCBWI MD/VA/DE Webinar: Dummy Book Development with Mike Marlbrough - April 18, 2020
- SCBWI: Picture Book Camp With Marla Frazee - May 10, 2020
- SCBWI FRANCE webinar, “A Map to Draw From: Charting a Multi-layered Illustration Career” with Leeza Hernandez
- Mike Malbrough’s Dummy Book Development
Group Exhibitions
- Ann Kullberg's Color Magazine 20th Annual Juried online show and print issue for “The Reunion”
- Featured in Banana Factory's Art of Storytelling for “The Reunion”
- 19th Annual Ann Kulberg Color Magazine online competition for " Family Day", winner of People's Choice Award
- 12th Annual Morning Call Juried Show at Baum School of Art
- Art Pop Online Gallery 2017 & 2018
- 11th Annual Morning Call Juried Art show
- Awarded honorable mention for "The Moments That Matter"
- CPSA online show, 2017
Conferences
- EPaSCBWI Illustrator Day 2018 and 2020
- SCBWI Day Hone Your Skills 2017, Bethlehem PA
- Illuxicon 2017
-NESCBWI Conference 2014
- EPaSCBWI Conference 2010
Volunteer Work
- 2022 & 2023 Lehigh Valley Book Festival
-2017-2021 - member of the Emmaus Art Commission
- Scholarship chair
- Fundraiser and Hydrant restoration co-chair
- Treasurer
Feature on 6 ABC News Philadelphia https://6abc.com/paint-a-hydrant-fire-art-community/10964323/
- Lehigh Valley Book Festival: Volunteer Coordinator & Kid's Fest co-coordinator:
www.lvbookfest.com
-Emmaus Art Commission Gnome Fundraiser 2019/2020
-Emmaus Art Commission SnowBlast 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020
-Emmaus Art Commission Best of the Nest Fundraiser 2018
-Emmaus Art Commission CHAIRity Fundraiser 2017
-Lehigh Valley Arts Council Art Matters
Guest Speaker
-Forks Art Society Monthly Meeting June 2018
Online Features
Eastern PennPoints's “50 Years of Earth Day Celebration” Feature:
https://easternpennpoints.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/celebrating-50-years-of-earth-day-sneak-a-snack-by-tara-santoro/
EasternPennPoints’s #LoveMadeVisible Feature: https://easternpennpoints.wordpress.com/2019/02/16/lovemadevisible-the-bond-by-tara-santoro/#comments
EasternPennPoints’s #Vacation Feature:
https://easternpennpoints.wordpress.com/2019/07/25/vacation-frogs-only-by-tara-santoro/
