Tatiana Gardel is an artist working in the publishing industry and animation instructor based in New York City. She graduated with both degrees in Fine Arts and Art Education in Brazil, where she is originally from. She started her career as a painter and while exploring other ways to express her creativity, she found a passion for
storytelling, animation, and illustration.

She received her training in animation at Anima Mundi / Campo 4 Estúdio and taught animation in Rio de Janeiro public schools before moving to the US. She finds that the interdisciplinary knowledge of animation provides the necessary tools for students to develop their artisticidentity and express their voices through their creation.

Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators in New York and American Illustration AI-AP. She is a member of the Black Creators HQ, the Children’s Book Illustrators Group, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Jefferson Jacome is an Animation Instructor at HSA that received his BFA in Animation at the School of Visual Arts. He has on field experience and knows first hand what Animation studios are looking for, and how best to form connections in the ever growing visual arts market. He has experience in education and enjoys sharing what he has learned with the next generation of aspiring artists. 

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Tatiana Jiménez is currently pursuing a degree in Interactive Media Arts at NYU. She is well experienced with Scratch, Woof JS, and Tinkercad. She’s worked with kids ages 6 to 13, with coding instruction and hands-on STEM activities like 3D modeling/printing.  

Lindsay Johnson is a versatile actor, writer, director, and teacher with over 21 years of experience in the film and theater industry. His most recent work found him providing the leading role in the feature length movie “Eddie”(2021).
 
Lindsay has previous teaching experience in cinematography and editing at the American Dance and Drama studio in Flushing, Queens. In 2011, he established the film production company Skylark Media Pictures which he still owns and operates till this day. He uses his company and his ability to teach as a platform for expanding artistic expression, and providing the same opportunity for other independent artist and students alike. Currently, he is focused on growing his experience as an instructor by guiding future creative minds to accomplish their goals.
 
Lindsay is grateful to be a part of the HSA family. His foundation in technique and his ever growing skills continues to prepare him for this exciting chapter in his professional life.

David Robles is a digital comic book illustrator and storyboard artist. His comic book work is currently displayed in the Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition show, having received the Nick Meglin award for an autobiographical comic about his time in military bootcamp. A first generation American, David served in the United States Navy for 4 years where he studied nautical navigation and did an overseas deployment off the coast of north Africa.
 
David currently works as a television advertisement storyboard artist, helping directors get their visions to the screen for projects ranging from food to football. Prior to this job David was art assistant to Marvel/DC artist Klaus Janson, helping the veteran inker produce print ready files for Batman and Superman comic issues.
 
David is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts with a bachelor in Cartooning and a graduate of Arizona Western College with an associates in History.

Annette Rusin is a visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY. She maintains a diverse practice working conceptually and from direct observation to create drawings, site-specific installations, and sculpture. She has a background in architecture with a B.Arch from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in Painting from Hunter College. Rusin’s work has been shown at venues such as NURTUREart, Boston Center for the Arts, Morehead State University, Paul Robeson Galleries at Rutgers University Newark, Bronx Arts Space, Trestle Gallery and John Michael Kohler Arts Center. She has been awarded residencies at MacDowell, Millay and is an Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts grant recipient. Currently, she is a Faculty member at the School of Visual Arts in their English Visual Arts Program, in the Media & Design Department at the Harlem School of the Arts, and an Adjunct Faculty member in the Art Department at Touro College.

Katherine Toukhy is a visual artist/ educator living and working out of Brooklyn, NY. She has spent the last 11+ years creating and leading inclusive arts programming in public schools, community centers, art schools, neighborhoods, refugee camps, and museums. Centering and nurturing the creative voices of people outside the dominant social structures is part of her mission. In the cl assroom, her expertise is in:self-expression through art, figurative drawing and painting, mixed media techniques, and beginner digital arts and printmaking.