Before stepping into his role as an adjunct professor in Moore College of Art & Design’s Animation & Game Arts major in fall 2024, Tad Sare explored his creative passions inside and outside the classroom. As the program chair of animation at Delaware College of Art and Design, Sare guided students as they built strong foundations in art and embarked on new creative journeys. He also taught classes, workshops and public programs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Temple University, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Now at Moore, Sare brings his expertise in animation, storytelling and the visual arts to the next generation of creators. Sare exhibits work both regionally and internationally and previously created online content for organizations such as Delaware History Museum, The Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, and Camden County Community College.
Read on to learn more about Tad!
What’s your earliest memory of being creative or knowing that you wanted to do something creative with your life?
I always had an interest in drawing, but I had an “aha” moment when I was five or six doodling on printer paper. My older brother and I read the same comics, and he noticed if you draw an ellipse on the top of a cannon, it looks like there's depth to it. It was mind-blowing to me that you could manipulate a drawing in such a way to add perspective. From there, I knew I wanted to do things like that. He broke that ground for me.
Who is the artist or designer who has influenced you most and why?
I’m inspired by animators like Normal McLaren and Masaaki Yuasa, as well as filmmakers like Yasujirō Ozu. There are also other artists I admire, like William Kentridge and Grant Wood, who are real image makers. P.G. Wodehouse is an author who has a mastery of the English language, and I love reading his books. British author John le Carré also writes amazing spy novels.
I really enjoy reading and visualizing, and I think that defines how I create.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve done recently, professionally or otherwise?
I was recently part of a three-person show called A-Sides with my wife and a close friend at Atelier Art Gallery in Philadelphia. It was really fun! It was also a milestone for me, because for many years, I only worked with graphite on paper, greyscale or black and white, and I started using color again in my film for this show. I usually make drawings, manipulate them digitally, and add live action, video, sound and photographic elements. Using color was a real help for my confidence in image making. My wife also got me colored pencils for my birthday, so I wanted to use them.
What is it like in your classroom at Moore?
I’m working with young adults, so I know they’re discovering new things in real time. In my classroom, allowing students to work towards a deadline helps them build time management skills they need to master. I also try to build community—I’m very comfortable with having fun while studying art. I find this gives students an opportunity to sustain focus on one thing over a long period of time.
If you visit my classroom, it might be incredible quiet while they’re working, but I like to break it up to find a balance between play and practice. This allows students to have an enjoyable experience while creating great work.
If Moore had a mascot, what would it be?
I think it should be an inanimate object, like one of those old-school boomboxes with a mixtape already in there. It would be interesting to use one of those special ones with a microphone attached so you can record something new.
It’s representative of what art school is all about: You can always recontextualize, relearn, and reinvent things. I think that’s what this boombox would do—you can enjoy pieces from the past, but you can also make things in a new medium.
Moore College of Art & Design is the only independent art and design college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Want to learn more about the Animation & Game Arts major at Moore? Contact our Admissions team at enroll@moore.edu or 215.965.4015 to set up a call or a campus visit. We'd love to tell you more!
