As part of our series profiling graduating seniors, we’re highlighting Sky Chandler ’25, Illustration, who has shaped her work around the importance of children’s books, especially when it comes to “the preservation of magic.”
Chandler grew up in Manchester, Michigan, searching the countryside for fairies and dragons. “An avid reader as a child, I’ve always been fascinated by storytelling, and I quickly learned that I could take ideas in my head and turn them into words on paper,” she said. “As I grew older and began to outgrow princess dresses and wizard robes, I searched for more ways to preserve these memories.”
Beyond words, Chandler began transforming her stories into colors, shapes, and textures, “to create something that didn’t even need words,” she said. “I had discovered illustration, and my life was changed.”
Her earliest drawings attempted a hyper-realistic style. But at Ringling College, with the help of professors who encouraged introspection and awareness of her own motivations, Chandler’s illustrations became more and more whimsical and “kidlit,” she said.
“I am always asked why I am so drawn to children’s book illustration. You may think it’s because of the cute characters, or the fun and silly lessons, but it’s truly because I think that there is something so important about the preservation of magic,” she said.
For her senior thesis, Chandler was motivated to create a personal, sensitive story, though she admitted that confronting herself honestly and sharing her feelings was scary. She ultimately created a children’s book about a girl on a quest, a story that combines autobiographical elements with magic to connect with some bittersweet feelings about life. The book, With Me, can be seen at the Illustration Senior Thesis Exhibition May 2-9 in the Richard and Barbara Basch Visual Arts Center.
Chandler has secured a post-graduation position as a print designer at Carter’s in Atlanta, where she previously served as an intern. She also hopes to illustrate children’s books outside of her full-time work.
Senior Thesis Exhibitions
Ringling College’s Senior Thesis Exhibitions open tonight, from 5-8 pm at all Campus Galleries. Join us in celebrating the creativity, dedication, and achievements of Ringling College’s graduating seniors from all majors, featuring diverse mediums and subjects. Chandler’s work will be on view in the Willis Smith Construction Inc. Student Gallery. For more information, visit the Galleries and Exhibitions website.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest Ringling College news in your inbox.
Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008
