The Artists

About Joel Schoon-Tanis

Joel Schoon Tanis’ painting explores God’s creation and stories from a whimsical child-like perspective.

Joel is a celebrated painter who has shown his work around the United States – from Michigan to Florida to Colorado to Washington D.C.. Joel has also shown his work as far away as Kenya where he did an art show in Nairobi to raise money for the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. You may also like to know that while in Kenya he kissed a giraffe. His murals can be found in many schools, children’s hospitals and churches (including murals in both Kenya and Zambia).

As an illustrator, Joel has contributed to more than a half a dozen books for children. Most notably, he illustrated the New International Reader’s Version Kid’s Study Bible for Zondervan. He won the “Moonbeam Children’s Book Award” for his book “Swing!”. His latest book is The One, The Only Magnificent Me! through Mackinac Island Press.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, he is also the creator and writer of Come On Over!, a children’s television program that has won two National Telly awards and 13 regional Emmy awards, including one for Joel as host of the show. Go to www.comeonover.com to learn more. The show has had such special guests as Jars of Clay, Fred Willard (Everyone Loves Raymond, Best in Show), Ruth Buzzi (Laugh In, Sesame Street), Luis Avalos (Electric Company), Vicki Lewis (Newsradio, Finding Nemo), and Jason Hanson, the kicker for the Detroit Lions. By the way, Ruth Buzzi is as wonderful as you’d think she’d be.

Joel lives in Holland, MI with his cool teacher wife Dr. Kathy Schoon-Tanis and firecracker daughter Harper.

About Barry Elz

Barry Elz’ creative expression may appear broad as it ranges from photography to oil painting, but it is unified by his keen study of light. With light, Barry sculpts his photographic portraits, while with oil paint he layers in the nuance of light in God’s creation.

You’ve likely seen Barry Elz’ work even if you don’t know it. Barry’s extensive photography career has spanned over 35 years through his studios in NYC and Chicago. He’s photographed national campaigns for clients such as Gatorade, Nike, McDonald’s, Bank of America, Lands’ End, Callaway Golf, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bulls that were published in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine, Vogue, among others.

He has created diverse portraiture of personalities including Hank Aaron, Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez, Iman, and Cindy Crawford. His book of photographs, “bulls”, a collection of his work for the Chicago Bulls, reached the Wall Street Journal and New York Times Best Seller List. That’s right – that picture of MJ you remember – Barry took it. Pretty cool, huh?

Although formally educated in fine art painting, the precise nature of professional photography greatly influenced Barry’s perception regarding the significance of light, perspective and composition. Painting primarily impressionist oil landscape paintings, Barry traveled between his studio in NYC and home in Old Lyme Connecticut in order to paint in the same countryside as American master painters from the early 1900’s – this experience proved to be invaluable.

Barry’s paintings, through several venues including the prestigious Cooley Gallery in Old Lyme, Ct., have been placed in numerous public spaces including the Boston Sheraton, Raytheon Corporation and Kemper Insurance, as well as many private collections throughout the United States.

Carolyn Kazen-Elz (who’s own stunning fashion modeling career appeared in virtually every national magazine) miraculously agreed to marry Barry and raise their combined family of (6) children; Derek, Zach, Max, Noah, Joshua and the youngest, spoiled by all, daughter Eva, who still resides with them in Holland, Michigan.