Artist Interview with Illustrator Veronica O'Neill
This is a written interview with Veronica O'Neill. Based in Sydney, Australia, Veronica works as a professional illustrator and concept artist across multiple industries. Veronica has worked with MCDM, Illumicrate, Chaosium, Storytellers Forge, SMG Studio, and Uppercut Games.
We are honored to have Veronica's artwork featured in Six Forms' first set, Search for Power — Six Forms Kickstarter launches on March 19th, 2024.
Please follow Veronica on Instagram. Below is Veronica's interview:
Why do you create fantasy TTRPG artwork?
Veronica: "I've long been a fan of fantasy stories, both in novels and TTRPGs. Growing up, I was enamored with the creatures and characters of these stories, so much so that I was driven to draw them the best I could when I was a young child. Eventually, I realized I could paint that kind of art as a career path and never looked back.
These days, I work in the industries where my art style suits and where the projects suit me in return. Given the many fantasy TTRPGs, I often find myself working on those sorts of projects. Still, I also have experience creating art for video games, animation, and, more recently, book publishing. Each industry provides its own challenges and rewards, so a mix of all of them allows me to paint what I love the most."
How would you describe your art style?
Veronica: "I feel an artist's style reflects what they enjoy painting the most. It took a little while to work out what that was for me, but I would now describe my style as vibrant semi-realistic art with a flair for the dramatic. Depending on the project, my work veers more stylized or realistic but typically falls as a mix between the two. Occasionally, I also enjoy experimental pieces, which are much more loose in brushwork."
Who inspires you with their work?
Veronica: "There are so many incredible artists in the TTRPG space and other industries. This makes it exceptionally difficult to pick just a few whose work I admire. Some particular pieces I keep coming back to at the moment include Greg Manchess' series of space-themed artworks, "Burnout" by Cynthia Sheppard, and Axel Sauerwald's "First Ride." I have an entire collection of art on my computer that I've saved over the years, including pieces that have caught my attention. That number currently sits at around 700! I love doing this so I can keep track of different artists and continuously come back to the work that they've made without losing it in the vastness of the internet."
What types of projects do you enjoy working on?
Veronica: "I certainly have specific genres and subjects that I enjoy working on the most. I'm glad that the Art Directors who approach me tend to recognize that, coming up with projects that suit my style and interests. Typically, that includes anything with a fantasy flair and tends more towards drama. Beyond that, I've been really enjoying working on some projects that give me additional creative freedom to paint interesting art and work on that art's design elements. I've had prior experience doing concept work for video games, so when I get to use those skills in my illustrations, I feel even more excited about a project. I hope that I get more of these in the future."
What do you do when away from work?
Veronica: "When I'm not working, I tend to fill my free time with video games, bird watching, and musicals! An interesting combination, to be sure, but I enjoy each of them for their own quirks. A recent exciting milestone for me was reaching 200 unique birds spotted in Australia while on a trip to my nearest mountain range. Do you want to know the name of an Australian bird? I've got you!"