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Back to Featured Interviews >> MEET VERONICA WALSH
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| Veronica Walsh |
As a kid, I enjoyed making things. My mom was a crafty type of person who taught me how to sew and paint. We would also make doll furniture or collage art out of oatmeal boxes, straws, macaroni, and whatever other materials we found around the house.
Did you illustrate stories when you were growing up?
I liked to draw and paint when I was a child and looked for opportunities to use my artistic abilities. I was the kid who volunteered to make posters or banners for special events. I would also make sure that my school reports included pictures or diagrams.
What books influenced you as you were growing up?
Illustrated books were always a joy to read. I enjoyed the books of Tomie dePaola, Dr. Seuss, and Maurice Sendak. I also enjoyed humorous stories, folk tales, Greek mythology, science fiction and craft books. One of my all-time favorite books is A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L’Engle.
When you were in college, were you already pursuing an illustration career?
No, my love of picture making led to study design at California State University , Long Beach , where I received a BFA in Visual Communication Design, in 1987.
What was your first job after college?
After college, I worked as designer for many years. I used my artistic skills to design all sorts of things, such as, gift products, fabric designs, jewelry, menus, ads, catalogs, websites and packaging.
How soon after college was your first book published?
It wasn’t until 2005 that I decided to pursue my childhood dream of illustrating books for children. My first book as an illustrator, TOO MANY VISITORS FOR ONE LITTLE HOUSE, was published by Booksicals in 2008.
What was most enjoyable to you while working on this book?
Developing the characters with the author, Susan Chodakiewitz, was the highlight of working on this book. There are many characters in this story and Susan had great concepts for each one. We would exchange ideas about each character’s personality and traits, which I would then draw and paint. I don’t have experience in theater, but for me, it seemed as if we were staging a wonderful production. It was a fun and playful experience.
Where do you get your ideas?
I’m mostly inspired by visual things such as landscapes, color great artwork and design. I pay a lot more attention these days while watching movies. I take notice of the costumes, settings, props and lighting and how these elements contribute to telling the story. People watching is another great source for ideas. I look at clothes, shape and gestures. Then, I try to put one feature of a person’s personality onto paper. I also like to study the works of master artists and illustrators to see how they tell stories with pictures.
Does writing, or illustration give you the most pleasure?
At the moment, illustration is more fun. I have just started to explore writing by taking a few workshops and sharing my work with my critique groups. My humble starts at writing have given me a greater appreciation for the craft. I hope to see my written stories published some time as well.