We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Madeleine Veneziano. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Madeleine below.

Hi Madeleine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Creating the character Dust Bunny and conceptualizing the cyberpunk futuristic death race, the Passing, was a meaningful project for me. Unlike my work with intense deadlines, this was my longest self-driven passion project that allowed me to immerse myself in a world of my own creation. The process of bringing Dust Bunny and the Passing to life provided a safe space to explore and have fun with the tiny details I love so much.

There were also some technical learning curves along the way. One challenge I faced was translating a fantasy motorcycle into a design that not only looked appealing but also had a sense of technical feasibility. Overcoming these challenges left me feeling accomplished and added more meaning to the project for me. I was also able to apply some branding knowledge from my job to help make the presentation of my creations visually cohesive, which was very satisfying to combine those worlds.

Overall, this project wasn’t just about creating characters and concepts; it was about directing myself through the creative process and being able to trust myself to see a project through. I can’t wait to keep working on this as time progresses.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Madeleine Veneziano, I grew up in Boulder, Colorado, and went to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) to get my BFA in illustration. Right after college I was lucky to get a job at a package design and advertising studio back in Boulder. Everyday I was drawing, creating moodboards, and learning the ins and outs of the package design industry. Even better, they found my weirdness in illustration and my lack of a singular style as strengths.

Watching illustrations I created go on shelves globally and seeing my work in grocery stores was extremely rewarding and kept driving me to continue in packaging. I worked at the same studio for about 4 years, I was challenged, I learned and I grew drastically as an artist. At the same time, I also grew tired, I was overworked and feared I might burned out.

However, things soon changed as the industry struggled and my studio was forced to significantly downsize and soon I found myself without a job. This came with fear, uncertainty but also some relief. I have always found the most fun in building worlds with my illustrations, finding the surreal and fantastic and stretching my imagination, this pushed me to begin pursuing concept art where these strengths have more room to flourish.

I completed a month long creature workshop with Bobby Rebholz and am currently wrapping up SmArt School’s 14 week long Gaming Illustration and Character Design mentorship with Winona Nelson. Supported by a steady stream of freelance I’ve had time and freedom to learn from these industry masters, hone my portfolio and create the worlds and stories I’ve been imagining. Trusting in my abilities and passion for illustration, I look forward to the next steps on my creative journey.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe society should continue to support artists by valuing our services and unique voices, cultivated through years of practice, training, and dedication. While AI can be a great tool for brainstorming and supplementing creative processes, it lacks the genuine voice and originality that artists bring to their work. It’s crucial for society to recognize the irreplaceable value that real artists contribute to our culture and not solely rely on AI-generated art.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had recognized the benefits of consistently pushing myself to learn and fully embrace online resources like YouTube tutorials, workshops, lectures, and online classes and mentorships. After earning my BFA and graduating from college, I initially thought my formal education was complete, assuming any further learning would happen on the job. However, I’ve come to realize that work shouldn’t be your sole source of education, completing school doesn’t mean learning has to stop.

There’s a huge variety of options online, allowing you to choose your niche, subject matter, class length, and cost to find what suits you best. Taking classes online has not only broadened my skills but also connected me with industry professionals and talented peers, cultivating ongoing learning relationships.

Rediscovering the joy of experiencing personal growth as an artist through expanding my education and skills has been immensely rewarding and empowering. Despite varying costs, there are free alternatives like YouTube or Adobe Learn, making learning accessible to those with limited financial support. My online classes and mentorship experiences have reignited my love for learning while motivating me. As an artist, there’s always room to grow and improve, so I encourage everyone to continue pushing themselves to learn and explore the wealth of online resources available.

Contact Info:

• Website: madeleineveneziano.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeleine_veneziano/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleine-veneziano-a0196b13a/