Interview with Gathuldis (SNATCH IT!)

Vanessa Pietzka (b. 1995) is known on social media by her artist name, Gathuldis. Originally from Marl, she now lives in Krefeld, where she began studying communication design. In 2022, she took the leap into self-employment and has been working as a freelance illustrator ever since. Vanessa shares her creative work not only on social media but also live via Twitch streams.

Together with her partner, Mr. Zombro, she forms the creative duo Tintenkrach. Through Tintenkrach, they release YouTube videos, attend conventions, and run a website with an online shop. In addition to her passion for illustration and design, Vanessa loves board games, reading, and has a particular fascination with cows.

For HeidelBÄR Games, she illustrated the family card game Snatch It!, which was released in 2024.

1. Vanessa oder Gathuldis – which do you prefer?

Either one is fine with me; most people just call me Thulde, except my family, of course. The name came about rather randomly, and the story is quite unspectacular: I’d always wanted an artist name that wouldn’t be easily associated with anything else. At some point, I came across “Gathuldis” in a Wikipedia entry (I can’t even remember what it was about). It’s Old German for “patience,” though I wouldn’t say I’m the most patient person! I liked the sound of it, and since there were hardly any search results for the name, I decided to go with it.

2. How do you feel about the final illustration for Snatch It!?

I really love how the illustrations turned out! I had a lot of creative freedom and was able to fully incorporate my own style, which really shows in the final product.

3. How did you react when you got the offer for Snatch It!?

I was surprised since I hadn’t expected a project offer so soon. Marina, a graphic designer at HeidelBÄR Games, had spoken to me three months earlier at the SPIEL convention in Essen. Since I love board games, I was thrilled—especially by the challenge. I had previously created monthly collector’s cards for my Ko-Fi members, which aligned well with this project.

4. How did the first contact happen?

Our first contact was at SPIEL in Essen. Marina saw our Tintenkrach stand in the Artist Alley and asked us for a secret tip about the best bathrooms! That’s how we started talking. I gave her my portfolio, and we discussed the collector’s cards I had on display at the stand.

5. Was Snatch It! your first game illustration?

Yes, it was my first game illustration, so I was excited and a bit overwhelmed at first. I love board and card games, so I was thrilled to have this opportunity.

6. How did working with HeidelBÄR Games differ from your previous projects?

My previous projects were mostly for private clients, usually without fixed schedules or strict deadlines. With Tintenkrach, we have one client for whom we handle the entire corporate design—my partner takes care of the graphics, and I focus on the illustrations. For this project, I was able to bring in my own style, which was a lot of fun.

7. Which animal was the most fun for you to illustrate?

That’s a tough one! I love illustrating animals, and I was able to choose most of them myself. If I had to pick, I’d say the ant. I love its tiny legs, and while drawing, I kept hearing sound effects from old cartoons in my head. Fun fact: I added a blueberry on its back as an Easter egg, though I only later realised the connection to HeidelBÄR.

8. Which animal was the most complex or challenging?

The swarm and the two frogs on the cover image were the biggest challenges. I wasn’t sure how to depict the swarm without drawing a lot of individual mosquitoes but still make the animal recognisable. However, the card turned out very expressive. The leaping frogs were also challenging, but after several drafts, the final cover became one of my favourite designs.

9. What is Tintenkrach?

Tintenkrach is a creative partnership between my partner (Mr. Zombro on Instagram) and me. We’re both illustrators, and we attend conventions together, run a YouTube channel, a website, and an online shop. On our Discord server, we host drawing sessions and answer questions on various art topics.

10. How would you describe your style?

Wild, cotton-candy-like, and cheeky—sometimes dark but always with vibrant colours.

11. What do you like to do when you’re not illustrating?

I love reading, especially fantasy with enchanted worlds and witty dialogue. Walter Moers is a big inspiration. I also enjoy gaming, especially Zelda and Super Mario. I love watching films and series, from trashy films to horror. I’m a fan of shows like Hilda and Gravity Falls. Sometimes, I play Magic: The Gathering, though I’m not fully up to date. We also regularly play board games with friends, and I draw creativity from all these interests.

12. What would you love to illustrate someday?

Something with cows, aliens, and ‘80s aesthetics would be exciting! I’d also love to illustrate a Magic card, though my style might not quite fit. An album cover would be awesome too—there are so many creative areas that fascinate me.

13. How does one become an illustrator, and how did you get started?

With a lot of self-discipline and perseverance! There’s no set path. Many come to it through graphic design studies, but that’s no guarantee for projects. Having a strong portfolio is more important. I went freelance during the lockdowns and began with live drawings on Twitch, where I got my first commissions for emotes. Later, I did tattoo designs (in consultation with tattoo artists) and attended conventions where I networked with other artists. It would have been almost impossible without support.

14. How do you create your illustrations?

Digitally, I either work with an iPad and Procreate, or for larger projects, with a Wacom Cintiq and Clip Studio Paint. I often start with sketches in a sketchbook. When working traditionally, I use a variety of tools, like coloured pencils, watercolour, or acrylic gouache. For digital work, I usually stick to the same brushes and effects.

15. How long does an illustration typically take—from the first idea to the finished image?

That depends on a lot of factors. It’s hard to give an exact estimate because each piece varies in complexity. For example, one game card from Snatch It! took me about 2 to 3 hours just for the digital drawing alone.