"If the painter wishes to see beauties to fall in love with it is within his power to bring them forth, and if he wants to see monsterous things that frighten or are foolish or laughable or indeed to be pitied, he is their Lord and God." Leonardo DaVinci W illiam O'Connor was born on Long Island, New York. From an early age drawing and painting became a driving force in his life. Enrolling at the age of ten to the Huntington School of Fine Arts (HSFA) he was soon able to learn the fundementals of painting, drawing and sculpture in order to focus and bring to life the visions of his imagination. Studying under the mentorship of Joseph Mack for eight years at the HSFA William graduated from Harborfields Highschool with scholarships to several leading art schools. C hoosing to attend Alfred University for its diversity and intimacy he soon began to explore various forms of expression including acting and philosophy, but always returned to painting, and the subjects of Science Fiction and Fantasy. During his junior year at Alfred William began to enroll himself in illustration programs at The School of Visual Arts and Parsons School of Design in Manhattan. In his senior year he began his professional career by receiving his first commission. G raduating from Alfred University with honors William returned to Long Island to begin his life as a freelance illustrator. Over the next several years he would be involved with hundreds of projects from companies around the country, including Del Rey Publishing, Harper Collins, Lucas Films, Alderac Entertainment Group, Doubleday Books, TSR Inc., White Wolf Publishing, Wizards of the Coast and many more. William has executed over three thousand illustrations for the gaming and publishing industries, as well as production designs, concepts, posters and advertisements. Resume Education 2000: Du Cret School of Art. Web Design 1997: Center for Desktop Publishing. Graphic Design 1990-1993: Parsons School of Design, Illustration 1988-1992: Alfred University, College of Ceramics, School of Art and Design, Painting, BFA, Cum Laude 1990: The School of Visual Arts, Illustration 1980-1988: Huntington School of Fine Arts Work History 1991-present: William O'Connor Illustration. Clients include: Alderac Entertainment Group, Avalon Hill Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Bookspan, Del Rey Books, Doubleday Books, Dover Publications, Easton Press, Face 2 Face Games, Fantasy Flight Games, FASA Games, Harper Collins, Hasbro, History Channel, Iron Crown Enterprises, Kenzer & Co., Lucas Arts Ltd., Sabretooth Games, Triking Games, TSR Inc., Underwood Books, Upperdeck, West End Games, White Wolf Publishing, Wizards of the Coast. For a complete listing of the publications containing William O'Connor art work see: bibliography 2000-present: Du Cret School of Art. Guest Lecturer, Instructor,painting & drawing. 1995-1999: Huntington School of Fine Arts. Instructor, painting, drawing, sculpture. Awards and Memberships 2009 NYSFS (Lunacon) Judges Choice Award "Alcina's Gambol" 2009 NYSFS (Lunacon) Best Professional Artist, 2nd Place. 2008 Chesley Awards Nomination. Best Gaming Related Art. "Riftmarked Knight" 2008 Chesley Awards Nomination. Best Unpublished. "Star Slayer" 2008 NYSFS (Lunacon). Best Monochromatic. 2007 PSFS (Philcon). Best Artist 2007 PSFS (PhilCon). Best Monochromatic "Order of the Coatyl" 2007 APIS Awards. "Concept Artist of the Year" 2006 Gen Con Game Fair 2006. Best Digital. "Zephyr's Tomb" 2006 Spectrum 13. "Zephyr's Tomb" 2006 Chesley Awards Nomination. Best Gaming Art. "Keeper of Water" 2006 Chesley Awards Nomination. Best Unpublished Color Image. "Paladin's Flight" 2006 NYSFS (Lunacon). Judges Choice "Zephyr's Tomb" 2005 Chesley Awards Nomination. Best Gaming Art. "Races of Stone" 2005 Spectrum 12 "Fire and Water" 2005 I-Con 25. Ist Place "Merlin and Arthur" 2005 NYSFS (Lunacon). Body of Work 2005 NYSFS (Lunacon). Best Costume Design "The Keeper of Water" 2004 World Science Fiction Convention. Award of Merit "Fire and Water" 2004 GenCon. Third Place "Fire and Water" 2004 Spectrum 11 "Empire from the Ashes" 2003 GenCon. Second Place "Cloudkill" 2003 NJD Convention. Honorable Mention "Valor's Peak" 2003 I-Con 23. Artist Guest of Honor 2003 NYSFS (Lunacon). Judges Choice "Composition in Blue" 2002 Chesley Awards Nomination. Best Gaming Art. "Respite" 2002 Spectrum 9. "The Grail Quest" 2002 ENie Awards Nomination. Best Cover Art "Hallowfaust" 2002 NJD Convention. Best in Show "The Familiar" 2002 NYSFS (Lunacon). Judges Choice "The Grail Quest" 2001 Gen Con. Second Place "The Grail Quest" 2001 NJD Convention. First Place "Respite" 2000 Gen Con. Best Print "Sovereign Seas" 2000 Dragon Con. Judges Choice "Green Knight" 1999 Gen Con. Third Place "Green Knight" 1998 Spectrum 6. "Mechopolis" 1996 PSFS (Phil Con). Best Fantasy "Green Knight" 1996 NYSFS (Lunacon). Judges Choice "Constantinople" 1995 Origins. Judges Choice "Dragon Rider" 1995 Origins. Best Color "Moon Wolf" 1994 PSFS (Philcon). Judges Choice "Book Wyrm" Memberships: Portrait Society of America Graphic Artist's Guild, New York Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists American Showcase of Illustration Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators