Meet Virginia Straus | Artist & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Virginia Straus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Virginia, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
My paintings and shirts have a unique vibrance that draws your attention. I believe that color theory, simplicity and relatable things in nature are the perfect combination for enjoyment. When combined with an artist’s impression it adds a personal touch that others can feel close to. Success to me is not becoming the next Guy Harvey with my shirts or having my paintings printed on canvas and sold at Hobby Lobby. Fast fashion and fast retail is gross, horrible for the environment and not my brand at all. Success for me is for someone to see my work and think, no one else has that. This will make me unique and original. I believe that I have achieved that. I also attribute my success to positive thinking and taking risks. For me, both factors are the driving force for a fulfilling life. Fear is often correlated with risk, but the beauty of being human is experiencing fear because it helps us evolve. I aim to convey this message through my children’s book “Quanti & Nova Go To Wisteria” (coming in 2025!). My goal is to empower families through the belief that embracing fear and sharing positive energy can build us the life we want. Living the life you want is the greatest success of all time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always painted for personal reasons. My brain populates an immense number of ideas at one time. As a teen I found that painting & sculpting was the best way to visualize my thoughts & clear my head. Right before my kids were born, I was dealing with difficult management in the corporate world. My confidence, along with many other coworkers, was challenged & gaslit. This is a story for another day, but we were essentially made to question ourselves and our abilities in a very toxic way. This was the primary driver to leave and do what makes me happy. It was a hard reset button that I am actually grateful for. I created my LLC, started participating in art shows, and displaying my art in local businesses. Color & exposure to wildlife is a big part of my life, and it clearly makes its way into my paintings. This combination turned into a variety of oil and watercolor paintings- like my birds, ginkgo leaves and seahorses, etc. My art focuses on some of the smallest, most beautiful things in nature that often go unnoticed. I accentuate them with vibrant colors to exemplify the uniqueness of day to day wildlife that we take for granted. I decided to put some of my favorite watercolor studies on t-shirts and sweatshirts for my twins because I thought it would be cute… now I’m offering them in various sizes on my website. My work definitely has a cult-like following. I’ve noticed that, like me, many southerners see, for example, a ginkgo leaf and it immediately resonates. Not sure why that is, but it just works. I hope that when people see my work they feel a sense of connection, comfort and happiness.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Music, film, and obviously the arts are a big part of who I am. The first thing I am going to do is see what bands are playing at my favorite ATL music venues. I can always count on Variety Playhouse, Buckhead Theater, The Earl, Terminal West & The Eastern to host some of my favorite indie artists. I also love playing guitar and harmonica, so if my friend plays an instrument, we’ll probably be hitting up Music & Arts on Stone Mountain Hwy. They have the best Taylor Guitar assortment in Atlanta, great workers and they have open mic. Virginia Highlands & Inman Park are my old stomping grounds, so we’ll definitely be going over there. The Plaza Theater is a total gem & historical landmark. Midtown Art Cinema is also fantastic. Both theaters offer independent films, cult classics, and host film festivals. I support them & the film industry as much as I can. We’ll also be going to Videodrome to rent a movie. They offer a fantastic variety, are super knowledgeable and it’s got a great vibe. Highland Woodworking is also a great spot for those who enjoy the craft. They are very knowledgeable, offer workshops, great tool selection, I even met Nick Offerman there one time. He was signing his woodworking book. Super cool spot. The White Space Gallery shows a variety of local artists’ work, and the Highland Inn has live comedy, so we’ll hit that up. Lastly, we’re going to need some exposure to nature. People underestimate the beauty of Stone Mountain park and Tucker. Tucker particularly has so many local hiking spots with waterfalls and lakes. It also has a thriving downtown square, full of local businesses and the Georgia Path is getting developed out there. It’s very LGBTQ friendly, and I greatly appreciate that.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife has been a steadfast supporter throughout my journey. I’ve been motivated by her to get back into painting and inspired by our twins to create textiles and a children’s book. Because of them and because of my nature, I continue to challenge myself to master new skills and media. In the long run, I just want my family to be proud of what I create, because it’s truly for them. Everything I do is for them.

Website: https://virginiastraus.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiastrausart/