Meet Virginia Elwood | Fine artist and tattoo artist

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

Hi Virginia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued an artistic career because I’m not cut out for anything else and didn’t know any better lol. I left home at 16 and became a beauty school drop out by 17. My life was chaotic and unconventional. I was bartending to support myself and didn’t go to college (although I did take some continuing education art classes over the years). It was in an architectural drafting class that I realized with clarity that a creative career was the only option for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Please tell us more about your art:

I don’t have a formal art education and learned the concepts of design through the lens of tattooing. My entry into art via tattooing has greatly influenced all of my work. My tattoo style and application is rooted in Traditional Americana, and all of my choices are informed by that; bold and simple designs with an eye towards composition. My fine art practice is a consequence of the restrictions I encounter making tattoos. I think of it as a conversation between the 2 mediums.

I love getting to be creative within the constraints of tattooing. You need to be aware of what translates and will age well on skin, be mindful of your clients wants while making sure that they’re having the best possible experience. When I started making fine art I was overwhelmed by the endless possibilities. That freedom felt like more of a prison until I started to conceptualize what I was trying to convey in my work.

My recent works explore the concept of the body as a landscape and the ways we protect and project ourselves. Using yarn and fibers made with acrylic paint I weave and layer protective barriers and points of entry on painted canvas. My tattooing is “on the body” but my fine art is “of the body.”

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about:

The exchange of energy and the permanence of tattooing really excites me. I love forming a bond with clients who come to me wanting my specific style. The possibility of growth during every project is pretty irresistible as well. I’m very satiated by exploring new mediums and concepts in my fine art practice.

How did you get to where you are today professionally:

A lot of hard work is always involved, but good fortune and privilege also played a big role. I’m lucky to have the opportunities I’ve had and am grateful I’ve been able to fight off the fear and insecurities that would otherwise paralyze me. Opportunities are one thing, but if you can’t rise up to meet them what good are they? I think I made a lot of opportunities for myself over the years by just being utterly relentless.

Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

It’s never been easy, but more times then not it’s been fun or at least rewarding… and that helps me overcome the challenges. I also deeply love and respect what I do. I almost view making art as a separate entity that needs to be nourished and fed like a human.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way:

I’ve struggled a lot with mental and physical health issues and sometimes I just want to sleep for days. It’s helpful for me to remember that you don’t need to feel like doing something to do it. That discipline creates much needed structure for me. On the flip side, I’ve also had to learn how to be kind and compassionate with myself and to not push so hard all of the time.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think this question would have been a lot easier to answer before Covid. Although NYC is opening back up I’ve still been reluctant to partake in everything it has to offer. First stop would definitely be my new private studio in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. It’s a beautiful loft space with views of the East River called This Time Tmrw (after my favorite Kinks song). One thing I love to do with guests is just wander around the city and see where it takes us.

My wife and I moved an hour north of Manhattan a few years ago and really enjoy spending quiet time in nature with friends. So anyone visiting us would get some serious hang time with our dogs, some hiking and swimming and a lot of conversations around the fire pit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
SO many people deserve a shoutout! All of the clients who’ve trusted me for the past 20 years. All of the amazing co-workers that I’ve learned so much from. The list of people I want to thank is endless.

I met my partner, Stephanie Tamez in 2007 when we were both tattooing in NYC at New York Adorned. I fell deeply and completely right from the start. In these (almost) 14 years I’ve never stopped learning from and being inspired by her. She’s always encouraged me to look deeper and set my sights higher. Without Tamez I’m not sure I would have found the courage to pursue and maintain my fine art practice.

Website: virginiaelwood.com

Instagram: @virginiaelwoodstudio (fine art) @virginiaelwood (tattoos) @this.time.tmrw (private studio)

Image Credits
Gigi Stoll (black and white photo)