Mapping Out the Heart
Illustrations of Home
Words by Abby L. Johnson
When most kids flip through their early childhood storybooks, they imagine what it would be like to live within those pages, to live amongst the magic. Virginia Brown, however, wanted to learn how to create those worlds herself.
Like most, Virginia’s first exposure to the art of illustration was in those books. “I loved to turn through the pages and look at the pictures over and over. I was just obsessed, and I would try to trace the drawings [to] recreate them in my own style,” she fondly recalls. “As a kid, I loved to paint and draw, and I really loved to collage.”
She took that early passion and carried it with her into adulthood. “I was a studio art major in college with an emphasis in painting.” She adds, “With that major, I was required to take just a very basic intro to computing arts class.” Learning the fundamentals of Adobe Illustrator “really opened a whole new world for me because I could combine my hand-drawn elements with digital elements and create something totally new and different,” Virginia recalls. With a new method of collage in hand, she began to experiment, eventually launching her Etsy shop.
By far, her most popular illustrations are her customized maps. “I think my maps are special for people because they portray a place that’s special to them…a place where they grew up or a place where they visited or are getting married,” she explains. With the custom designs and added elements, Virginia is able to recreate locations that are meaningful. She elaborates, “Whether it’s their childhood home or a couple’s very first apartment together, or whatever it might be…it’s a piece of art that really connects with people.”
Though Virginia recently moved to Tennessee, she is a former Eastsider with a deep appreciation for the community, which served as a nourishing, replenishing environment for her creative soul. “I lived here for six years, and I loved it. It’s a vibrant, creative community. And living in that Cherrywood house is where I took my illustration business full time, so it’s really a special place for me. For instance, the East Austin Studio Tour included several locations just in our little span of blocks so it felt like a really nurturing environment to venture out into a creative business. So that was cool,” she smiles fondly. Virginia herself also participated in E.A.S.T., showing her paintings and opening her backyard studio to the masses.
Today, she continues to create and sell commissioned works of art through her Etsy shop and has also found great success working with brands like Oui by Yoplait, for whom she created award-winning French-inspired map illustrations.
Her work continues to creatively display the value of a place, a community, and a home. Visual representations of a significant location offer up a unique quality that endears itself to the viewer. Poignant and affecting, Virginia’s illustrated maps are a touching addition to any collection.
Did You Know?
Virginia Brown’s illustrated map of East Austin graces the cover of EASTside Magazine’s Love Where You Live December 2021/January 2022 issue. The pastel pink map filled with whimsical representations of Eastside landmarks captures the heart of the neighborhoods and has proven to be a fan-favorite cover!
Contact:
virginiabrownart.etsy.com
facebook.com/virginiabrownart
@virginiabrownart
