Artist Spotlights Series:
Virginia Van Camp

Welcome to the Artist Spotlights Series, a collection of interviews with local artists. I am pleased to introduce you to Virginia Van Camp, an artist currently living and working on San Juan Island Washington. Read on to learn about Virginia's thoughts on making artwork, creativity, and artists she admires. Thanks for visiting!

If you like this page, read more interviews at Artist Spotlights.

Please share a brief biography, including where you're from and how you got started as an artist.
I was born and grew up in Spokane Washington. My earliest memory of myself as "artist" was drawing with my finger on my father's newly painted basement walls. I'm a widow and I have three creative daughters, four grandsons, one granddaughter, and one great-grandson, who all live in the San Juans.

What jobs have you done, other than being an artist?
Swimming teacher, nurse's aide, art history teacher.

What role, if any, does an artist play in society?
The artist is a mirror to society, he/she helps society to see itself.

What do you like/dislike about the art world?
I appreciate art that reflects positive experience in the world. I dislike when the artist takes a position above society and art... a superior role, as though theirs is the only true view of the world. Every view is valuable.

What is creativity?
A new solution to problem solving.

How do you describe your style?
Abstract expression.

Has your work changed over time? How?
My style is more organized than it used to be. I've returned to my original "instructions."

What artists are your influences?
I've always liked Van Gogh.... I love Wolf Kahn, who uses "creative color" to express the natural world.