The Art of Vivienne Strauss, Part II, the Interview

French Couture. Original collage by Vivienne Strauss.

Tell us about your journey. What’s your background? How did you get into art as a career? I started working at my art full time in 2008 when we moved to Portland, Oregon. My husband, Matte Stephens has been an artist for 15 years and it made more sense for me to stay at home and help him and work on my own art than it did to try and find a job outside the home. Before that I had only worked on art sporadically at best as I went through many career changes.

Alfred Finds his Soul Mate. Limited edition 8.5x11 print by Matte Stephens

How would you describe your style?
That has always been something I’ve struggled with because as soon as someone finds out that you’re an artist, they ask what style and I always have a terrible time explaining my work. When I work in collage, I lean towards minimalism, with watercolors I go more towards highly detailed, bright, and whimsical. Oil paint seems to lead to more moody work.

Essence of Orange. Original collage by Vivienne Strauss.

The Perils of Patterns. Limited edition print of an original watercolor painting.

Ophelia's Dream. Limited edition print of an original oil painting.

Your work is so much fun. Who or what inspires you? Do you have any colors you feel most connected to?
Inspiration comes in so many forms! Often it is visual, just seeing certain flowers one day in an especially striking color can motivate me to come home and paint. Sometimes it is just a feeling I get when I read a particular phrase in a book. Green is a very strong color for me, I once challenged myself to do a painting with no green whatsoever and it was really hard!

Hannah and Bibi. Limited edition print of an original watercolor painting.

And the titles of your pieces are just great! They add so much to the experience of viewing your work. Do your titles come first or when the piece is finished?
Quite often the titles come first but I’ve had a few paintings that evolved into a completely different story than where I had started and they created their own titles.


Mrs. Wesley Winchester and Walter arrive in West Palm in the same manner in which they always arrive everywhere - with lots of baggage. Limited edition print of an original watercolor painting.

Do you have a favorite piece? One of my favorites is one I did based on a story my mother told me about herself as a child, how she had a blue suitcase she would always pack with the intention of running away from home but never figured out where she would go if she did. Each autumn Myrtle Burstein felt the urge to run away from home. She packed her suitcase over and over but never went any where.


Each autumn Myrtle Burstein felt the urge to run away from home. She packed her suitcase over and over but never went any where. Limited edition print of an original watercolor painting

I always find an artist’s process fascinating. In my particular case, I gave you a few ideas of what I wanted in the painting and you took it from there. How does the process work for you?  Do you start with a pencil sketch? Do you daydream for a little while? Do you have images you look through? I usually do a very general sketch, think about it for a while and then do the final sketch on paper or canvas. I get a lot of ideas from my vintage photo collection and images from magazines that I keep for later inspiration. Usually things evolve to the point where my original source of inspiration is no longer recognizable.

Where does your work take place? Would you be willing to share a picture of your workspace with us?
I often do some sketching in bed at night, I really like to think about the painting for a while before I actually start the physical work. I mainly work in my studio which is a really nice upstairs bedroom that looks out over our backyard. I have bird feeders just a few feet away so birds and squirrels are frequent visitors.

Where can everyone find you?  Where do you sell your work? How do you market it and which avenue has been most successful?
I have some work at Three Ravens Gallery in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, but mainly I have my work available online which is a wonderful avenue as it can reach a worldwide market.

Do you have any advice for new artists trying to get their work seen?
It is really hard to not just get lost in the sea of art work that is out there. I often wonder how some people stumble upon my work, how did you find me, Ann?  I found you on sfgirlbybay's blog with a link to your etsy sites.  I think blogs are a great place for artists to get recognition because we all know "word of mouth" is the ultimate advertisement!  Blogs tend to have so many more people listening right now.

You strike me as someone who likes to have a good time! I do, too.
What’s your favorite cocktail? Mine is a blood orange martini. I am a Tanqueray and tonic girl :)


Fall Frolic. Original collage.

What’s on your ipod right now? Nouvelle Vague and Pink Martini on mine. I tend to listen to the same music over and over, I never get tired of Billie Holiday.

And lastly, the ultimate party you would like to throw? Mine would be on an old clipper ship for a week with swimming and sunning in the daytime and evening gowns for dinner. What about yours?
Mine would be like a scene from a 1930s movie, the entire party would be black and white, very Art Deco and everyone in formal attire.


Stella Starling makes her singing debut at El Morocco, 1933. Limited edition print of an original painting

Sounds like a great party and one I would love to attend!  Thank you, Vivienne.  I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you a little better and spending time with your work.