Virginia’s Artwork
Before she became a successful, best-selling author, Virginia Andrews studied art. During the 1960s, to help support her family, Virginia worked as a fashion illustrator, commercial artist, and portrait painter.
Please note that these pictures are respresentations of Virginia’s artwork. They are not for sale, and I do not own any of them. And sorry, I don’t know the value of her artwork.
Virginia Andrews Artwork Gallery
The following pictures were, at one time, posted on the official SimonSays.com V.C. Andrews website, but when the publisher redesigned their website in 2009 to the new SimonandSchuster.com, they dropped all the artwork. The descriptions were copied directly from the former SimonSays.com website. I assume they were written by a family member, but I’m not certain who.
Beach Scenes – This later work was produced while on vacation at the family’s summer home on Marco Island, on the Gulf coast of Florida, ca. 1984.
Flowers in the Attic – This surreal scene is a visual representation of Flowers in the Attic, completed around the same time as the novel. Often, V.C.’s portraits served as inspiration for her fictional characters, and vice versa.
Portraits – V.C. loved children. Little girls especially had a powerful grip on her imagination, inspiring hundreds of haunting images. These examples show how V.C. deftly rendered not only their physical beauty, but also an inner life that was wise beyond their years.
Pastels – The two great loves of V.C.’s early life were reading and drawing. These three pastels were created sometime in the 1960s, before she became a writer. [The first two pastels became the inspiration for the ghostwritten 2001 short stories “Cage of Love” and “The Little Psychic.”]
Charcoals – V.C.’s was a truly artistic temperament — she was driven to express herself in many different forms. Not only did she write and draw, she also designed and made all her own clothes.
Privately Owned Artwork
If you have any Virginia Andrews artwork hanging in your home, take a picture and email it to me.
Beverlee Brown’s website: Visit the V.C. Andrews Art page to see two stunning examples of Virginia’s art. The website says it is maintained by Beverlee Brown, daughter of Ferne Andrews, who was married to Virginia’s brother Bill Andrews for almost 30 years.
Maggy Malcolm: “My parents, Jack and Marie Malcolm, bought Virginia and her mother’s home on Westleigh Terrace, Manchester, Mo in 1967 or 1968. They became friends of Virginia’s and her brother and sister-in-law who lived across the street. My parents bought 3 of Virginia’s paintings.” [below]
Eric Oliver: “My Mother (Barbara Oliver) just passed away in May of this year and had three of V.C. Andrews’ paintings. All three are oil on velvet. My Mother grew up most of her life in Portsmouth, Virginia (as did I) and, I believe, bought these at a local gallery. To me they are prized heirlooms due to V.C. Andrews’ bigger fame as a writer.” [below]
The four flower paintings below belong to one of V.C. Andrews’ relatives:
Leslie Joiner: “My mom, sister and I were on vacation. We found the two in a small town in Georgia at an adorable thrift store. My mom and I thought they were unusual. We each liked one more than the other. The owner said she had four signed drawings but we were only able to find the two. She had $15.00 each on them.” [below]
AtticSecrets1979 