Walk into the Ether

Hi. My name is Heather Rippert. I’m a fine artist living in Clearwater, Florida. I’ve been drawing and painting ever since I was little. Growing up an only child, I discovered a place of beauty, acceptance and imagination through creating art. What I create may change over the years and expand with more experience and knowledge, but the way I feel when I create, remains the same. It’s a walk into the ether, every time.

Portrait of Heather Rippert by KB Photography
Photo of Heather Rippert by KB Photography

The pull of the ethereal world has kept me coming back to my craft, over and over again. My primary medium has been watercolor for many years. I’ve always loved the immediacy and freshness of watercolor. In some circles, the medium is undervalued or misunderstood as easy, soft and pale. The medium is unforgiving, deep, bold, and rich, like no other, to me. I love the way I have to think backwards like a printmaker. Looking at a crisp, blank sheet of heavy watercolor paper is exhilarating and somewhat daunting all at once. Laying out my sketch and noting where I must preserve the white of the page as my brightest lights is all part of the planning stage.

When my paper is ready, my ceramic palette clean and prepared with large dollops of color in each well, waiting for my brush filled with water, my spirit begins to flutter with excitement. With a flick of my wrist, the wetted brush in my hand, I pick up the first dab of color and touch it down on the page. The walk into the ether, beginning again.

blue seascape
Big Sky, watercolor on paper by Heather Rippert

 

Visit my website to learn more about and follow my journey heatherrippert.com

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