I was born in the northwest and raised in Juneau, Alaska. My artist mother fostered my interest in art at an early age. With her encouragement, along with my compelling love of the outdoors, I found a wide variety of themes to draw and paint. I graduated from Los Angeles Art Center in 1958, majoring in magazine illustration. Judy, my Alaska born wife, and I returned to Juneau and ran our own commercial art and printing business for more than 35 years. We have three grown married daughters and six grandchildren. My daughter Marjy is an Alaska travel specialist living in Wrangell, Alaska.
Since my retirement in 1993, I’ve turned to painting what I find familiar, the beautiful scenery of southeast Alaska, its history, people and animals. I get my ideas for my paintings while enjoying our cabin in the wilderness of the Taku River valley some fifty miles north of Juneau. The headwaters of the Taku are in British Columbia, Canada and flow down across the Alaska-Canada border through the beautiful coastal mountains to tidewater. On its journey to the Pacific Ocean, the river passes many spectacular glaciers, waterfalls and feeder streams. Mountain goat, moose, bear and wolf inhabit this area, along with a treasure of waterfowl, eagles and ravens. Further inspiration to paint is aided by cruising the waters of Southeast Alaska aboard our 36 ft. diesel boat.
Known as the Inside Passage, this body of water, with its deep fjords, high craggy snow capped mountains, endless bays, coves, and natural harbors, provides a myriad of material for an artist. The whale, porpoise, seal and sea lion, along with hundreds of species of sea birds only add to an already perfect world for artistic pursuits.
Another southeast Alaska artist is Roy Peratrovich Jr.. Visit his website at Ravenworks Art Studio.
My original works and prints are on display in public and private collections throughout Alaska and the northwest, including Alaska’s Capitol, U.S. Post Office and City Hall in downtown Juneau. I’ve worked in many different mediums over the years. Nowadays I primarily work in oils in the studio and pen, pencil and watercolor in the field gathering research.
I am currently represented by "Southeast Artworks", located in the Nugget Mall in Juneau. They have many of my originals that are not shown on this website. They can be reached at: Souheast Artworks, 8745 Glacier Highway, Suite 109, Juneau, AK 99801. e-mail: seartworks@gmail.com
Rudy J. Ripley |
