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Read below the Columbus Dispatch
review
of Vivian's Solo Exhibition at the Lyle Gallery
Vivian is an
accomplished artist of quite varied subject matter; but inherent in all
her works is the beauty of color and how it is affected by light and
shade. She works in pastel, watercolor, acrylic, and colored
pencil--always striving to achieve beauty in each medium through her
emotional use of color and tone. Vivian has been professionally active in
group and individual shows since 1975. She regularly teaches pastel,
portraiture, colored pencil, and is also in demand for demonstrations and
workshops in these disciplines as well as in watercolor.
Of particular interest is painting on location. The
excitement and involvement with the moment is particularly rewarding. "The
whole body, and its senses, is involved with nature because of the urgency
to depict an increasingly changing scene," says Vivian. A favorite area is
Ontario, North of Georgian Bay, where the artist travels at least twice
yearly--painting and giving workshops. Vivian was Artist-in-Residence at
Harper's Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers' Ferry, West Virginia in
1999. Vivian's special watercolor technique is spotlighted in a 6-page
chapter in The Watercolor Landscape Techniques of 23 International
Artists, published by International Artist and also available through
North Light Books.
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Address:
3867 Chiselhurst Place
Columbus, OH 43220 |
Phone:
614.451.6254 |
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EXHIBIT LYLE GALLERY
Landscapes capture moments in time
By Kaizaad Kotwal
FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The landscapes, still lifes and interiors of Vivian
Ripley are vivid with color and brushwork. Precise composition and an
astute sense of space define her aesthetic.
An educator and artist for more than four decades,
Ripley is proficient in pastels, pencils, acrylics and watercolors — with
works in collections throughout the United States, Canada, Britain, France
and Japan.
A new selection of her works — largely landscapes
spanning seasons and topographies — is on view in the Lyle Gallery. Ripley
paints mostly plein-air, with the area north of Georgian Bay in Ontario
among her favorite locales.
"Rush of Water" uses a vivid palette of greens and
blues to re-create a gushing rivulet. Gestural strokes and frenetic lines
poetically capture the moving water.
"On the Olentangy" illustrates her less-is-more
approach. Using minimal elements, she conveys volumes of information.
Simple strokes, elegant lines and an evocative manipulation of space
capture a moment in time.
One small landscape packs a powerful punch: The
watercolor-and-pencil "The Sentinel" features a tall, lone fir tree in a
rocky, barren landscape. Bent from years of defying Mother Nature, the
tree nevertheless hasn't lost any of its strength or beauty.
"Bird Haven", a detailed pastel, catches the burgeoning
of spring. Lush greens on the ground and the bare limbs of trees beginning
to sprout find nature in transition.
Ripley's use of light is magical; the sun casts playful
shadows that dance on newborn grass. "Closed" features an isolated shack —
a country store, perhaps — in the middle of nowhere. The sign, the
dilapidated building and even the surrounding foliage seem lonely and
depressed.
The playful watercolor "Fancy Felines" features three
cats making mischief on top of a table and chairs, and away from the gaze
of their owner. The red chair, green curtains and silhouette of the
felines — and the artist's use of abstraction and realism — make for a
captivating image.
A color reproduction of "Closed" was reproduced along with the article and
can be seen in the above works. |
