Bob Ripley is a native of upstate New York, born and raised in Elmira. A Navy veteran, he is also an honors graduate of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University where he majored in Advertising Design. After graduation, he spent the next thirty-six years as an art director at three different upstate advertising agencies. His work has won numerous regional and national awards.

During his busy career, Bob never lost his life-long interest in drawing and painting, and continued to hone his skills during his free time. He was and still is inspired by the masters of the medium, especially Winslow Homer and Andrew Wyeth.  Soon to be retired, Bob will be able to pursue his love of painting full-time in his home studio.

His artistic philosophy and motivation are both simplistic and genuine: “Wildlife and natural forms have served as inspiration for my artwork since I was a little boy painting watercolors on cardboard shirt boxes. I’ve always been drawn to water and the creatures that inhabit the earth’s lifeblood... ducks, loons and especially fish. Encounters with nature through my numerous outdoor hobbies provide a wide array of creative opportunities.

Typically, my paintings result from a combination of reference photography, field notes and observations. I’m constantly amazed by the colors, textures and compositions in the natural world. Hopefully, my finished works capture a “wild moment” in the beauty of planet earth and remind us of its fragile nature.”

Bob is an avid outdoorsman and spends many hours fly fishing, canoeing, hiking and cross-country skiing. The Adirondack Mountains and the American West are among his favorite haunts and often the setting for his compositions. He and his wife Cheryl live in the country outside of Skaneateles, where they share space with the local flora and fauna.

Visit Bob's web site at: www.bobripley.com

(315)673-3572