We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marla Ripperda a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Marla , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
I had an opportunity to display an artwork at a local restaurant as part of a group show. The manager liked what I had and asked me about doing seasonal displays. My mentor at the time said, “You can do this. You need to do this!” I listened to the manager’s ideas and created them in my vision. It was a wonderful collaboration in which I grew as an artist professionally. I worked with budgets and deadlines and the physicality of creating the artwork and installing it on a 60’ circumference suspended 19’ in the air above their bar. The manager later said at first I took his ideas and brought them to life. As our relationship evolved, he gave me the freedom to just see what I would come up with next.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am compelled to create art. I have always done so in my home, for family, and friends which led to new clients who saw my work. I paint and sculpt and like nothing better than collaborating with someone who has an idea, a place and a budget. Together we create an original piece of art for their home or business. I participate in calls for art in the region for art shows and public art. I have several large outdoor sculptures on year long loan to Central Texas cities (Marble Falls, Bee Cave, and Round Rock). Both Georgetown and Jewett purchased sculptures that are on permanent display. Numerous local businesses and restaurants display my paintings for sale.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I was a sculptor for many years but when the atelier I used closed, I decided to go back to my painting roots. I sought out a local mentor and it took persistence from my side to finally get him to “take me on.” I learned so much from him. It was the right move for both of us as we became great friends and opened his second gallery in a nearby town together. Unfortunately, Covid caused us to close. I moved into a studio in his original gallery until he closed it and moved out of state.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
I prefer original art directly created by the artist. I enjoy using new products or old products in new ways to produce hands on art. I am a beta tester for new polymerizing resins for a chemistry professor at Louisiana State University. That said, I realize that not everyone can afford original art, but can afford prints on canvas so I have produced a few of my favorite paintings as prints on canvas and one limited edition print. I’ve used third party vendors to produce them.
I have an annual recurring client for desktop awards that I designed. They were originally cast in bronze and I used a local foundry to produce them. When the company asked me to cut the cost, I had to learn how to cold cast bronze and manufacture them myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marlaripperda.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkripperda/
- Facebook: https://mfacebook.com/mkripperda/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/marlaripperda
Image Credits
My headshot taken by Debbie Slangal