“Being an artist is an inner journey, as well as a life journey.”
At the age of six Aleta Pippin remembers her first trip into the desert of Southern California.
Aleta Pippin in her studio
Sitting in the back seat of her grandmother’s car (windows down, no air conditioning) with her two sisters, she recalls thinking “I’ve gone to hell” as they entered the hot, arid climate so different from Torrance and Albion, Michigan. Quite resilient, Pippin quickly learned to appreciate the desert environment. Surrounded by the stark rugged landscape, she blossomed. The clear light, deep blue sky, long views, and majestic mountains impressed on her subconscious mind for that time when she would realize her high school dream of becoming an artist.
The first step in moving toward realization of that dream began quite serendipitously in 1992, after a move to Santa Fe, New Mexico the autumn of 1991. Pippin took a painting class with Roberta Harris, an artist from Houston. For the next several years, she painted – mostly portraits and landscapes; experimenting with different media – acrylics, oils, pastels, and watercolors, honing her preferences to oils and acrylics.
In 2003, Pippin’s passion for painting became realized blooming into a full-time career. She continued to improve her technique and found her voice – becoming an abstract artist. Color is her driving force. The impressions and passion of Pippin’s childhood in the Coachella Valley desert expressed themselves into her paintings, showing up as color, freedom, and energetic movement.
Thus Pippin launched her third career in 2004 as a full-time abstract painter. In 2011, she opened Pippin Contemporary giving viewers and collectors a “sensory experience of color and mood.”
Undergoing another metamorphosis, Pippin closed her gallery business (12/31/2019) almost nine years after it opened and 14 years after opening Pippin Meikle Fine Art with fellow artist, Barbara Meikle. She’s using this opportunity to focus on her artwork and to enjoy more time for other pursuits. She’s excited to see where this next chapter will lead.