Today we’d like to introduce you to Gracey Ripa.
Hi Gracey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Right after high school, I began my career as a tattoo artist in Colorado, a path I followed for seven years before transitioning into fine art and murals. At 27, I moved to San Francisco to pursue a new artistic career. Tattooing gave me a strong foundation in composition, storytelling, and creating meaningful work for others. I’m still refining my fine art style, and I look forward to continuing to grow as an artist, painting larger canvases and transforming more walls through murals.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Early in my career, I struggled to find a tattoo shop that aligned with me creatively, so I eventually built my own private tattoo studio. That was a rewarding process and required a tremendous amount of work. When I transitioned to painting full-time, I didn’t earn much income during the first year, but I sold several original paintings and many prints, which showed me that I was moving in the right direction. Moving to San Francisco brought another set of challenges. I initially painted in a very small space, which made creating and producing larger work difficult. Eventually, I was able to find a large studio in the Bay Area where I could work comfortably and happily continue developing my art.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gracey Ripa Art?
Through Gracey Ripa Art, I create original paintings, prints, commissions, and large-scale murals. My work combines contemporary realism with impressionistic brushwork and often explores femininity and nature. I want each piece to feel beautiful and meaningful while allowing viewers to find their own stories within it. I’m most proud of building an independent art career and connecting with collectors across the country. I’m always excited to take on new commissions and work with businesses to elevate their spaces!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something people may not realize is how much work happens behind the scenes. In addition to creating the art, I manage nearly every part of my business myself, from marketing and photographing my work to communicating with collectors, packaging orders, and maintaining my website. On a personal level, something people may not know about me is that I love swimming and being near water. Water has always felt peaceful and inspiring to me, which may explain why it appears so often in my artwork.
Pricing:
- I charge $18 per square foot for murals
Contact Info:
- Website: https://graceyripa.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/graceyripa
