In Style

The Arts From the December 2008 issue Master of Acrylics Jerry Lipp by LeeAnn Dickson Photo by Dante Fontana. The ancient Roman philosopher Cicero once said, “The most valuable of arts, is the art of living.” That is the best way to explain how Rocklin artist Jerry Lipp enjoys his life – he lives it to its fullest. “I am truly blessed to be able to make my living doing what I love,” Lipp says. Between being a CEO of a local multi media advertising firm and putting in more than 60 hours a week painting, he shows an obsession for creating. “Even if I didn’t make good money in my profession,” Jerry says, “I’d be working at McDonald’s to buy materials to paint.” He studied under and has been influenced by many local and international artists. However, he credits his grandmothers, both accomplished painters, for teaching him the basics and seeding his passion. “They tried teaching me to paint with oils,” Lipp recalls. “What six year-old kid can wait for oils to dry?” They both switched to quick drying acrylics as their media and so did Jerry. “Once they starting using acrylics,” he confesses, “I used to ‘borrow’ their supplies.” In his painting he works with texture and lots of color. He aspires to paint women in abstract without offending or objecting them. “The female form is the essence of the piece,” Lipp says, “not the object.” His inspired process to complete each painting takes about three to four weeks. “To me, painting is like breathing…I spend most of my time painting.” And, after spending the better part of a month completing pieces of his work, according to Lipp it is hard to part with them. “To me,” Lipp admits, “selling a painting is like selling my kid.” His personal vision, seen in his work, conveys a specific emotion of each of his subjects. He is quick to categorize himself as a painter and not an artist. “I am a painter of paintings,” he explains, “I’m not in a position to criticize my own work…that’s up to the viewer.” This creative, dynamic man is also humble. As an accomplished businessman in all his endeavors, he knows the importance of surrounding himself with good people. “We are here for each other,” Lipp says. “Everyone in my life leaves me a better person.” Part of Kallie Cabrera’s job as an executive administrator working for Jerry Lipp is to make sure he has everything he needs to give him more time to paint. “It’s been an incredible experience learning and growing both with him and in the art,” Cabrera says. “His work is tremendous and I love being part of his creative process.” Noel Flynn, fellow artist and owner of Noel Flynn Gallery, works with Lipp to transform loose canvases into framed gallery-wrapped works of art. “Jerry’s depiction of the female,” Flynn says, “skillfully blends the outer fringes of reality together with the rudimentary abstraction of color and form.” Lipp works hard creating everyday. He believes that your mindset drives you. “It is up to you,” he says, “if you are successful or not.”

Copyright © Sierrastyle Publishing, Inc. 2008

Absract in its Natural Form

By Sheree Nelson


The California artist Jerry Lipp is regarded as an instinctive master of acrylics. He achieves strength, drama and richness of color in a medium not easily controlled. His masterful techniques and incredible palette have long been recognized as unique and interesting as his works have earned international accolades.

Lipp was born in Los Angeles, California in 1962 and has always been immersed in art. Talent courses through him via his bloodline. Both of his Grandmothers were accomplished professional oil painters. His interest in art was guided by this constant exposure, guidance and tutelage of his family. This gave Lipp an incredible opportunity to learn from those master artist’s who were in the circle of his grandparents. Soon after this he was able to gain access to the newly developed world of acrylics. Frustrated by the “drying time” of oils, he took to this medium immediately. As acrylics gained popularity he grew his knowledge and abilities. He sat at the knees of some of the earliest artistic successes in the world of acrylics. He was able to digest a myriad of techniques as they were first developed. As the world of this new medium exploded so did his intimacy with this incredibly diverse ever expanding exciting new universe.

His earliest works proudly hang and are still highly regarded in collections worldwide. The artist sold his first piece in 1971 at age 9; “Man Pushing a Rock” was a sculpture of copper wire and stone, thoughtfully created with the mythical Sisyphus portrayed with all the emotion and frustration stunningly captured at just under one foot tall. He went on to create dozens of these works as well as hundreds of acrylic, oil paintings and sculptures all sold through the formative years of his life.

Though already an accomplished and successful professional artist, in 1981 Lipp attended the California Institute of The Arts. He was able to work his way through the Institute with his continuing success as a highly regarded artist. The artist continued to study under many internationally recognized abstractural masters. He continues to learn and grow as an artist. Lipp believes that arts creation is a practice, much like many other professions. “The longer you do, the more you create, the better you get.”

In 1987 Lipp went on to teach, unfortunately now with the demands on his time he will only occasionally be able to budget time to instruct a few workshops. Lipp regrets that his teaching career has been limited by these demands, he states “I love to teach, my biggest regret is that I haven’t enough time to do both, teach and create. I learn so much from teaching.” Though Lipp continues to give back with his participating in a number of foundations and charities, he still plans to teach in the future.

With this latest venture, the resulting works manage to convey effortlessly the particular emotion of each subject. We anticipate that his very personal vision and interpretation of these sensual subjects will appeal to his audience for years to come.

Artist and Art – May 2001