My name is Debra Ripp. I am an artist who works in Collage and Assemblage mediums. The “Same Forest “ has been the focus of my work since 2016. However, the origins of this project date back to my studies at The University of Iowa where I earned my Masters of Fine Art. To begin with, I wanted to find out more about some of the characters I had created, what do they look like once I take them from the drawing and create dimensions for them, who are they and what does the territory look like as they pass through it. Most of all. where do they come from and what does that world look like?

I take a lot of inspiration from a lifelong love of literature and I think that my work is strongly influenced by my reading of these works. Candide by Voltaire is my favorite!