About the Artist

Bryan Kippen began his art career at the age of 3, drawing horses. His early experiences of farm animals, outdoors, and wildlife, stuck with him, becoming subject matter for his art. All of his paintings portray natural scenes of the American West, both yesterday and today.

He graduated from Weber State University with a BS and a major in Visual Communications. After college, unable to find a full-time job in the art field, he fell back on his minor of computer science for employment. With a job and raising a family, he found little time for creating artwork. He never gave up his dream of doing art, though. He continued to experiment with his work, selling or giving the resulting creations to friends and family. After 22 years of laboring in the IT field, he left it to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time artist.

His artistic explorations have lead a wandering path, beginning at an early age with drawing and painting. Later, he was introduced to leather work by his uncle. He learned to make belts, wallets and horse tack. He developed his own pattern for a miniature saddle, each one unique and custom-made for display. He also created painted, leather covered belt buckles.

In college, he learned wood carving and experimented in carved and painted bas relief scenes integrating elements learned from leather work. He began creating carved wooden belt buckles finished with paint and colored pencils. Further exploration has lead to paintings using plaster or cement on hardboard to create a low relief work. This produces a picture with surprising depth which can change with the angle of viewing and direction of light.

Some might call him a “new” artist, but in reality he has been creating all his life. He now has the time to devote to his artistic endeavors. Where this will lead, not even he knows, but he is looking forward to the journey.