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Cabell Public Library to host amazing wildlife artist, Chuck Ripper

June 25, 2009 @ 03:08 PM

2009/The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch.com

HUNTINGTON — The world looks the way it does because of artists. Right under your noses artists are at work redesigning the things you buy and all the things you use in your daily life.

Do you know a commercial artist personally? Probably not. But most everything you see that's made by man has been designed by an artist.

Computers. Postage stamps. Soda cans. Automobiles. Catalog covers. Perfume and cosmetic jars. The lamp you're reading by. Even the font used in the type for this well-written press release. The world we live in looks the way it does because an artist or team of artists was paid to design all these things. We often don't think twice about why these things look the way they do.

Unlike non-commercial artists (the so-called 'fine' artists), commercial artists are usually unknown to the public. You won't learn their names. But come to the Cabell County Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7 and meet one of America's top commercial artists. Learn about the fascinating world of commercial art and the talented men and women who work in it.

Come to the Library and meet Chuck Ripper.

Chuck Ripper has had a simply amazing career. He is one of America's greatest wildlife artists. He designed 80 postage stamps for the United States Postal Service. He created 575 conservation stamps for the National Wildlife Federation. More than 100 magazine covers. Those covers on the L.L. Bean catalogs you loved? Most likely he was the artist. Mr. Ripper produced an astonishing 1,492 flower illustrations for Roger Peterson's Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers. He produced his first illustrations for a book before his 20th birthday.  Since then he has illustrated many books, and has written and illustrated 11 books of his own.

Doesn't this sound like someone who knows his way around the field of commercial art? A man with many fascinating stories and pieces of advice?

Then it would be a shame for you to miss this rare opportunity to meet a legendary master of his field.

For information call 304-528-5700 or go online at www.cabell.lib.wv.us.