Marla Ripps

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As an artist in both glass and metal, I bring into being glass art and unique metal jewelry that fulfills a need to express my own version of the beauty of God’s creation.  Glass is an amazing medium to work in as an artist. It is never boring, always inspiring and touches me in a way no other art form has been able to since I began drawing as a child.  I get lost in the process. Metal itself is intriguing, combining chemistry and physics to create designs and reactions that express my own vision.

My journey into glass and eventually metalsmithing began as a way to cope with the unexpected death of my mother in 2004. She was the one person who always encouraged me to follow my dreams. Glass was something new, something I had never tried before. I have quilted, embroidered, painted and designed. I have always had some creative outlet; some were only pursued for a short while and others are still a part of my life.  None have made as big an impact and impression as working with warm and hot glass and silver and copper metals.

I started metalsmithing with some wire and a desire to create distinctive pendants and necklaces that combined my love of glass and metal. Sawing, soldering, forging, folding, finishing are all techniques I have become skilled in and each in their own way have helped to develop my unique voice; a combination of asymmetry, line, geometric shapes and color.

I was born in Louisiana and moved to Texas in the 1970’s. I still consider myself a Louisiana girl as well as a Texan. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Civil Engineering. I chose this major because I liked math and science, not a good reason. I began teaching when a local Homeschool Co-Op needed a Chemistry teacher, a position I held for 22 years, adding in Physics and at the end an Art 1 class. I recently retired giving me time to pursue my glass and metals work.

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