A Studio After Dark

If you stroll by Del Ray Picture Framing on Mount Vernon Avenue at 2 a.m., you might see Don Ripper settling in to paint after taking a break for drinks at the Majestic Lounge. The framing shop doubles as his painting studio, where he is often in the back doing what he loves — creating landscapes — though he also may be touching up one of his commissioned portraits.

Don thinks of his studio as a sanctuary where he allows the feeling and mood of each painting to reveal themselves. "There's something profound about the spaces in between — the shadows, the fog, those fleeting moments when the world feels like it's holding its breath," he said. He begins outdoors with a sketchbook and camera, then returns to the studio, where memory and emotion shape his landscapes into scenes that often go unnoticed. He believes feeling is what gives a painting its power.

Don has been creating art most of his life. By fifth grade, teachers recognized his talent, and he earned permission to skip class to create public service posters for the school, including "Cover Your Cough" and "Wash Your Hands."

In seventh grade at Lake Braddock Secondary School, he painted album covers on classmates' jean jackets as a way to carve out a place for himself in a large school.

"I quickly had a nine-month backlog, with my work parading around the local mall on the backs of Springfield's cool kids."

Supportive art teachers even gave him access to a supply room that served as his first studio.

Like many creative people, Don's talents extend beyond painting. He has played the drums since he was 8 years old and quickly discovered he had a knack for music. In the 1980s, he teamed with artist friend and future business partner Jeff Erickson to tour with their rock band, Bazooka Blue. The group found success performing original music until changing musical tastes brought that chapter to a close.

From 1989 to 1992, Don attended Corcoran College of Art and Design, where he refined his painting skills. He and Erickson opened Erickson and Ripper Gallery in 1993, first in a warehouse, then on North Washington Street, before expanding to Del Ray in 2006.

Don's landscapes and portraits are part of private and corporate collections across the United States and abroad. Visit donripper.com to learn more about his work, the galleries that represent him and his paintings. His website also includes links to thoughtful essays published by the Alexandria Stylebook. He also shares his work on Instagram at @don_ripper_art.

On your next evening walk, stop by Del Ray Picture Framing and spend a moment with the painting displayed in the front window. Don says one of the greatest rewards of being an artist in Del Ray is hearing from neighbors who have paused to admire his work.