Born and raised in Colorado, I spent my early years surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. My parents, Joe and Sadie Vialpando, decided to relocate our family to Northern California when I was 14. It was there, in the 10th grade of high school, that I met my future husband, Frank Tripp. We married after graduation and Frank enlisted in the United States Air Force.

Our military journey eventually took us to Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. I found employment at DA Davidson, a prestigious brokerage firm. After 6 years in the Air Force and the arrival of two beautiful children, we decided to return to California. Frank pursued a career path that led him through notable institutions such as Crocker National Bank, Diebold, and Wells Fargo, where he honed his skills as a Lead Alarm Technician. Eventually, he established his own venture, Tripp Security System, which our son later assumed ownership upon our retirement in Atwater, CA.

Meanwhile, my professional trajectory saw me working for Merrill Lynch in Santa Rosa, CA, before transitioning to the Merced County Times as a graphic artist. I later joined Paine Webber in Merced, CA.

From a young age, I exhibited a penchant for drawing and crafting, a passion that persisted into adulthood. My children gifted me with oil paints, canvas, and brushes in 2011, sparking a newfound enthusiasm for painting. Inspired by instructional programs airing on PBS, including luminaries such as Bob Ross and Gary & Kathwren Jenkins, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery in the realms of oil and acrylic artistry.

What captivates me most about oil painting is the rich textures it imbues upon the canvas. To me, art is an expression of creativity without boundaries, whether it manifests as a portrait, landscape, still life, seascape, or depiction of animals. I thrive on the anticipation of each new creation. I experiment with a variety of mediums and projects. It might be it oil paint, soap making, jewelry crafting, sewing, or whatever artistic endeavor that captures my curiosity. My true passion lies in the act of creation itself, forever eager to explore the endless possibilities of art.

Frank and I still call Atwater our home, as do both our children, now grown. They’ve blessed us with five wonderful grandchildren who each excel in their own artistic and academic pursuits.