Here Studio is a one woman creative shop run by me - Abigael Tripp. My focus is on landscape imagery and design inspired by the magic and beauty of the natural world. I like to make things that bring more joy into daily life. I hope that by sharing my work I can connect with fellow earth dwellers who also feel a deep appreciation and love for the places that we’re so fortunate to inhabit.
A BRIEF BIO ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO.
I was born and raised in Missoula, MT. Growing up, a lot of my life was lived outdoors exploring the mountains and rivers of Western Montana. That time spent hiking, fishing, backpacking, and riding horses cultivated the deep sense of reverence for nature that I carry into my work. My day job is working as the art director for the Portland-based company Tender Loving Empire. In my spare time I run Here Studio as a creative outlet to make the work that is most near and dear to my heart. I love to create handmade goods and experiment with different mediums and processes like textile dyeing, acrylic and gouache paint, film photography, and ceramics. In my work I'm always trying to capture the way being outside, connected to the earth makes me feel.
DESCRIBE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS... HOW DO YOU WORK AND MAKE THE GREAT THINGS YOU MAKE?
I work across several different mediums, so the process varies a lot depending on the materials I'm using. But everything I make starts with a feeling - a desire to create (and usually a photo taken while on a hike or camping trip). When working on a painting I will usually pull together a few different photos and collage them together to create a reference image. From there it's just many hours spent staring at a canvas, mixing colors, painting and painting over, until I reach a place that captures the feeling I was searching for. Other times I'll work digitally. I've realized this process is heavily influenced by my training as a graphic designer. I draw elements of the image separately (trees, flowers, mountains, etc.) and then using Adobe Illustrator, I spend time just moving them around - trying to create a composition that clicks. I love the way working digitally gives me the ability to try endless color combinations and to compare different versions side-by-side when making decisions. (It’s so much more forgiving than working with paint!) Whatever the process, I always try to stay grounded in my body and listen to its queues when creating - to let the work come into being intuitively.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
Here Studio was born out of the need to have a creative practice that was rooted in body and place. I was putting all my energy into my day job as a graphic designer and realized I hadn't made art just for myself in years. I took a painting class and began a personal art practice. After sharing some of the new work, I had people reaching out wanting to purchase prints. So I suppose Here Studio as a business came into being and grew naturally as an unfolding of my art practice.
WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?
Most (or maybe all) of the inspiration for my work is found in my time spent outdoors - whether it's my daily hikes on the winding trails around Missoula or adventures on the rivers and mountains of western Montana. It's important to me to spend time feeling connected to my ecosystem and to carry a sense of reverence for this place into the things I create. There's something thrilling about how the composition of mountain peaks moves and shifts along the horizon while I'm hiking that makes me want to draw. Or the way the undulating texture of prairie grasses gives me butterflies in my stomach and I get the urge to try to recreate that feeling with paint. Looking at/reading/listening to work by other artists and designers is also an important part of my practice. Here's a list of some of the things and folks I'm inspired by lately: Annabel Gault, Amy Sillman, Haley Heyndericks, The Slip Cast Podcast, Maynard Dixon, Florian Gadsby, Arlo Parks, Ty Williams, Arianna Lago, Andrea Keys Connell, Magali Cazo, Holly Osborne, and so many more...
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AS AN ARTIST AND BUSINESS PERSON?
The thing that I'm the most proud of when it comes to my work is the way my art brings joy to people's lives. There's no better feeling than when someone lights up as they see one of my prints that reminds them of a favorite hiking trail or a special memory tied to a place they love.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS OR SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR FELLOW ARTISANS AND MAKERS?
As an artist I think it's really important to listen to your gut and stay in touch with your body. Make the work that feels authentic to you and try to drown out all the "shoulds" in your head. Also, have patience with yourself - it takes time and practice to cultivate your own voice as an artist. Don't be afraid to try new things and spend time making just to create (not every single thing you make has to be sold). There's a lot of value in making "bad" work or work that you love, but isn't marketable.
