Art for the soul: Answering a 'mid-life crisis' Ruprecht discovered passion for painting
Thursday, 24 June 2010
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Joan Ruprecht paints from a small studio at home overlooking the woods.(Photo by Bruce Strand)
by Bruce Strand, Arts editor
As Joan Ruprecht turned the corner into mid-life, she had the nice family, the successful career, and the good health all going for her, but there was a void, too.
“I needed to try something else. Something new,” said Ruprecht.
The Elk River Realtor didn’t have to search long. Her first choice was oil painting, and she hit the jackpot.
 
Left: "Gypsy Dancer" is her personal favorite. Right: "Boundary Warters"
“I’ve grown to be absolutely passionate about painting,” said Ruprecht, 53, who lists her occupation as “artist and Realtor” in that order.
“I consider art to be a healing thing. Doing a painting nourishes the soul.”
That was 12 years ago. Ruprecht has become pretty good at it, too, as the paintings shown on this page attest.
She was the featured artist in an Elk River Arts Alliance show in November of 2008. She got a Best in Show for her painting “Gypsy Dancer” at the Maple Grove Paint the Town Red. She’s a regular at Art Soup and Schroeder Studio shows, and has been in Arts In Harmony (the more exclusive juried national show at the government center) and Evening of the Arts.
The ERHS graduate has been selling real estate since the late 1970s, associated with Keller Williams Realty Integrity NW. Earlier, she built custom homes for 14 years with her husband, Bob, who’s now the city’s building official. They have two teenage children, Jake and Maria.
While growing up, Ruprecht had little inclination for art. She recalls doing ink drawings in Harvey Schroeder’s junior high art class but that was about it.Her main thing at ERHS was playing drums in the band.
"Woman Working in Field" is a Kelley Farm subject.
It was Schroeder to whom she turned at age 41 upon deciding to take up oil painting. Her friend Sue Wipf, who currently paints full time with some success, had joined the Schroeder Studio and Joan wanted to try it, too.
“I had never painted with oils and had no idea what to bring,” said Ruprecht. She went to Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts of Maple Grove, the nearest art supplier, and bought all the wrong stuff, but was able to exchange it for the right materials recommended by Schroeder.
“Harvey remembered me,” said Ruprecht. “I told him I was having a mid-life crisis.”
Schroeder groused that it “makes me feel old if one of my junior-high students is having a mid-life crisis” but with that out of the way, they’ve had a good association for a dozen years.
“Joan came to the studio as an amateur, but an amateur eager to learn,” said Schroeder. “As she does with everything, Joan took painting very seriously. In class she thought about what she saw and heard, grasped concepts easily and progressed quickly. To all her learning she added a personal point of view and unique interpretation. Now, no longer an amateur, she creates beautiful and expressive paintings.”
 
Left: "Still Life with Orange." Right: "Rooster," another Kelley Farm work.
Ruprecht has several workshops, learning from celebrated artists Dan Laffel, Sherry McGraw, Carolyn Anderson, Matt Smith, Skip Whitcomb and Bonnie Roberts.
That first year, the studio was doing a lot of still life, so she got broken in painting bottles, bowls and fruit, then moved on to landscapes and portraits.
People are her preferred subject matter.
“Portraits have the most meaning for me,” explains Ruprecht, whose first one was Jake at age 3 with a stuffed animal. She has painted family members and other individuals who caught her eye.
 
Two of Joan Ruprecht's portraints. At left is a commissioned work; at right, her son Jake.
Her favorite is “Gypsy Dancer,” a small (6-by-8-inch) work vibrant with color and movement.
“We were at an art show in Wisconsin two years ago, in an apple orchard, just a small show, when I saw her,” said Ruprecht. “She was probably in her mid-20s. She just danced beautifully and I wanted to paint her so I took some photos. She was with some other dancers. She was actually dancing with a snake! But I didn’t paint that, just her.”
Her own favorite is Richard Schmid, a virtuoso of landscapes and buildings whose videos inspire thousands of artists. She’s also intrigued by local artist Glenn Quist and owns one of his paintings.
Asked about goals, Ruprecht said she’s done some kids’ portraits on commission and would like to do more of that. And more shows.
But mainly she just wants painting to be a daily endeavor.
“There’s a Bible verse that talks about not neglecting your gift,” she says. “My favorite time every day is when I can paint and get absorbed in creating.”
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Joan Ruprecht paints from a small studio at home overlooking the woods.(Photo by Bruce Strand)
by Bruce Strand, Arts editor
As Joan Ruprecht turned the corner into mid-life, she had the nice family, the successful career, and the good health all going for her, but there was a void, too.
“I needed to try something else. Something new,” said Ruprecht.
The Elk River Realtor didn’t have to search long. Her first choice was oil painting, and she hit the jackpot.
Left: "Gypsy Dancer" is her personal favorite. Right: "Boundary Warters"
“I’ve grown to be absolutely passionate about painting,” said Ruprecht, 53, who lists her occupation as “artist and Realtor” in that order.
“I consider art to be a healing thing. Doing a painting nourishes the soul.”
That was 12 years ago. Ruprecht has become pretty good at it, too, as the paintings shown on this page attest.
She was the featured artist in an Elk River Arts Alliance show in November of 2008. She got a Best in Show for her painting “Gypsy Dancer” at the Maple Grove Paint the Town Red. She’s a regular at Art Soup and Schroeder Studio shows, and has been in Arts In Harmony (the more exclusive juried national show at the government center) and Evening of the Arts.
The ERHS graduate has been selling real estate since the late 1970s, associated with Keller Williams Realty Integrity NW. Earlier, she built custom homes for 14 years with her husband, Bob, who’s now the city’s building official. They have two teenage children, Jake and Maria.
While growing up, Ruprecht had little inclination for art. She recalls doing ink drawings in Harvey Schroeder’s junior high art class but that was about it.Her main thing at ERHS was playing drums in the band.
"Woman Working in Field" is a Kelley Farm subject.
It was Schroeder to whom she turned at age 41 upon deciding to take up oil painting. Her friend Sue Wipf, who currently paints full time with some success, had joined the Schroeder Studio and Joan wanted to try it, too.
“I had never painted with oils and had no idea what to bring,” said Ruprecht. She went to Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts of Maple Grove, the nearest art supplier, and bought all the wrong stuff, but was able to exchange it for the right materials recommended by Schroeder.
“Harvey remembered me,” said Ruprecht. “I told him I was having a mid-life crisis.”
Schroeder groused that it “makes me feel old if one of my junior-high students is having a mid-life crisis” but with that out of the way, they’ve had a good association for a dozen years.
“Joan came to the studio as an amateur, but an amateur eager to learn,” said Schroeder. “As she does with everything, Joan took painting very seriously. In class she thought about what she saw and heard, grasped concepts easily and progressed quickly. To all her learning she added a personal point of view and unique interpretation. Now, no longer an amateur, she creates beautiful and expressive paintings.”
Left: "Still Life with Orange." Right: "Rooster," another Kelley Farm work.
Ruprecht has several workshops, learning from celebrated artists Dan Laffel, Sherry McGraw, Carolyn Anderson, Matt Smith, Skip Whitcomb and Bonnie Roberts.
That first year, the studio was doing a lot of still life, so she got broken in painting bottles, bowls and fruit, then moved on to landscapes and portraits.
People are her preferred subject matter.
“Portraits have the most meaning for me,” explains Ruprecht, whose first one was Jake at age 3 with a stuffed animal. She has painted family members and other individuals who caught her eye.
Two of Joan Ruprecht's portraints. At left is a commissioned work; at right, her son Jake.
Her favorite is “Gypsy Dancer,” a small (6-by-8-inch) work vibrant with color and movement.
“We were at an art show in Wisconsin two years ago, in an apple orchard, just a small show, when I saw her,” said Ruprecht. “She was probably in her mid-20s. She just danced beautifully and I wanted to paint her so I took some photos. She was with some other dancers. She was actually dancing with a snake! But I didn’t paint that, just her.”
Her own favorite is Richard Schmid, a virtuoso of landscapes and buildings whose videos inspire thousands of artists. She’s also intrigued by local artist Glenn Quist and owns one of his paintings.
Asked about goals, Ruprecht said she’s done some kids’ portraits on commission and would like to do more of that. And more shows.
But mainly she just wants painting to be a daily endeavor.
“There’s a Bible verse that talks about not neglecting your gift,” she says. “My favorite time every day is when I can paint and get absorbed in creating.”
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Joan Ruprecht paints from a small studio at home overlooking the woods.(Photo by Bruce Strand)
by Bruce Strand, Arts editor
As Joan Ruprecht turned the corner into mid-life, she had the nice family, the successful career, and the good health all going for her, but there was a void, too.
“I needed to try something else. Something new,” said Ruprecht.
The Elk River Realtor didn’t have to search long. Her first choice was oil painting, and she hit the jackpot.
Left: "Gypsy Dancer" is her personal favorite. Right: "Boundary Warters"
“I’ve grown to be absolutely passionate about painting,” said Ruprecht, 53, who lists her occupation as “artist and Realtor” in that order.
“I consider art to be a healing thing. Doing a painting nourishes the soul.”
That was 12 years ago. Ruprecht has become pretty good at it, too, as the paintings shown on this page attest.
She was the featured artist in an Elk River Arts Alliance show in November of 2008. She got a Best in Show for her painting “Gypsy Dancer” at the Maple Grove Paint the Town Red. She’s a regular at Art Soup and Schroeder Studio shows, and has been in Arts In Harmony (the more exclusive juried national show at the government center) and Evening of the Arts.
The ERHS graduate has been selling real estate since the late 1970s, associated with Keller Williams Realty Integrity NW. Earlier, she built custom homes for 14 years with her husband, Bob, who’s now the city’s building official. They have two teenage children, Jake and Maria.
While growing up, Ruprecht had little inclination for art. She recalls doing ink drawings in Harvey Schroeder’s junior high art class but that was about it.Her main thing at ERHS was playing drums in the band.
"Woman Working in Field" is a Kelley Farm subject.
It was Schroeder to whom she turned at age 41 upon deciding to take up oil painting. Her friend Sue Wipf, who currently paints full time with some success, had joined the Schroeder Studio and Joan wanted to try it, too.
“I had never painted with oils and had no idea what to bring,” said Ruprecht. She went to Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts of Maple Grove, the nearest art supplier, and bought all the wrong stuff, but was able to exchange it for the right materials recommended by Schroeder.
“Harvey remembered me,” said Ruprecht. “I told him I was having a mid-life crisis.”
Schroeder groused that it “makes me feel old if one of my junior-high students is having a mid-life crisis” but with that out of the way, they’ve had a good association for a dozen years.
“Joan came to the studio as an amateur, but an amateur eager to learn,” said Schroeder. “As she does with everything, Joan took painting very seriously. In class she thought about what she saw and heard, grasped concepts easily and progressed quickly. To all her learning she added a personal point of view and unique interpretation. Now, no longer an amateur, she creates beautiful and expressive paintings.”
Left: "Still Life with Orange." Right: "Rooster," another Kelley Farm work.
Ruprecht has several workshops, learning from celebrated artists Dan Laffel, Sherry McGraw, Carolyn Anderson, Matt Smith, Skip Whitcomb and Bonnie Roberts.
That first year, the studio was doing a lot of still life, so she got broken in painting bottles, bowls and fruit, then moved on to landscapes and portraits.
People are her preferred subject matter.
“Portraits have the most meaning for me,” explains Ruprecht, whose first one was Jake at age 3 with a stuffed animal. She has painted family members and other individuals who caught her eye.
Two of Joan Ruprecht's portraints. At left is a commissioned work; at right, her son Jake.
Her favorite is “Gypsy Dancer,” a small (6-by-8-inch) work vibrant with color and movement.
“We were at an art show in Wisconsin two years ago, in an apple orchard, just a small show, when I saw her,” said Ruprecht. “She was probably in her mid-20s. She just danced beautifully and I wanted to paint her so I took some photos. She was with some other dancers. She was actually dancing with a snake! But I didn’t paint that, just her.”
Her own favorite is Richard Schmid, a virtuoso of landscapes and buildings whose videos inspire thousands of artists. She’s also intrigued by local artist Glenn Quist and owns one of his paintings.
Asked about goals, Ruprecht said she’s done some kids’ portraits on commission and would like to do more of that. And more shows.
But mainly she just wants painting to be a daily endeavor.
“There’s a Bible verse that talks about not neglecting your gift,” she says. “My favorite time every day is when I can paint and get absorbed in creating.”
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| |
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Joan Ruprecht paints from a small studio at home overlooking the woods.(Photo by Bruce Strand)
by Bruce Strand, Arts editor
As Joan Ruprecht turned the corner into mid-life, she had the nice family, the successful career, and the good health all going for her, but there was a void, too.
“I needed to try something else. Something new,” said Ruprecht.
The Elk River Realtor didn’t have to search long. Her first choice was oil painting, and she hit the jackpot.
Left: "Gypsy Dancer" is her personal favorite. Right: "Boundary Warters"
“I’ve grown to be absolutely passionate about painting,” said Ruprecht, 53, who lists her occupation as “artist and Realtor” in that order.
“I consider art to be a healing thing. Doing a painting nourishes the soul.”
That was 12 years ago. Ruprecht has become pretty good at it, too, as the paintings shown on this page attest.
She was the featured artist in an Elk River Arts Alliance show in November of 2008. She got a Best in Show for her painting “Gypsy Dancer” at the Maple Grove Paint the Town Red. She’s a regular at Art Soup and Schroeder Studio shows, and has been in Arts In Harmony (the more exclusive juried national show at the government center) and Evening of the Arts.
The ERHS graduate has been selling real estate since the late 1970s, associated with Keller Williams Realty Integrity NW. Earlier, she built custom homes for 14 years with her husband, Bob, who’s now the city’s building official. They have two teenage children, Jake and Maria.
While growing up, Ruprecht had little inclination for art. She recalls doing ink drawings in Harvey Schroeder’s junior high art class but that was about it.Her main thing at ERHS was playing drums in the band.
"Woman Working in Field" is a Kelley Farm subject.
It was Schroeder to whom she turned at age 41 upon deciding to take up oil painting. Her friend Sue Wipf, who currently paints full time with some success, had joined the Schroeder Studio and Joan wanted to try it, too.
“I had never painted with oils and had no idea what to bring,” said Ruprecht. She went to Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts of Maple Grove, the nearest art supplier, and bought all the wrong stuff, but was able to exchange it for the right materials recommended by Schroeder.
“Harvey remembered me,” said Ruprecht. “I told him I was having a mid-life crisis.”
Schroeder groused that it “makes me feel old if one of my junior-high students is having a mid-life crisis” but with that out of the way, they’ve had a good association for a dozen years.
“Joan came to the studio as an amateur, but an amateur eager to learn,” said Schroeder. “As she does with everything, Joan took painting very seriously. In class she thought about what she saw and heard, grasped concepts easily and progressed quickly. To all her learning she added a personal point of view and unique interpretation. Now, no longer an amateur, she creates beautiful and expressive paintings.”
Left: "Still Life with Orange." Right: "Rooster," another Kelley Farm work.
Ruprecht has several workshops, learning from celebrated artists Dan Laffel, Sherry McGraw, Carolyn Anderson, Matt Smith, Skip Whitcomb and Bonnie Roberts.
That first year, the studio was doing a lot of still life, so she got broken in painting bottles, bowls and fruit, then moved on to landscapes and portraits.
People are her preferred subject matter.
“Portraits have the most meaning for me,” explains Ruprecht, whose first one was Jake at age 3 with a stuffed animal. She has painted family members and other individuals who caught her eye.
Two of Joan Ruprecht's portraints. At left is a commissioned work; at right, her son Jake.
Her favorite is “Gypsy Dancer,” a small (6-by-8-inch) work vibrant with color and movement.
“We were at an art show in Wisconsin two years ago, in an apple orchard, just a small show, when I saw her,” said Ruprecht. “She was probably in her mid-20s. She just danced beautifully and I wanted to paint her so I took some photos. She was with some other dancers. She was actually dancing with a snake! But I didn’t paint that, just her.”
Her own favorite is Richard Schmid, a virtuoso of landscapes and buildings whose videos inspire thousands of artists. She’s also intrigued by local artist Glenn Quist and owns one of his paintings.
Asked about goals, Ruprecht said she’s done some kids’ portraits on commission and would like to do more of that. And more shows.
But mainly she just wants painting to be a daily endeavor.
“There’s a Bible verse that talks about not neglecting your gift,” she says. “My favorite time every day is when I can paint and get absorbed in creating.”
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by Bruce Strand, Arts editor
As Joan Ruprecht turned the corner into mid-life, she had the nice family, the successful career, and the good health all going for her, but there was a void, too.
“I needed to try something else. Something new,” said Ruprecht.
The Elk River Realtor didn’t have to search long. Her first choice was oil painting, and she hit the jackpot.
Left: "Gypsy Dancer" is her personal favorite. Right: "Boundary Warters"
“I’ve grown to be absolutely passionate about painting,” said Ruprecht, 53, who lists her occupation as “artist and Realtor” in that order.
“I consider art to be a healing thing. Doing a painting nourishes the soul.”
That was 12 years ago. Ruprecht has become pretty good at it, too, as the paintings shown on this page attest.
She was the featured artist in an Elk River Arts Alliance show in November of 2008. She got a Best in Show for her painting “Gypsy Dancer” at the Maple Grove Paint the Town Red. She’s a regular at Art Soup and Schroeder Studio shows, and has been in Arts In Harmony (the more exclusive juried national show at the government center) and Evening of the Arts.
The ERHS graduate has been selling real estate since the late 1970s, associated with Keller Williams Realty Integrity NW. Earlier, she built custom homes for 14 years with her husband, Bob, who’s now the city’s building official. They have two teenage children, Jake and Maria.
While growing up, Ruprecht had little inclination for art. She recalls doing ink drawings in Harvey Schroeder’s junior high art class but that was about it.Her main thing at ERHS was playing drums in the band.
"Woman Working in Field" is a Kelley Farm subject.
It was Schroeder to whom she turned at age 41 upon deciding to take up oil painting. Her friend Sue Wipf, who currently paints full time with some success, had joined the Schroeder Studio and Joan wanted to try it, too.
“I had never painted with oils and had no idea what to bring,” said Ruprecht. She went to Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts of Maple Grove, the nearest art supplier, and bought all the wrong stuff, but was able to exchange it for the right materials recommended by Schroeder.
“Harvey remembered me,” said Ruprecht. “I told him I was having a mid-life crisis.”
Schroeder groused that it “makes me feel old if one of my junior-high students is having a mid-life crisis” but with that out of the way, they’ve had a good association for a dozen years.
“Joan came to the studio as an amateur, but an amateur eager to learn,” said Schroeder. “As she does with everything, Joan took painting very seriously. In class she thought about what she saw and heard, grasped concepts easily and progressed quickly. To all her learning she added a personal point of view and unique interpretation. Now, no longer an amateur, she creates beautiful and expressive paintings.”
Left: "Still Life with Orange." Right: "Rooster," another Kelley Farm work.
Ruprecht has several workshops, learning from celebrated artists Dan Laffel, Sherry McGraw, Carolyn Anderson, Matt Smith, Skip Whitcomb and Bonnie Roberts.
That first year, the studio was doing a lot of still life, so she got broken in painting bottles, bowls and fruit, then moved on to landscapes and portraits.
People are her preferred subject matter.
“Portraits have the most meaning for me,” explains Ruprecht, whose first one was Jake at age 3 with a stuffed animal. She has painted family members and other individuals who caught her eye.
Two of Joan Ruprecht's portraints. At left is a commissioned work; at right, her son Jake.
Her favorite is “Gypsy Dancer,” a small (6-by-8-inch) work vibrant with color and movement.
“We were at an art show in Wisconsin two years ago, in an apple orchard, just a small show, when I saw her,” said Ruprecht. “She was probably in her mid-20s. She just danced beautifully and I wanted to paint her so I took some photos. She was with some other dancers. She was actually dancing with a snake! But I didn’t paint that, just her.”
Her own favorite is Richard Schmid, a virtuoso of landscapes and buildings whose videos inspire thousands of artists. She’s also intrigued by local artist Glenn Quist and owns one of his paintings.
Asked about goals, Ruprecht said she’s done some kids’ portraits on commission and would like to do more of that. And more shows.
But mainly she just wants painting to be a daily endeavor.
“There’s a Bible verse that talks about not neglecting your gift,” she says. “My favorite time every day is when I can paint and get absorbed in creating.”
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