Wallace Tripp

Wallace “Wally” Tripp is an American illustrator best known for his children's books and Pawprints Greeting Cards. Wally was born in Boston in 1940 and grew up in rural New Hampshire and New York. Drawing was a favorite childhood past-time that he never gave up. Wally attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where he studied illustration and annoyed his teachers with his irreverent sense of humor. He received a bachelor's degree in education from Keene State College and an M.A. in English from the University of New Hampshire. He then taught English for three years until devoting himself full-time to illustration.

In spite of his consuming devotion to Shakespeare, EC Comics, vintage toys, RC model aviation, piloting his own Cessna, Middle-English poetry, appalling puns, and Classical music, Wally managed to illustrate over 600 greeting cards and 47 books, eight of which he wrote himself.

Pawprints Greeting Cards and Sparhawk Books featured Wally’s work and was run by wife Marcy, who turned the little publishing house into a nationally competitive business. Wally was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 42 and had to retire from illustration a few years after. Wally’s care became all-encompassing and Pawprints closed in 1999. In 2001, Wally underwent life-altering deep-brain stimulation surgery at UCLA Medical Center, which was an extraordinary success. His longevity with Parkinson’s may be attributed to devoted caregivers, his relentless commitment to exercise and a profound zest for life. He died in 2018 at the age of 78. Tripp is survived by three eccentric children (a theatrical designer, a musician, and the artist and author Ben Tripp) and four grandchildren; two musicians, a biologist and a toddler.

Still in print are "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!” and two books in the Amelia Bedelia series. Pawprints cards are available again on Zazzle via print on demand. Wally’s daughter and grandson are endeavoring to bring his work back to a new audience and lifelong fans alike: more to follow soon!