“You paint WHAT?!”
Typical response. Whenever I tell someone about my job, they do a bit of a verbal double-take. Because, actually, my job is a bit unusual. I paint tipis.
When I first took this job, I had done a bit of a life-direction double-take. I left my corporate job with a good company in the Midwest (Hallmark Cards) and moved my family to Montrose, CO. Western Colorado has always been an awesome place to live, but never an easy place to make a living. At first, I was teaching art and freelancing, but these were not really bill-paying-jobs. So, when the opportunity to work for Colorado Yurt Company came, I was happy to have a “real” job. At first, I was intimidated by the size of the paintings (a 28’ tipi is HUGE), and I was a bit (ahem) puzzled by the turn my career had taken.
Now the initial apprehension has faded, and I am having fun. I learn about Native American design and traditions. I get to know our customers and their stories. I still take a deep breath when I see a large tipi spread out on the floor. But, this job is educational, exciting, and, yes, unusual, three years later.
Since I started, the process has changed. We now have an online design catalog, where customers can try out different elements. Even with this tool, I usually customize the tipi with color, additional animals or symbols or logos. And, many people want a unique custom design that tells their unique story.
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Some memorable designs:
A customer in Louisiana chose our “Sioux horses” design for his 28’ tipi. There is a different horse to represent each member of his family- and a purple and gold top to pay homage to the LSU Tigers.
A Girl Scout camp in Texas chose to create a memorial tipi for a family that was killed in a traffic accident. The tipi has horses to represent the parents and their three daughters. This design also has the Girl Scout friendship rings at the top. Now, campers enjoy a beautiful tipi, and learn the touching story behind the art.
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I’ve done one-of-a-kind pieces of art like a Viking ship, a bear with polka-dotted pants, a pot-bellied pig and a Scottish crest.
Tipis are very cool. A tipi is a huge personal statement. A painted tipi makes it intensely more personal. Whether you choose something simple or totally tricked out, your tipi will say something about you.
So, let’s get painting!
Ivy Fife is our new marketing manager. She’s also been our artist for the past three years- and will continue to paint tipis.