Shari Tipich is a full-service decorative artist with a 35-year history of doing custom wall art. She paints murals, decorative artistry and scenic landscapes, mainly in clients’ homes on walls, ceilings, floor and furniture.

She describes her work as “a voluptuous style — very maximalist, colorful, a lot of attention to detail, really just opulent and fun.”

Tipich did not start out down the conventional artist pathway. She is completely self-taught, and she originally went to school with a science major. But she always did art on the side.

In the 1990s, she made the leap to decorative art. She has gained her reputation as an artist largely through her contribution to showcase houses, such as the Pasadena Showcase House, which she has participated in for the past eight years, and the Sandpiper Holiday Home Tour.

“The showcase houses are what really put me in motion and put me on the map,” Tipich says.

While the showcase houses and clients’ houses both involve decorative art in various rooms, Tipich says that showcase houses allow her to experiment with her art.

“The special thing about that is that you're really allowed to take risks and kind of go nuts,” Tipich says. “You're allowed to take risks that you can't with normal clients because it's a show. So I'm there to put the ‘show’ in showcase and really give you something that you might not see at a regular client’s house.”

The art Tipich shares in the showcase houses can also convey important messages. For example, a recent piece she showcased was an homage to America’s wild horses. The piece was a scenic tapestry-like painting that wrapped around the room, featuring wild horses on every wall. Tipich intended the piece to not only be a beautiful addition to the room, but also to raise awareness about the threat to America’s wild horses.

“The challenge with this space was how to raise awareness of a sensitive and sad subject without putting a somber cast on my beautiful room and also what is a happy event,” Tipich says. “It’s a complicated issue with the horses. It's an environmental issue and an animal welfare issue. So I felt that if I didn't raise awareness somehow, it was a waste of potentially 25,000 people that come through the house. So [the question] was how to draw attention to it without putting a somber sadness over my space.”

When she works with clients, it is a bit of a different process. A project starts with Tipich visiting the house so she can see the environment where the artwork will go. She can also talk to clients about their vision and see if they have ideas about what they want. House visits also allow her to see the style of the house so she can plan out artwork that will complement it.

“I like to kind of have the house speak to me, like if it's a Spanish house or a Italian villa or modern,” Tipich says. “It [allows me] to see where it's all going to go.”

Based on the information she learns about the client, the house and their lifestyle, Tipich creates a series of inspiration and ideas. She then works with the client to make the best design possible for their house.

Tipich offers a fully custom process that often involves on-site work, though she is able to do some work at her studio in San Pedro. While it can be challenging work, especially when she has to reach areas that are not easily accessible, she finds it rewarding.

“I'm doing something custom for a client and making their painted dreams come true, doing something timeless,” Tipich says. “It is a personal project and it is somewhat of an investment, so you don't want to do something that they're going to get tired of or want to paint over in two years. So the reward is definitely creating something together with a client that remains timeless, remains relevant and beautiful.”

As Tipich moves forward, she plans to continue to do client and showcase house work, but she plans to add a line of home décor to the mix, as well. These will entail hand-painted wall coverings and custom designs that will make her designs more accessible to people, as she will not have to do on-site work or paint a permanent piece of wall art in someone’s home.

“It's important for me — like even with my showcase endeavors — to tell a story and take you to another place, evoke emotion and stir memory,” she says. “I find that I achieve that with my showcase audience every year. It’s become my goal to tell a story and bring you somewhere else.”

For more information: https://www.instagram.com/sharitipichartist/?hl=en

SUBSCRIBE FREE TO PALOS VERDES PULSE

Emily McGinn: A Dedicated Journalist

Fueled by passion and curiosity, Emily McGinn is a fervent journalist whose heart beats for truth and creativity. As a graduate of California Baptist University, Emily’s academic voyage is adorned with rich interests in environmental science, political science, and graphic design. Her portfolio is a mosaic of hard work and dedication, evidenced by a repertoire of content that stands as a testament to her journalistic commitment and academic pursuits.

Emily doesn’t just chase stories; she seeks the truth with a thoughtful blend of accuracy, respect, and diligence. Her journalism transcends mere reporting, reflecting a meticulous effort to maintain integrity and excellence in every piece. Inspired by a profound respect for her craft, Emily is unafraid to push boundaries, perpetually aiming to enhance the quality of her work.

Experimentation and innovation light up Emily’s journey, especially in the realm of design. With an artistic flair, she loves exploring the vibrant intersections of journalism and graphic design, continuously experimenting to breathe visual life into stories and publications.

In Emily's world, journalism is not merely a career choice, but a calling—a space where passion meets purpose, and stories are crafted with care and conscience. In the garden of journalism, she continues to cultivate a bouquet of skills and experiences that resonate with her dedication to truth, creativity, and excellence.