Dana Point Resident, Artist Showcases New Work at Festival of Arts

Marie and Ron Tippets pose for a photo during opening night of Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. Photo: Courtesy of Marie Tippets

Pieces from Marie Tippets collection this year were inspired by her two-week trip to Japan. Her work can be seen at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach through August 31. Photo: Courtesy of Marie Tippets

Pieces from Marie Tippets collection this year were inspired by her two-week trip to Japan. Her work can be seen at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach through August 31. Photo: Courtesy of Marie Tippets

Pieces from Marie Tippets collection this year were inspired by her two-week trip to Japan. Her work can be seen at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach through August 31. Photo: Courtesy of Marie Tippets

Pieces from Marie Tippets collection this year were inspired by her two-week trip to Japan. Her work can be seen at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach through August 31. Photo: Courtesy of Marie Tippets

By Kristina Pritchett

After taking a trip abroad, a Dana Point artist has included new pieces of her work in this year’s Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach.

Marie Tippets has been participating the in the festival for five years now, but this year she introduced pieces inspired by her two-week trip to Japan called “Essence of Japan.”

“I found my soul there,” Tippet said. “This year is almost a new discovery for me.”

Tippets’ style is traditional, and she showcases a lot of still life. The new collection shows people, clothing detail, life happenings, landscapes and more.

“There’s a soothing quality to my work,” Tippets said. “My style felt similar to how the Japanese are, there’s a purposeful placement and perfect presentation.”

Before she began showcasing at the festival, Tippets was a business owner of Marie Tippets Design for 22 years. She created logos and worked with businesses on graphics.

Tippets had to change careers when the real estate industry, and other companies she worked with, began to decline.

“The whole transition into a full-time artist came unexpectedly,” Tippets said.   “I was too young to begin to retire. So I jumped wholeheartedly into my art and it became a passion.”

Tippets went to school for fine art, and even taught some classes. But, she knew that wasn’t what she wanted to do for a living.

While she had her own business, she continued to paint and grow her skills.

“It’s been such a blessing for me, and it’s become such a love of mine,” Tippets said.

Tippets said she and her husband Ron would attend the festivals in Laguna Beach with friends every summer. She said she wondered how people were chosen to showcase their work, but it wasn’t until a friend told her how to get involved that she considered trying.

“I thought it was a super exclusive thing, I never thought you could just apply,” Tippets said.

She said she doesn’t get nervous when the festival first begins; instead she just focuses on her work and doing the very best that she can.

“I focus on what I love and what I bring to the table,” Tippets said. “I’m always proud of how well the work is received. If you let that affect your art career, you can become commercial.”

The festival runs through Aug. 31 and you can visit Tippets at booth 11.