You can tell a lot about an artist by their use of color, and Tipp City native Bil Tipton doesn’t whisper in color, he shouts.
Inspired by his mom, an art student at Sinclair, his path to becoming an artist wasn’t always linear, instead he tried his hand at a variety of creative (and non creative) ventures until finally landing where he is now in his career.
With bright colors and interesting ideas, Bil’s pieces instantly stand out, from opossums painted like madonna to putting the Dayton skyline on a pumpkin, his work is bright, imaginative, and playful.
To say Bil is creative is an understatement, he is always pushing the limits and creates on a variety of interesting canvases including skateboards, pumpkins, and even toilet seats. For Bil nothing is off limits when it comes to his eclectic style and his creativity even shines through on his social media accounts.
“Somewhere in the middle, I have to remind myself to feed the beast and document for social media,”
Bil’s creative process starts with color theory and finding an idea that stirs up emotion within himself and potentially others. He pulls materials from anything that catches his eye: scraps from old projects, hardware store finds, high end paints, and blends them into a piece that just works.
Many of Bil’s bestselling pieces are about the area itself and having spent most of his time between Tipp City, Troy, and Dayton his local pride runs deep and he is grateful for the opportunities he has had in the community.
“Local art matters because it lifts the whole community. I’ve organized group shows, galleries, and fundraisers that bring artists together, and I’ve seen how much stronger we are when we support each other.”
And while at first look, Bil’s work is fun and playful, there’s a deeper message tucked beneath the layers of paint.
pp“If I have a recurring message, it’s to question authority and the norm. Everything isn’t always as it seems.”
As far as advice he would give young or up and coming artists, “Consistency is everything. Keep showing up. Don’t work for free. And remember, customers are easier to turn into friends than friends are to turn into customers.”
At the end of the day, Bil Tipton’s art isn’t just something you look at, it’s something you feel. His colors hum with life and every piece invites you to see the world a little differently.
In 2026 Bil is excited to continue creating but is open to collaborating with local businesses on custom pieces. For more information on Bil Tipton’s artwork or commission a piece, make sure to follow him on Instagram and Facebook, or better yet, catch one of his pieces in person. You’ll know it when you see it.
