Hand-Painted Tipis
Create a sanctuary that balances earth, sky, and your personal story.
A tipi is rarely just a shelter. Throughout history, it has reflected the universe and the identity of its inhabitant. When we paint a BIGHEAD tipi, we are not simply applying colour to canvas. We are expressing meaning through space, form, and symbolism.
You are creating a painting that reflects your personal philosophy.
Paint a canvas that resonates with your personal philosophy.
The canvas is divided into three zones: 1.Lower (earth), 2. Middle (life), and 3. Upper (skye). Each carries a distinct role. Together, they define the visual and symbolic identity of the tent.
Let’s have a look each zone:
- Foundation: Earth and Grounding:
The lower zone represents the earth. It often includes geometric forms, mountain motifs, or solid colour bands that symbolise the grounded world.- Advantage:
This is more than decoration, as it provides visual grounding. The lower base creates a sense of stability and security. It symbolises a connection to the physical world and supports a calm, grounded state of mind.
- Advantage:
- Upper Zone: The Sky and the Infinite:
The upper section, including the smoke flaps, represents the sky and the transition beyond the physical world. It marks the boundary between the material and the infinite.- Advantage:
Brighter tones or celestial motifs evoke openness, clarity, and a sense of expansion. They draw the gaze upward, creating a vertical axis that encourages reflection and a broader perspective.
- Advantage:
- Middle Zone: The Realm of Life
Between earth and sky lies the human world. The space of life, story, and identity.- Advantage:
This is where personal symbolism resides. Spirit animals, abstract forms, or narrative motifs define the character of the space. It becomes a focal point for reflection, balancing grounded presence with a higher perspective.
- Advantage:
Master craftsmanship: The human touch
We do not use industrial printing for these motifs. Each design is drawn and painted by hand, ensuring authenticity in every detail. The work is carried out by an experienced academic painter, with each piece created in a dedicated studio environment.
Featured motifs:
We offer a library of traditional and contemporary designs. Ranging from simple geometric patterns to complex, symbolic compositions. You can choose a motif that reflects your aesthetic preference or complements the environment in which your tipi will stand.
Design categories include:
- Geometric patterns and traditional motifs
- Celestial and astronomical symbols
- Totemic animals and nature-inspired designs
- Abstract spiritual symbols
- Cultural and clan-inspired illustrations
Artwork
Bespoke artistry
For clients requiring specific heraldry, realistic animal portraits, or complex symbolic compositions, we offer an advanced level of customisation.
The specialist:
We collaborate with an academic artist with over 30 years of experience and a deep understanding of symbolic visual language.
Complex imagery:
Rendering detailed totemic animals or intricate symbolic forms requires mastery of anatomy, proportion, and light. Each composition is designed to remain clear and strong, establishing the energetic tone of the narrative. The artwork complements the tent, enhancing its energy and symbolic meaning.
The advantage of our painting system
A painted tipi must withstand rain, sun exposure, and the constant movement of the canvas. We do not use standard house paints or low-grade dyes. Instead, we work exclusively with professional-grade textile dyes (Royal type), selected specifically for canvas.
Choosing the right medium ensures that the artwork performs as long as the canvas itself.
- Environmental safety:
These dyes are water-based and virtually odourless.- The Benefit:
No harsh solvents are introduced into the living space. The tipi remains breathable and safe for use shortly after the curing process.
- The Benefit:
- UV protection and longevity:
The pigments are selected for high UV stability. Sun exposure is the primary cause of pigment degradation. Standard paints fade quickly under continuous UV, reducing vibrant tones to washed-out colours.- The Benefit:
Royal-type dyes offer high lightfastness, preserving colour intensity and depth for years, not just a single season.
- The Benefit:
- Flexibility and adhesion:
A tipi is a dynamic structure. Constantly under tension, moving in the wind, and folded during transport. Rigid coatings will crack and fail under these conditions.- The Benefit:
The binder system remains highly flexible after curing, moving with the cotton canvas rather than against it. This allows the tipi to be packed, stored, and reinstalled without the artwork cracking or peeling.
- The Benefit:
What type of painting?
Your tipi should reflect its purpose. Whether used for meditation, a children’s play area, or a communal gathering space, the chosen symbols shape the overall atmosphere.
Consider the intended use:
- A quiet retreat for meditation:
Choose calming celestial motifs and muted earth tones that encourage stillness and inward focus. - A gathering space for ceremony:
Select bold, symbolic compositions that anchor collective energy and create a shared focal point. - A play space for children:
Opt for vibrant, uplifting motifs that stimulate imagination while respecting the harmony of the tent. - A professional healing environment:
Designed for universal resonance. Balanced, subtle symbolism that supports diverse users without overwhelming sensitive individuals.
Example of some design patterns
The consultation process
Process: Vision → Design → Refinement → Creation → Completion.
A structured process, guided from idea to finished space.
- Initial conversation:
Share your vision, intended use, and any symbols or themes that hold meaning for you. - Design proposal:
We present selected options from our motif library or develop custom concepts tailored to your brief. - Refinement:
Colours, composition, and scale are adjusted until the design feels precise and balanced. - Creation:
Your tipi is hand-painted by our artist with care, attention, and intention. - Completion:
Your unique sanctuary is delivered, ready to be installed.
