For years, I’ve watched numerous artists—myself included—pour time and money into artworks that win awards and earn compliments, but return home unsold and packed away in storage. The harsh reality is that while millions of people love seeing art, very few can afford to purchase it regularly.

While the works of artists may be appreciated by many, until now, there hasn’t been a way to translate that appreciation into resources that help the artist buy their next tube of paint or slab of clay.  

                                                   

The Spark  

                                                                         

The idea for TipSee hit me about 16 years ago while playing a few rounds of pool with a friend at a local bar.

While we were playing, a band began to setup their set for a show that night.  The band’s lead singer told me I had to pay the cover charge or leave. It struck me: this was the same guy who frequently came to art openings, ate the free reception food, drank the free wine, and never paid a dime to look at the art.

I realized then that musicians have socially-accepted mechanisms to get paid for their work, while visual artists usually just have a guestbook.                                                                                                     

Building the Bridge 

                                                     

It seemed obvious: there needs to be a way to make it easy for patrons to support the visual arts.  

I’ve tried a few times over the past 16 years to bring this idea to life with hired teams and help from friends, but the resources always ran out before the vision could be realized. The idea wouldn’t leave me alone, so I decided to build it myself.

TipSee is the result of that persistence. It bridges the gap between admiration and support; turning “I love your work” into the tangible resources that artists need to create more of it.