Our story

... a ladder, spreading color ...

...across the walls of Colorado's Front Range. Tif Choate, with her paint brushes and whimsical characters, delight all who encounter her murals and paintings.

Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness.

-Lana Rey

I’ve always believed art can change the way we see the world.

I’m Tif Choate, a self-taught painter, muralist, and founder of Snail Candy Arts. I make bold, colorful work rooted in wonder—paintings and murals that invite people to pause, look closer, and see something they might have missed.

These days, I’m especially drawn to ecosystems, strange little creatures, towering mushrooms, hidden worlds, and the wild intelligence of nature. I love playing with scale and perspective, imagining what the world might look like from the forest floor—or through the eyes of something very small. My work is about more than making something beautiful. It’s about creating a moment of discovery.

where it started: where it went

Snail Candy "name" origin::

I grew up near the St. Louis City Art Museum, where I was surrounded by art from an early age. I studied graphic design and illustration at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, met my husband, Jim, and spent years working across design and creative fields while raising our two sons, whom I homeschooled. I even had a brief career as a plumber’s apprentice. True story.

In 2017, we launched Snail Candy Art + Design, and I finally gave myself permission to build a life around making art. Since then, I’ve painted murals and public art throughout Colorado, creating colorful spaces that bring people together, spark curiosity, and sometimes offer a little escape from the noise of everyday life.

I believe wonder matters. So does joy. So does stopping long enough to notice what’s right in front of us.

That’s what I hope my art gives you: a reason to look closer.

Love sent,
Tif