My Stolen Jewelry FOUND today in Seattle!

Click HERE to view the Happy Ending

Click HERE to view the original Stolen Jewlery Interview

Today was an incredible day...

But rewind for a minute... If you hadn't heard by now, a week ago, my car was broken into after making a delivery to the Columbia City Gallery. So of course, my little Jeep was full of my hand-painted teeny tiny Scrabble Tile jewelry... and of course, I had "Baby Brain" (yes. I am pregnant.), as I ran my next errand at Good Will and promptly left my jewelry and other personal items out in plain view for someone to steal from me... so, of course, as I didn't expect, and didn't deserve, someone DID.

Valued at over $11,000, my art and personal items were gone in a flash. All of my best jewelry pieces (2 months of hard work) were to be shown at Art in the Pearl in Oregon next weekend... and they were, welp, I had no idea where they were... and feared the worst. I panicked for a short lived moment, while quickly trying to cancel my cell phone service to my, now stolen, iPhone... and then snapped out of it (sort of). I wasn't going to go without a fight!!!

PROACTIVE became my middle name. I contacted police immediately and when I got home, Facebooked and Tweeted until my fingers were blue! I had help from local online papers like the Renton Patch, Queen Anne News, and Edmonds News, writing about my ordeal... and finally my fantastic brother got the idea to get local TV news involved, so we frantically started hitting the phones... my goal? To reach out to the community for help - I was praying that someone, somewhere, would eventually see something.

So Komo 4 News and Q13 Fox News both came out to interview me. I was so grateful they were interested in my story. It was a surreal experience being on tv... and after that my life was impacted in such amazing ways. I began to received emails and comments from friends, family, and people I had never even met... all supporting me and sending so many good wishes! It was such an amazing feeling. All week, the love just kept pouring in! And as the days went by, I was able to let go of my loss, of all the hours that I had poured into my work, and was really feeling the calming effects of seeing this experience as "it is what it is".

So today, for the first time since my ordeal, I was packing up my things to go to the studio and get back to work, when I discovered I had missed a message on my phone at home. Komo 4 News had received a tip that my jewelry box had been FOUND! The poor little baby in my tummy was involuntarily doing summersaults as I jumped around my room yelling, clicking my heals with excitement!!! I was floored! It couldn't beeeeeee! But yes, it was true!

I was promptly put in touch with a wonderful talented girl, Geneiva Arunga, who I was so fortunate to have met today. She and several other artist's had come across my missing box of jewelry at a bus stop right out in front of their studio at M.I.H Records... just a couple miles away from where it was taken! Komo 4 News covered our story today as I was reunited with my little painted gems and as I got to thank several of the artists at M.I.H. Records for their good Samaritan deeds!

Needless to say, I am a strong believer in synchronicity and the law of attraction... there is a reason why all this happened to me. There is a reason why these wonderful people where drawn into my life. I am excited to spend some time thinking of creative ways to "pay it forward"... to give back to those that have really enhanced my life so graciously.

Thank you everyone for your support in my artistic adventures... You really are the reason why I do what I do.

Please help me share the love...

* Check out the work of hip hop artist Big-Dubb, that I met today... holy talented!!!

* And don't forget to go "Like" M.I.H. Records fan page on Facebook

* AND listen to the spoken words of Geneiva Arunga, a fabulous poet, who's passion for art and caring heart have truly touched me today...

Please follow me on Facebook or Twitter for the latest "Jen Things"... I am getting lazy with my blogging these days.

Getting Lots of Press

Recently published in American Art Collector Magazine! (April 2011 issue)

I want to thank everyone that came out to my show at the Cole Gallery! You all made it really fun! Since I typically fail at taking pictures during ANY of my events, I thought I would post a copy of what the Cole Gallery wrote about on their Facebook page.

Also, for whatever reason, this past month I have attracted tons of press!!! Ok, tons, is an exaggeration. But it feels like tons, because prior to last month, I had never gotten press before in my whole life! Two online articles, one ad in Seattle Magazine, and a two page spread in American Art Collector Mag! What. The. Heck! Awesome! (someone high five me)

I though I would share the links so you could read all about me. Cuz I know you have nothing better to do right?

"One Tweet Creates a Domino Effect of Creative Connections for Two Artists"

"Two Artist's Sharing a Passion and a Studio in Downtown Renton"

Don't forget to sneak a peek at this April issue of American Art Collector Magazine... page 108 & 109. It shows some of the new paintings now available for purchase through the Cole Gallery! It's not available online unless you have a subscription, so you will have to pick it up in a store new you.

Lastly, just a quick announcement for April 2nd... I have another opening at the Lucia Douglas Gallery in Bellingham, WA! Help me spread the word! Seven new large works will be on display! Between these past two shows, I have painted more this year than allllllll of last year combined! I'm lovin' life! Now, I just gotta sell something.

To visit the online version of the article below that was written by Shannon Black at the Cole Gallery, please click here. Why would you want to? Because you can leave comments there and see what others had to say... just sayin'.

Our St. Patrick’s Day Art Walk was a blast! Feature artists Jennifer Phillips and Lisa Lamoreaux brought an enchanting show full of wonder and whimsy.

Every piece of art seemed to sing along with the roving pipe band that walked the downtown streets of Edmonds. A sense of merriment enraptured all of us as we toasted the night away with a glass of champagne and good friends by our side decked out in green.

If you haven’t seen Jennifer and Lisa’s show yet, come on down to the gallery! These pieces will sweep you away to a lovely place.

We can’t wait to see you at our next big party on Saturday, April 9th from 6-9pm as we unveil Patty Forte Linna’s show “Passion,” a look into the life and passions of couture fashion designer Luly Yang.

(Contributed by Shannon Black, Gallerina)

Waiting for My Creative Muse...

So. This is what I have to do sometimes... just lay and wait for something to happen. It is often I show up to the "easel" and... begin to panic... over-think... worry... over-plan... try to control EVERYTHING about my painting or a show I am painting for. Well today I learned (from my fantastic friend and painter Lisa Lamoreaux) that you can't micromanage your creative muse. If you do, she doesn't show. You can't control her. And I have no business even trying. My job is to paint. That's it! Just show up, it's that easy.

So today, after spending a great deal of time worrying about what colors to use, what if I forgot how to paint, is this piece too big for the show, what will I paint next, blah blah blah... After spending as much time as I could in swimming in self sabotage, I finally shut down my over active inner critic and... guess what? - my muse showed up!

The following resulted after spending 5 hours of time NOT thinking at all:

Under-painting

Untitled Diptych

Oil on two wood panels

36x72"

The start to my new year has been wonderful! (except for the part where I got Pneumonia) I have moved into a new studio in Renton, WA with a wonderful friend and inspiring artist, Lisa Lamoreaux. This new space has a lot more walls that will allow for me paint bigger and work on several things at once. Additionally, my new studio mate and I are business buddies and accountability partners! It has been so amazing spending time with Lisa on a regular basis to share ideas, plan our year, and simply check in with each other on our goals etc... I think after spending the last three years painting at home really makes me realize now how important it is to be surrounded by other artists. It is super motivating. Especially because we share a lot of the same drive and passion for what we do... I look forward to new adventures this year indeed!

I have a full schedule again this year with 2 shows coming up this March and April at the Cole Gallery and Lucia Douglas Gallery. AND I am happy to announce that I will be featured in American Art Collector Magazine this coming April!!! Lots of new things on the horizon I will be sharing more later!

Please join Jennifer Phillips Art on FACEBOOK for more up to date daily posts and in progress work photos!

The Burrrrrr is Back in My Studio...

Sooo, yeeeaahhh. Ummm, I've been gone for a while, from my blog world... AGAIN. Sorry 'bout dat. It has already been a very busy year for me, but not because I am selling, or painting, or even showing my work just yet. I have been sitting in front of my computer, doing taxes, researching show opportunities, and just plain BUSY - PLANNING and summing up 2009!

I avoided my studio like the plague at the end of last year. For one, I was distracted by all the sparkly holiday lights... and two, MY STUDIO WAS FREEZING. Literally.

Check out my "sink snowman"... This video above says it all. I have been meaning to post it since December. But I am a lazy bum. So, for those of you who live here in Seattle, we both know that it is no longer freezing and for some reason we are sorta feeling like spring now around here (blame it on Mr. or Mrs. Nino)! And my blooming ornamental cherry tree is going to be sorely disappointed once it finds out that it is still winter...

So you know what THAT means!? I'm out of excuses and back in the studio... this time, to paint. I have sooooo many opportunities to show my work coming up (starting next week)! So NOT painting is NOT an option!

I will keep you posted on when/where to see me and my artiness soon... OR/AND if you aren't already a fan of Jennifer Phillips Art on Facebook DO IT! Don't be shy. I seem to post there more now a days anyway... and I am funny (or so they tell me), so don't miss out on my one liners. I do actually post useful information for artists too. Things that I come across while researching show opportunities for myself. I am a good sharer (or so my mom told me... when I was five). Click HERE to visit me on Facebook. Become a FAN!

If you are reading this post in your email inbox, please click to actually visit my blog to cast your vote! I need your one second opinion for an idea I have! Thanks!