Shopping for a Costume

Man, shopping for a size 4 filbert is really hard. Halloween is approaching fast and it is time to start brain-storming for a sweet Halloween costume for Bert. We spent the day working on ideas... Bert the Pumpkin Head is all we could come up with. 

Couldn't find a Pumpkin Head costume that fit right in the store. Bert has a bit of a pencil neck. We don't talk about it very much. He has a complex. We just say "ear muffs", so he can't hear what we are saying.

Anyway, Bert made this one himself. Turned out OK, but he is looking for better ideas. He is looking to make more of an impression on the brush ladies. 

Leave us your thoughts and we'll vote on it later!

Sneak Attack!

Went on a walk with my dog and saw a tree that inspired me to paint tonight. It was large and set against a back drop of dark foliage. It just seemed to speak to me. So I grabbed my brush friend as soon as I got home and we started this little piece. After a bit, I looked over, and my dog was givin' me the eye...

...and in a flash he snatched Bert right outta my hands! Bert was totally shocked! 

He had been taken by surprise!

Bert lost an eye.

Titled: "Peaceful" 

4"x4" Oil on Panel

SOLD

Ouch! My Art Finger!

First of all... Bert grew his eye back. It's a miracle. Second of all... I slammed my art finger in a car door tonight. Yes. My art finger. I am full of swollen hurtie-ness right now. I am still crying inside. Not only does my pointy finger have it's own heart beat, it has to wear a band-aid because it split open like a baked potato! (sorry, that was graphic.) 

I tried to paint this evening, but when I picked up Bert, it totally freaked him out. He would have run away if he had legs. I think I even heard him shriek like a little girl, but I am not sure. So since Bert was such a wimp, and I may throw up from the pain, I decided not to paint this evening, but to post one of my favorite "Landscapes in My Pocket" that I did the other day...  

Colorful

Oil

2"x3"

SOLD

(Almost as colorful as the bruise I am gonna have on my fingernail.)

The Return of Bert

Pirate Bert 

(photo courtesy of a cool artist friend - thanks Dana!) 

Well, Bert must have read my blog entry from last night, because he got all up in my grill today... Every five minutes... asking me if we are gonna paint or not, "When we gonna paint Jen? Yew gonna paint or yew gonna walk the plank?"... Jumpin' around acting all like a pirate 'n stuff cause he's got one eye. So, I gave in. I painted two new miniatures tonight. You can see them here.

Titled: "Mini Maple" 5x5 inches

SOLD

THIS JUST IN - I am a huge procrastinator. I after enjoying my blogging session last night, I decided to review my "calendar" to see what I need to prioritize before my show... Then I had a panic attack. Not really, but it was like the Flying Spaghetti Monster's noodlie appendage smacked me up side the head real hard. I have sooooo much to do - 5 major projects all due at the same time-ish. Sooooo I might miss a couple blog nights here and there, but rest assured, I will be posting my paintings to my website as they're born.

BLOG RECOMMENDATION - I stumbled upon a very creative and inspirational person who has a blog called "Penscratches - Lightfast Blog" and it is very worth checking it out. This entry here is what caught my eye first as I share some of the same feelings about allowing art into our lives. Thank you Wakar for adding me to your blog roll and for your nice comments. I am a fan of yours.

A New Adventure in Marketing Myself

I am excited to share that another "door" in life has opened for me! I often spend time (too much time)  finding new ways to market my work - One day, I decided it would be fun to work the holiday season in one of the busiest places in Seattle. So applied to get a permit to sell my small works at Seattle's Pike Place Market. If you are an out of towner, it is a main attraction for tourism in Seattle. A farmers and craft market of which you can buy anything from flowers to fun crafts made locally - just watch out for flying fish!... 

Even though their website stated that they were no longer accepting new vendors, and even though my inner critic said,"NO way! You can't do that!", I decided to send in an application anyway. So stifling your inner critic IS a really good thing to do (highly recommended), because I now have an interview tomorrow! 

Thank you to all for baring with me as I sporadically maintain my "daily" blog! And to those of you whom are awaiting the arrival of my Halloween Bert pictures, I am sorry to say, that it is not gonna happen. Bert is officially missing since my move and I am miserable with out him. My paintings are suffering. And while all his brush friends have been rallying to paint in his place, it just isn't the same.

There is hope. As I have mentioned before, I often hear his faint cries for help from one of the moving boxes I still have to unpack... geesh, I am an awful brush mommy.

All Better

I special ordered an eye patch for Bert today. 

The night after Bert's accident, I managed to knock over my huge easel while playing tug-o-war with my dog... It was like slow motion as it came toppling over me as I was yelling "Noooooooooooo!" (and a couple other profanities). I managed to cushion the fall as it landed on all my pocket landscapes drying on the floor! I had a minor panic attack, pouted for a little bit, and then amazingly I discovered nothing was damaged! Whew! Nice to know that my little treasures are durable!

So tonight I painted into the wee morning. I am definitely a night owl... 

This one is titled "Take a Stand", you can visit the rest of my collection that I have recently added here.

A Fresh New Painting Today

Plucked Bert outta his brush house this afternoon and we were rarin' to go...

This was the start of my painting. On this occasion I wanted to lay in my preliminary drawing first with conte pencil. I also started with a textured colored ground.

"Starting Point"

Oil on Gessobord

16x20

SOLD

This is the final, though there are many steps I documented along the way, I can't show them quite yet. I used a combination of Daniel Smith Oil paints and W&N Oil bars for heavier texturing. I have been hired by Ampersand Art hardbords to do an article for them on my process of painting oils on panel! Very exciting! So if I publish this one, all the steps will be available in the spring! This piece is inspired from wind-breakers situated along the fields of Eastern Washington. Not sure if I am finished with this painting yet, 

so I don't have a title picked out...any ideas?

 

 Bert in the rinse cycle... I am shooting for a painting a day, 

so we'll see what happens tomorrow!

Inverted

Why am I painting upside down you ask?

... Did I trade Bert in for a crayon?

... is Bert wearing a Halloween costume?

... Have I lost my mind???

All the answers to these questions and more... to follow ... after I sleep off my sore back from slouching for 4 hours while I painted this evening! I barewee tieward.

Meet My Friend

This is Bert. He is my friend. Yes, I know. 

He is a paint brush.

He loves to get paint in his hair.

Bert is kinda shy. But he promised to show you how talented he is as long as no one would make fun of him. We pinky swore on it, but I ended up kinda strangling him because he doesn't have pinkies. Hopefully, if he is feeling better tomorrow and we will still be able make him get his hair dirty.

New Year, New Goals, New Trees, and a Quest to Find Bert!

I couldn't help but post two entries tonight. I am discovering that my blog is getting wordier by the day... I hope I'm not put everyone to sleep with my stories and lengthiness! 

2009 is here and I have discovered that I have so many new and exciting adventures to plan for the new year! December was creatively slow for me and over the past few days I have broken free of my slump by doing a lot of reflecting on the my accomplishments for the new year. At the advice of Alyson B Stanfield and her blog "ArtBiz", I chose to take a pen to paper and do a bit of writing to cleanse my artist brain before taking 2009 by the horns.

I recommend reading the following blog posts by Alyson. They are great ideas on how to get your year started in the right direction. She is a great motivator and inspires me in many ways.

"Blast off in the New Year", helps with fresh brainstorming ideas on marketing and goal setting for artists.

"Your 2008 Accomplishments", is an excellent post about reflecting and celebrating your successes wether big or small.

I took an moment before bed a couple nights ago to write down my 2008 accomplishments. I am sharing them with you here, not to brag, or show off in any manner. I share this personal list with you, my fellow artist's friends, because I think some may benefit by seeing what can be accomplished in a year if you are in similar shoes... Before I ventured out on my own a year ago, I had a friend that shared his accomplishments with me and it helpful to see what someone else could do... it set the bar high and contributed to my success this past year.

What I got done this past year... in no particular order

Started my business, Jennifer Phillips Art, as a full time artist!

Had over 12 shows at different venues in Seattle, WA.

Exceeded my sales goal I set for myself by 300%!

Painted over 259 paintings!

Sold over 111 paintings!

Sold over 25 prints!

Approached by 4 galleries in Washington state.

Approached by over 4 print companies locally and internationally.

Signed with Genisis Giclee & Gallery, a national printing company, in Woodenville, WA.

Started a blog in July, Daily Encounters with my Paintbrush.

Started an online store at Etsy.com. Sold 6 paintings/prints since September.

Applied and accepted to sell my work at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA. (picked out of 200 applicants, only 13 accepted)

Painted over 5 commission pieces.

Gained confidence in showing, talking about, and presenting myself as an artist. "I am an artist, it's is my profession."

Inspired other artist's/friends through my blog, website, print material, work, and drive.

Invited to participate in a show at the Howard/Mandville Gallery in Kirkland, WA.

Participated in a solo show for 1st Thursday in Pioneer Square Seattle, WA.

Obtained my own studio space that I call my own.

Accepted (1st try) to the Bellevue Arts Fair in Bellevue, WA.

Published/featured in an article for Ampersand Art about my technique. (coming out in Feb.)

Published in and developed a set of oil paints for Daniel Smith Artist Materials.

I invested in myself and my business in these ways...

Attended several "Artist Tool-Kit" lectures at GAGE Academy in Seattle, WA.

Attended free demonstrations on technique at Daniel Smith Artist Materials.

Read several books:

Art Marketing 101

Internet 101

Licensing Art 101

Art Office

Smart Couples Finish Rich

The Artist's Way

The Success Principles, Jack Canfield

Subscribed to art magazines:

American Art Collector

Art Calander

Subscribed to Artbiz blog

Assigned myself studio hours/days.

Used Mondays as my "marketing" days for planning.

Made time to social network online.

Set up a budget on my computer and a book-keeping system to manage my business and see my growth in numbers.

Visited Seattle Art Museum and several local galleries on a regular basis.

What I realize from this list...

I need to make more time for painting large work. I strayed from my studio hours towards the end of the year and spent a lot of time marketing. This year I would like to take a couple road trips to paint in the field and come back with some new material. I would also like to enter competitions, and do more art fairs this year. I also would like to meet and maintain more artist relationships...network, network, network! 

And last but not least, I will find my long lost brush Bert. As we all know he has been missing since the move and I have neglected to do anything about it... no search parties, no release of the hound dogs, and no I haven't even lifted a finger to rummage through my many unpacked boxes in my studio to find him! It will be done!

Happy New Year Everyone!

The Awakening

Sleepy sleepy Bert... Woke up early this morning to do a painting. Just a mini. But boy did it take me forever to pull my friend outta bed. He was in a deep sleep dreamin' about something I will never know. Maybe he was dreaming about the hottie Round #2 that lives two containers over from him on my desk. I guess there must be something about a soft fluffy pillow of titanium white oil paint that make a brush just wanna sleep forever...

The Connection

3"x3"

Oil 

$57

The Final Commission Piece

Adding in more background color...

Working on minor details... little branches and twig shapes...

The final...

Lost

14x30 oil on panel

SOLD

Private Collection

Finished my commission piece. I really love the effect I got on this one, nice and moody. Now I will meet with the client and see if it works for her interior design concept. It's a nail biter not knowing if it is going to be the right fit! 

Today I move my art studio. So I will be packing up my computer and easel and all my paints and heading over to the new place. Lots of organizing to do! And have to rescue Bert from what ever box he ended up in! Hang in there folks, until I get internet hooked up, it may be a few days... thanks everyone!

On the Move!

Welp, the time has finally come! The house we made an offer on back in May has been finalized! We are moving! Just a few blocks away, so it will be an easier - I hate moving.

I am excited to share that I will have my own studio in the back! A two story building with a killer view of Puget Sound on the roof! Can't wait to get packed! And then unpacked!

Please bare with me as my posts will become a little sparse over the next week. I will be working on a commission from my room of our old house this week, and then I will pack up the contents of my workspace (including my computer) and make the switch! Hopefully I can get our internet up and working smoothly. 

Can't wait to have guests! I am itching to entertain! Maybe I will have a studio sale! Or host Bert's Halloween party!? Or play hide and go seek with my friends!!!

One thing is for sure though. After moving several cluttery items today... I have a lot of crap! That includes art supplies! After working for an art supply company for 10 years, I sure accumulated lots of fun stuff that is not so fun to move... sigh, but who's complaining? Having a studio sale is sounding real nice about now!

The Arrival of Jen TV

Titled: "Highway 26 Black & White" 12x12 

Oil Pastel on tinted Ampersand Hardbord

$309 

SWEEEEET! I'm on tv! 

What a cool tool... not me silly, the slideshow playing above... 

Anyway, last night I documented my full painting session in order to post to my bloggie today. It took a little while, as it was unfamiliar territory uploading all the pics, but I now have a tool that I can post videos and slideshows of my work and techniques to share with all of you! Eventually if you click in the upper right side of the window above on "Shows", you will be able to view whatever is playing on Jen TV at the time! Kinda like flipping through channels on a regular tv at home... it even has sound, just click on the musical note! I'm a genius (not really).

I will be working on a series of new oil pastel paintings over the next week for a show I am having at Neptune Coffee on Greenwood this Sept. 6th from 6pm-10pm. So, yes, Bert (my brush-incase you are new) and I will be taking a little break for a week. Probably good, as he is still recovering from his eye injury. 

My newest friends are a box of Sennelier Oil Pastels. They don't have eyes, so there is less chance of injury with these guys... I chose to do a black and white version this time, in order to play off the idea I typed about in my "Wipe Out" post a couple days ago... eliminate color and focus on playing with value and composition. Plus, I just really like doing pieces that have high contrasting values - creates a glow and a little drama. There are techinquie things going on in this painting that I intend to provide at a later date explaining my step by step process, including a final posting about how I frame these puppies...

So, why was last nights image upside down? No, I haven't lost my mind. In fact you may already do this yourself. I often will turn my paintings upside down in order to get a fresh view of them from a different angle. It helps me to identify issues I may be having with composition, value, or color. Once inverted, problem areas (usually) stick out like a sore thumb. I often continue to work on the piece while it is upside down. This way I can turn off my brain and stop it from recognizing what I am working on. I can then focus more clearly on compositional elements.

I can also get a fresh view of my painting by looking in a mirror. I have a HUGE mirror behind me in my studio. My husband thinks I am vain. Ok, maybe a little, but seriously - it is so nice to be able to quickly turn around and instantly I have a different view point of my painting... or my hair, or my new shirt... 

Another thing I do is look at my painting from a distance, either during the process or after I have put the brush down. I have this habit of leaving my painting out in the open for it to "catch my eye" when I least expect it. I will leave it sitting in the corner of the living room over night sometimes. In the morning I wake up, climb out of bed, pop my contacts in, and jump out of the hallway into the living room like I was at a surprise party! OR I will walk through the hall and peak around the corner at it as if I was to sneak up on it. My eyes instantly fall on my painting and I can then determine what areas are problematic. I will leave it out for several days until I finally decide if it is finished or not. Yeah, I'm crazy (not really).

Geesh, my blog posts are getting wordy. Sometimes I just like to type till my fingers swell. Thanks for leaving your comments... please don't "dine and dash", let me know your thoughts...

A final note before I pull another painting out of the night... Thank you to Nina in Stockholm! Nina Aidas mentioned me on her blog today - seems I inspired her all the way over in Sweden! (my tail is wagging!) -check out her blog

Day 2

These pictures reveal my initial stages of blocking in back ground color on day two. There is something mesmerizing about painting in and around the branches... I get lost in them...

I haven't even begun to unpack my studio yet. Too wrapped up in finishing this painting. I hope that next week I will be all set to get organized. 

I think I may have lost Bert in the move. I keep hearing faint cries for help coming from one of my boxes... he must be scared of the dark. 

SLURP your BLOG to BLURB...What the?

"On Top"

4"x4"

Oil on Panel

SOLD

This morning I went to my studio to paint. Only to find myself plopped in my chair in front of my computer again! I begun clicking around on links from a follower of mine on Twitter and found myself finding all sorts of new helpful information. I visited Clint Watson's "Fine Art Views" blog (check it out) - He has great tools for creating a very professional looking website and more (see also FineArtStudioOnline).

Then it all spiraled pleasantly out of control from there... I've been on the computer for 2 hours already! Whew! Some other great blogs I came across today that are very notable are:

The Crafted Webmaster: Internet Marketing for Artists - Many great artist resources and links available here.

And once again I have to share my excitement about Blurb.com - I already love this site. I have talked about it before. They make beautiful books from your uploaded images. But today I found that you can make YOUR blog into a book! Take any entries you select and have them printed in book format! Blurb calls this process of uploading photos "slurping". I love the lingo! So fantastic! The possibilities are endless! I could even do a book about BERT! (my brush, for those that are new to my blog.) For more information about this click here. Watch the video demo (slurping in action)!

One final note. There's a new blogger in town that I thought I would share with you. Her watercolors are gorgeous and her new blog is one to watch! So far great tips and techniques and words of inspiration... Connie Williams Watercolor Meanders. Enjoy!