Art Opening, Got Published, and NEW paintings!

If you already haven't received my emails, event postings on Facebook, Tweets, and heard me screaming from the top of a mountain about my upcoming show... then here is my final attempt to put my work in front of your nose! SO many new paintings to be had, I just can't wait for the opening!

Especially because this time, I am showing with a very good friend of mine, Lisa Lamoreaux! Did you know we met on TWITTER? She tweeted, I responded, and we have been friends ever since! And to think, that if we didn't have Social Networking??? We would have never crossed paths! Whew, glad we did. Check out her work. Matter of fact, just check out our show online or in person at the Cole Gallery!

Champagne Reception

Thursday, March 17th

5pm-8pm

Cole Gallery

Edmonds, WA

Click here to see my show online (or at least most of it)

"Release Me" - diptych, by Jennifer Phillips

36x72, Oil on Wood Panels

Available for purchase through Cole Gallery

"All Things are Beautiful", by Lisa Lamoreaux

Oil with Mixed Media, 36x24

Available for purchase through Cole Gallery

See her available work online here.

LOOK FOR ME! I will be featured in the April issue of American Art Collector Magazine! Coming soooooooon to a mag stand near you!!!

For more info about upcoming shows in my near future, please visit my website here.

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!

Best of the Northwest, My Last Show of the Year!

Click here for more information

Well it is bitter sweet... my last major show of 2010. If you live here in Seattle, please don't miss this one. It's huge! I have a small handful of FREE tickets. If you are definitely wanting to attend this weekend, please let me know and I can send one to you. Just say so in the comments section below. Hurry, cuz I only have a few!

I look forward to getting back to the studio to focus on a new body of work for several show line ups in early 2011. Time to turn on the heater and rev up my creative brain for a few months of painting big! Can't wait!

Local 14 Show in Portland this weekend!

Hope to see you there! Help me spread the word.... it's a FOUR day event! I will have my jewelry and paintings both on display as guest artist! Check it out by clicking here: LOCAL 14

Also, as I always say... find me on Facebook these days... with my crazy schedule I am posting more fun things there all the time... I share soooo many links to sooooo many opportunities there! Click here to visit my "fan" page.

My show season is coming to a close. Only one more show in November and then I will be back to doing a little bit more blogging. I will see you soon!

Oooh oooh! I almost forgot! I have also stocked both of my stores with new jewelry items for the holidays! Check them out on the sidebar to the left -------->

My 1st Gallery Opening TONIGHT at Cole Gallery

"Surrounded"

Oil on 2 Panels

36x24 diptych

Contact Cole Gallery for purchase information

Welp! I am back from my Utah road trip and everything was FAN-tastic! Though sales at the Kimball Arts Festival were a little under my expectation, I DID land a new gallery opportunity that will bring me back to Park City this winter! So I look forward to delivering new work along with my self and my snowboard, all ready to hit the mountains! Yayer!

This Utah trip was extra special because my parents flew all the way from Chicago to see me! The first time they had been able to witness me and my artwork at an actual show! So cool! I felt so speshall. Really made the trip extra fun having them there with me along the way. Even though I did throw a couple "F-bombs" during a frustrating break down of my gear the last day... sorry parentals. I really am an angel, I promise.

In local news... I AM IN A GALLERY! Yep! It's true!

Join me this evening at the Cole Gallery in Edmonds, WA for my very first official gallery opening! I am so excited to announce that one of my paintings has sold after only hanging for 1 day! High five me! (I'm so professional.)

Opening reception 8/14 from 6-8:30pm

Cole Gallery

107 5th Ave S

Edmonds, WA 98020

425 697 2787

For something that is actually VERY professional, please click here to read the press release that Shannon Black wrote about my work. I couldn't have said it better myself! She makes me feel like a REAL artist now!

On the Road Again... Utah here I Come!

On the road to my next show in Park City Utah this weekend. I'm pooped so I won't be writing too much right now, so here's the cliff notes:

I'm honored to be showing at the Kimball Arts Festival in Utah August 6th - 8th. Booth 31 - come bring me a Redbull.

Next week I will be August's First Glance Artist at the Cole Gallery in Edmonds, Wa. Reception is August 14th from 6-8:30pm. The gallery wrote a fantastic press release about me and you can read it HERE. You can also view the show online HERE. (note that "Refresh" has SOLD yay!).

Wish I could tell you more about my adventures so far this summer, but I am finding that I need more sleep lately. Big driving day ahead tomorrow so I am opting for some shut eye!

Take care everyone I will check in later!

Three Weekends in a Row!

"Gathering"

24x24

Oil on Canvas Mounted to Panel

Please contact Cole Gallery for purchase information

July marks the beginning of ... whelp... my head spinning... with three art shows in a row starting this weekend, I am sure to be busy busy busy! And I LOVE it! So I have to say that there may be a little delay in my blog posts for the rest of the month. I highly recommend you follow me on Facebook in the meantime - just click the "like" button when you get there and you'll see what I am up to, shorthand style!

I will be in the following places (what feels like all at once) this Month:

July 10th & 11th

Choochokam Arts Festival, Langley, WA Booth #A22

*SALE on remaining inventory of PRINTED tree charms - $10 bucks off!

July 16th - 18th

Salem Art Fair, Salem, OR Booth #129

July 23rd - 25th

Bellevue Festival of the Arts, Bellevue, WA Booth #51

Please visit my website here for more detailed show information for July and the rest of the year, or/and click on the links above. Will I be in a city near you???

Join Me at the Edmonds Arts Festival THIS weekend!

On the Green

30x30

Oil on Panel

$2,500

Please contact the Cole Gallery for purchase information as of 8/14/10

My newest addition now on display through this weekend at the Edmonds Arts Festival...

Join me this weekend for a wonderful event in Edmonds, WA. My first time participating in the Edmonds Arts Festival is sure to be a fantastic experience! Show hours are as follows:

Friday 11am - 9pm

Saturday 10 am - 8pm

Sunday 10 am - 6 pm

For a MAP of the event click here.

Also sneak by the Cole Gallery in Edmonds this Saturday for your chance to see some fantastic artist's on display (including myself) as well as enter to win 1 of 2 FREE $200 gift certificates! They will also be giving away one of my little Tree Charm Necklaces for during the artist reception that evening!

And... thank you thank you thank you... to everyone who contacted me or left me wonderful comments on my blog and Facebook - you all gave me wonderful ideas and suggestions on how to handle my lighting question in the previous post. I decided to wing it and just see how it goes with out any "juice" this weekend and learn from the experience... it was just too late to come up with a solution so last minute.

Interested in seeing how the event unfolds this weekend? Pop over to my Fan page on Facebook, click the "like" button and check out the pics from the show while I am there during the day!

Hope to see some of you in Edmonds! (and thanks for your support! You guys rock! "whoop whoop!")

My Spokane Artfest 2010 Adventure

I kicked off my artfair season with a bang this year and am happy to report that Spokane Artfest was a total success! I had a lot of "firsts" last weekend that created a whirlwind of emotions for me through out the whole event: 1st time and an OUTDOOR show, 1st time showing in the rain, 1st time winning an award, and since there is a 1st time for everything it was also the 1st time I met someone who speaks to trees... out loud. Interesting. Seriously.

To say the least, the whole weekend was absolutely fantastic right down to the moment I had the honor of delivering my big red tree painting to a couple who live in a beautiful home on South Hill, Spokane. Truly rewarding all the way around.

For those of you who would like to peer into my little world of what it takes to do a show like this, by yourself, please read on. Here is my "cliff note" version of some just some of the details of the weekend:

Thursday:

Rent truck/Pack truck - 2 hours

Drive to Spokane - 4.5 hours

Unload upon arrival - 20+ trips back and forth from the truck to my booth space

Booth set up - 5 hours!

Friday:

Morning; last minute details/hanging artwork - 4 hours!

Rain (brace for predicted wind storm that never showed up thank god!)

Won an award! Addision & Myers Visual Arts Award! High five!!!

12 hour work day

Saturday:

Sunny all day! But forgot sunscreen... 11 hour work day.

Sunday:

Arrived early to see other artist's and their booths. Got to finally meet some of the artist's I have been following online...Sheila Evans, Diane Colhane, Jill Mayberg.

Break down tent set up and repack the truck - 5 hours... last one there, by myself, in the dark. Not good.

Monday:

Woke up refreshed and got to deliver "Turning Red 2" to new collectors in Spokane!

Went to visit the Kress Gallery where Sheila Evans' work was hanging, and promptly realized that I had no change for the meters nor could my truck fit in any parking garages... so I drove home - 4.5 hours.

Was it all totally hard? YES. Did I shed an tear of frustration while I was breaking down my tent? YES. Did the good outweigh the bad? YES. Would I do it all again? YES. And I will, this weekend at the Edmonds Art Fair! This time I will have a little set up help from a fantastic friend.. (wiping my brow in relief). More show information to follow.

Reflections

"Reflections"

48 x 24

Oil on Panel

If you have been following my work on Facebook for the past week or so, you have had the pleasure of witnessing my process of pulling a couple all nighters to get this painting completed. Lately I had found my use of daylight very unproductive. Life has been throwing me gigantic challenges, of which I am not ready to share about just yet. But through it all, I had to push myself to accomplish this painting. It took me to a place that I have never been before. It was very therapeutic. I worked for hours. And a few of those days were huge blocks of time all at once. Yesterday was a 12 hour painting day for me... I finished it at 5:30 in the morning.

This painting will always be very special to me; as I spent several days reflecting upon wonderful memories as I painted it.

Bird Poop and Paintings Don't Mix

Water's Edge 2 (large version)

72" x 36"

Oil on Two Panels

SOLD

Ok. So this is not a case of narcissism here... I finished this piece and wanted to take a picture of myself in order to show scale... NOT to show how stunningly beautiful I am in my painting clothes, with no shower, and a hole in my shoe. (gag)

You can view this painting at my first show June 4th in Spokane, WA at Artfest all weekend... and if it doesn't find a home there, it will come on the road this summer with me until it does! Check out my line up to see if I will be showing at a neighborhood near you! Click here.

This will be my first outdoor fair ever and I couldn't be more nervous. New tent, dealing with possible weather, new jewelry display, wildlife... Yeah. I said WILDLIFE people. This just in: my artist friend Sheila Evans reported yesterday from her first show this year in Illinois, that she showed up to her booth in the a.m. to find that two morning doves had be fluttering about in her tent all night! Two words : POOP EVERYWHERE. Luckily her pastels were all framed under glass - what a clean up job! She retained her sense of humor about the whole thing and posted a picture to her facebook fan page showing bird poop running down one of her pieces that was ironically titled "Robin's Nest 2". Her poopy photo was lovingly captioned, "Everyone's a Critic". - hilarious!

For more fun Jen stuff follow me on Facebook please... no strings attached. Just giggles. Those don't have strings. That would be weird.

I'm on Display!

When? TONIGHT... Saturday, May 8th from 6-9 pm

Where? The VENUE. In Ballard, Washington. (click it for directions)

Why?

1. MY NEW PAINTINGS and I will be on display!

a.) I spent a million weeks painting a zillion new Tree Charms just for you to see. And I have a little magnifying glass for you to gaze upon their cuteness up close and personal.

2. It's the day before Mother's Day and you need to buy her a gift!

3. My fantastic friend Lauren will serve you up a glass of red or white and tell you about her new bath soaps that she creates!

4. There will be a selection of comfort foods... like mom used to make!

5. The mobile Parfait Organic Ice Cream truck will be parked outside!

6. It's Ballard Artwalk and you need something fun to do!

7. Uhm... you miss me, and you want to give me a hug?

Hope to see you there!

One checked off the list!

Under-painting

Half way through...

The final

"Exploring the Water's Edge"

16x32

Oil on Panel

SOLD

Finished this one yesterday... it is actually done on two 16x16 panels to form one piece. Wishing I could share a better photo of the final with you, but there is soooo much glare from the fantastic sun that I can only take a picture of it from the side. The colors are way more vibrant than shown here, so poo poo on my camera not being able to read my mind and capture it.

It will be on display starting May 8th at my opening at Venue in Ballard, Washington. More information on my upcoming show can be found HERE.

My Profile Picture has SOLD!

"Through the Trees"

16x21

Oil on Canvas mounted to panel

SOLD

My reception at Vino Verite in Seattle, WA was incredible! Thank you to all my friends, collectors, and everyone that came out to support me that evening! And the wine tasting was fantastic! Wine and art go so well together! The show is up until the end of the month and don't forget that there are a lot of pieces that are 30% off!

I am also excited to announce that this may be one of my last shows at a venue such as this... come August I will have official representation by the Cole Gallery in Edmonds, WA. I will be one of their featured artists that month! If it's a good fit, they will keep me on! I am very excited! They currently are carrying my hand painted Tree Charms at the gallery too, so don't hesitate to contact them for a selection there! Mother's Day is coming up and they make really special gifties! Read the article, "Art in the Palm of Your Hand", that was written about me on their blog... click here.

April Show Announcements and a lil' May News Flash!

Picture above is from a current display of my jewelry and small works at the Venue in Ballard, WA

April shows starting THIS WEEK!

Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and Ballard ~ Seattle, WA

Macrina Bakery

Now Showing through April 30th

Queen Anne location, Mcgraw Street, Seattle, WA

www.macrinabakery.com

On display: Oil pastels, framed mini oil paintings, and a large Giclee reproduction

Studio SALE: 30% off select art works!

Vino Verite

Now Showing through April 30th

Capital Hill location, Seattle, WA

Artwalk/artist's reception this Thursday, April 8th from 5pm - 8pm * FREE WINE TASTING! at 6pm

Artwalk map and venue list click here.

www.vinoverite.com

On display: Large and midsize oil paintings, a large Giclee reproduction, (and many necklaces at Thursday Artwalk only)

Sneak peak for next month...

Venue

Ongoing representation AND featured show May 8th

Ballard, Seattle, WA

Artwalk/Artist's reception Saturday, May 8th from 6pm - 9pm (or later)

Artwalk map and venue list click here.

www.venueballard.com

This just in! ~Newsflash~ I will not be showing at this Greenwood Phinney Artwalk this year!

"WHA!?" - That's right folks, I didn't not get juried in! But it's okay! I have a NEW gig!

If you follow my fan page on Facebook, you already know that I now have ongoing representation at a wonderful boutique/artist work space called the Venue in Ballard. Well this coming May, I will be their featured artist for Ballard Artwalk! AND it is on Mother's Day weekend!

Please come down to Ballard for a wonderful night of art, snacks, and fun! Many many wonderful gift ideas and other artist's work to see! I will have a bazillion Tree Charms for Mom's Day gifts!!!

Hope to see you there!

Ok, So I'm Only Human Right?

This is me.

If the photo could talk it would be saying something to the effect of... " Oh high-eeeee! I toe-tally suck!" Or, "Ha Ha Heeeee, yeah I reeeeeally screwed up... he he heee..." OR ..., "Someone please remind me of why I became an artist in the first place??? please???"

Sigh. Pouty lip. Sulk.

Ok. That's enough of that (tear, blink, blink). Moving onward...

So YEAH, today I had a hiccup in my lil' plan of success I so graciously ranted about the other day. I strayed from my list of things to do today (damn Facebook/Twitteritis!); SO far from it that it caused me (or, rather, I caused myself<>) to forget to enter one of the shows on my list of deadlines! Or more specifically, I ASSUMED that this particular show was a show I could enter online digitally... WELP. It wasn't. The deadline for snail mail was today - which I realized 2 hours ago, when I finally decided to plant it in front of the computer to start the application process. Grrrrrrrrr...

So it is a bad thing, but as a result, a learning experience was born! Now, after I write about my problems in this here blog post (thanks for listening btw... it a good for my healing process)... I will open my excel program and map out all the shows I want to enter in a spreadsheet with all the dates, the type of entry process, fees, etc etc... So it is all in one spot for me to see and keep me more organized! I thought just writing down the deadlines would be good enough, but my procrastinator brain takes over now and then and VIOLA~ a mishap occurs!

So that's my slap on my wrist tonight... I punish thee with spreadsheets! Yuck~

And what's the moral to the story kids?... I'm only human... and I make mistakes... that I learn from... and only allow 2 minutes of self pity before I turn that frown up-side-down!

"Tiny Forest"

3/4" x 11/16"

(YES folks this painting is smaller than an INCH!)

Oil Painting on Scrabble Tile Framed

4"x4" Framed

$100

Email me for purchase info

FREE Shipping to all that reside in the U.S. of A.!

Wanted to share this last thought tonight... I had a successful show at the beginning of February and one of the many compliments I was given was on the presentation of my work (thank you). I invented a new way of displaying my prices at this show, completely eliminating the need for typing all my labels out on the computer (which I HATE).

I bought jewelry tags, wrote the info on them and stuck them to the wall with a decorative BUTTON! Yup! CUTE as a button! It worked out great, and now you can steal my idea. There. A gift from me to you... don't say I never gave you anything.

(gosh I hope you all know I am kidding... and sarcastic... and a total insensitive jerk...<>)

The American Cancer Society local event! Clockin' in to fight for a good cause!

Event: "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer", American Cancer Society

Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 27th from 8 am - 12 pm
Location: Everett Legion Memorial Park, 145 Alverson Blvd, Everett WA 98201

TODAY ONLY! I will be selling art, prints, and A TON of Scrabble Tile Pendants at the event and donating a portion of the proceeds to the cause! Come down and see the debut of my new jewelry line ReJENeration Designs! (Doll-faces, butterflies, beetles, awareness ribbons and more more more! All collaged onto little vintage Scrabble Tiles!) More on that later... Wish me luck!

I WON! (in many ways...)

Welp, I have been away for a little while from this blogging world, to Vegas and back, to build fences, and catch up on life's adventures... and a few things have happened that I peg as pretty eventful in my life... so here I share...

Viewer's Choice Award for Infinity Gallery Online Competition

Refresh

32"x24" Oil on Panel (Diptych)

Original Available $2,070

Giclee Limited Edition Prints Available in several sizes: click here!

Thank you thank you thank you!... to everyone who voted! I am excited to finally announce that I won viewer's choice award, with 104 total votes! You guys are awesome~ What does that mean for me? For one, I get even more exposure online as I will get my painting posted on the page with all the winners for the next few months... the more exposure the better as you never know who you are going to meet and where! And for two, I get to feel this awesome feeling of "Wow, they like me! They really really like me!" and use that energy as inspiration for upcoming new oil paintings that are brewing in my little artsy head of mine! Thanks so much everybody for your support!

Another way I have won this past month is that I have been given the opportunity to give back! And I am a total giver, so it works out as a win win for everyone~ this weekend I will be participating in Strides Against Breast Cancer as a fund raising event in the Everett area. I will be selling my tree charms there that day and donating a portion of the proceeds to this charity!

I will be bringing a whole new line of Scrabble Tile Charms to the event that you may be interested in: some with creepy doll faces and beetles and stuff! Pretty cool! Here is my team website page if you want to get involved OR just show up to look at some awesome stuff!

Discovering Myself Along the Way

60"x48"

SOLD

Lastly, but not leastly, MY GIGANTISAURUS PAINTING HAS SOLD! This has been added to my list of one of the most gratifying experiences I have had to date as an artist! Not only did I enjoy the process of painting this bugger, but the feeling I got once I delivered to the new owners was priceless! It was theeeee most perfect fit in their beautiful home~ so perfect, it was as if I had painted it just for this space! It now resides in a room that is freshly renovated with wonderful warm tone wood floors and gorgeous stone countertops and fireplace! The painting sits front and center no fresh white walls, with lighting that just makes it glow! It's amazing. I can't wait to do another big one for sure! It was also fun to explore the limits of my Jeep Wrangler and how big of a painting it can actually haul!

So over the next couple days I will be finishing up over 100 Scrabble Charms to bring to the show this weekend, while I get over a nasty cold sinus boogery thing I got in Vegas last weekend... Nice. Talk to you all soon!

Artist's Open Studio Event

Artist's Open Studio Event

"Art in the Alley"

Click here for more information

For those subscribed to my blog you are the first to hear! I am opening my doors to the public this Saturday! Please mark your calendars and don't miss it! Hosted by Jean Bradbury and myself, ELEVEN artist's will all come together (between two studios) to show off their fantastic artwork, prints, jewelry, and more! If you come early, you will reap the rewards of a wonderful spread of snacks, wine, and other digestibles!

It is a rare chance to be able to check out where I work, paint, sweat, cry, throw temper-tantrums, and drool over my fantastic view of Puget Sound! Attempt the wiggley ladder climb to the roof top deck for a jaw dropping view of the mountains and water... not for those that are afraid of heights or who have had more than one glass of wine (I will be giving breathalyzers). There will be plenty to view at ground level, don't you worry!

Location:

In the alley on the West side of Queen Anne Hill

1610 & 1618 10th Ave West, Seattle, Wa 98119

Date/Time:

August 29th, Saturday ONLY from 2pm - 6pm

Artist's in Attendance:

Jean Bradbury

Jennifer Phillips

Ethan Jack Harrington

Nick Orban

Dave Badders

Asha Hossain

Lori Ransom

Chris Rollins

Meridith Lee

Amy Hevron

Susan Melrath

Please click here for more information on my website!

Please click here to view our FACEBOOK page.

Also... if you haven't had a chance to vote for my painting for viewer's choice award, PLEASE click here and cast your vote for "Refresh" (orange trees)! I need to stay in the lead until August 31st! Thanks to everyone who voted, so far I am in the lead!

Just a Taste

I am excited to announce that I have officially finished my gigantasourus painting! Yahoo!!! Am I gonna show you it? Nooo way! Or not yet at least. Above is just a taste of the finished piece. And my favorite friend Dozer decided to plant it in front of my easel before snapping the shot!

For those that are local here in Seattle, I would love for you to swing by my show this weekend for the big reveal of my large oil painting and several other new goodies I will have on display! Oh! I also have fantastic LARGER prints this year all duded up in fancy 8 ply mat board for a sleek modern look! And don't forget those little Tree Charms! They are going to go fast!

Come on down to the Bellevue Art Museum Artsfair! It's three whole days of fantastic art, artists, food, and people watching! Here's the info:

Bellevue Art Museum Artsfair

July 24th -26th

Friday/Saturday from 9:30 am - 9:30 pm

Sunday from 9:30 am - 6 pm

My booth number is N-8 (not the same as last year!)

Don't worry if you can't make it, I will post images of the final piece above after the show and more pictures OF the show next week! Wish me luck!

Oooh, if you are not following me on Twitter, you are missing out! I met Lisa Lamoreaux there and I encourage you to check out her work too! She also will be at the show in booth I-16.