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.

ARTIST'S ALERT! Don't fall for this SCAM!

Received a blog post today that gave me chills. If you are an artist you need to read this so you can know what to look for... I ALMOST feel for a scam like this a year ago. Until the inquirer started mumbling something about paying for shipping and writing a money order for more than the price of the art. As soon as I insisted to use Paypal as a means of payment, they never contacted me again.

All I lost out of the deal was my time. Time I had prepared taking pictures of how the art looked on my walls (per the inquirer's request). But I cringe thinking about how many people may fall for this scam through out the year... it's awful that there are such cruel people in the world. Read about this artist's experience and the warning signs you need to look for, by clicking HERE.

On another note, I am home now from my 2 week adventure in Oregon at Art in the High Desert and Art in the Pearl. Now I am looking forward to my next show in Kansas City, MO at the Plaza Art Fair this Sept 24th-26th. I will be showing my jewelry line only at this one... It will be my first time flying to a show and renting my equipment. I love a challenge! So the next 12 days are go time for production. I will post more soon!

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!")

Inspired by Tree Charm... Wah?

"Muse"

5x5

Oil on Panel

Been sick... for 5 days or so, bed ridden. NO FUN. As soon as I woke up today feeling like I could walk around again I made a mad dash for my studio...

27 Tree Charms and one "Muse" later and here I am... all painted out for the evening~ Interestingly enough, this little image on the charm I painted today inspired the little 5x5 behind it!

Ok. That's all the words I'm typin'. I promised more paintings and less talk... so I'm zippin' it!

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...<>)

An Ambitious Year Ahead

The winning photo you helped me choose!

So first of all, thanks for taking the time to vote on my jewelry close up photo (now posted above)... After all the great input I received I ended up re-shooting a clearer version of the winning image. Ultimately this image will end up on display next to my jewelry, to show the public that they REALLY are hand-painted teenie weeny oil paintings. So thanks for helping me. Because I am a really indecisive artist to say the least!

(close up of the arteest in action - thank god she had no ear goobers.)

Which brings me to my next exciting piece of news! In about a week I will be delivering my first batch of newly redesigned necklaces to a great local boutique/gallery in Ballard, WA! It's called the VENUE. Yes folks, I now have a permanent place for you to shop locally for these cute gift ideas! AND VALENTINE'S DAY IS COMING! Theaaaay make theeeee purrrrfect giftieeees~ let me make a custom one for you!

So as you may have guessed. I've been busy. Painting trees the size of the nail on my little pinkie finger. Yup. I'm covered in 'em. Not nails, TREE CHARMS! Aaaand lovin' it!

Unfortunately though, it's time to raise my prices too... SIGNIFICANTLY. It's a good thing! Especially for those that own the original, because that means for you... your little oil painting has gone up in value! Now - I don't want to see you on the street trying to sell it to the next highest bidder... you better not!

I encourage anyone that has been interested in picking on of these up for yourself, to get one now before my prices officially go up on February 5th. There are a few left online at my Etsy store for only $30! IF YOU TELL ME YOU SAW THIS BLOG POST I WON'T CHARGE SHIPPING!*** IMPORTANT! Contact me FIRST BEFORE you hit the "purchase" button or Paypal will charge you shipping. Thanks!

IF YOU ARE LOCAL? The rest of my $30 stock will be on display at my first show this year on Thursday, ONE NIGHT ONLY! I will be at the 619 Western Building for 1st Thursday in the Pioneer Square area, on Feb. 4th from 6-9. For more info read on...

So, enough with the selfish plugs huh? Ok, you win.

I really intended to begin tonight's blog entry with a little inspiration about greasin' the 'ol creative wheel for 2010. I had read a great post on the Artbizblog a few days ago, causing a reaction so strong that I couldn't hit the "leave a comment" button fast enough! If you are a procrastinator, or a stuck artist, or just need a means of seeing how other people overcome their obstacles with their art... please visit this link. http://www.artbizblog.com/2010/01/15minutes.html

Rather than explain in my own words, I would rather just encourage you to click on this link to read it for yourself... and don't forget to scroll down to read MY comment. I left my example of how IT (go find out what IT is!) worked for me. And I actually sound a little bit intelligent. Just a little.

While you are at it... clickin' around the web-n-stuff... check out all the shows I am entering this year! Just posted them to my website. Will I be in your neck of the woods in 2010??? Visit MY AMBITIOUS SHOW SCHEDULE here.

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!

Vote for ME!

Double Tree

Hand-painted miniature on vintage Scrabble Tile!

$30

Click here for purchase information

I have been busy hunting and gathering letters for my new custom Tree Charm orders I took at the Bellevue Artfair last week... now that I have the letters I need, it is time to get busy! This one above, is a new one freshly posted today!

Click HERE to visit Infinity Art Gallery and cast your vote!

I am also excited to share that I made it as a finalist in the 2D category for the Infinity Art Gallery online competition! Being that there were over 200 entries internationally, I am honored!

Now, I have the chance to win the Viewer's Choice award and be featured with the winners online... BUT in order to win, I NEED YOUR HELP! Please visit the gallery and vote for my painting (above) titled "Refresh", by clicking on the checkbox next to the name of the painting. If I win, it could give me a whole lot of extra exposure! It would be fantastic! It takes seconds and there is no obligation to give any personal information...

I will find out at the end of the month and let you know the results! Thanks for your support!

Lastly, I have to share a disturbing article I came across today. "Mom Finds Her Baby for Sale on Craigslist!" Read the short article (or watch video), then think twice about how you post your personal photos online...

Instructional: How to fit a BIG object into a small hole.

Step 1:

Force it.

Step 2:

Wiggle it a bit, yank it, and then maybe give it a big heave hoe! (just a note that my foot is not broken in this photo)

Step 3:

Throughout your painting process, be sure to save enough oil paint for touch ups... because Step 4 is shoving it back down the stairs into the truck and off to your next show!

I've been thinking. Thinking about going big this time. But what I neglected to think about is wether or not my canvas would actually fit up the stairs to my studio! Luckily, it did, barely.

I keep gravitating to painting the very tip top of some trees I love at Golden Gardens here in Seattle. All those delicate limbs reaching way up to the sky... and all those yummy shapes of light that form between the branches. When I am done it will be 4 feet by 5 feet of fantastic goodness!

So I will be working on this one for a little while I presume. Until then I will post smaller works on occasion as I prepare for my next show at the Bellevue Art Museum Artsfair in July. I have been working on a few new Tree Charms like the one below too - I recently discovered working with resin and it goes wonderfully with the charms, making them look almost like glass! You can check more of them out at my store at www.jenniferphillipsart.etsy.com~

Back from Thailand... back in the game!

17 days in Phuket, Thailand... WOW! What an experience. I won't bore you with braggy details of my fantastic vacation in 90 degree weather, scuba diving, sampling the most amazing foods, and sipping beers on almost every beach Thailand had to offer... But what I will share is this one photo - cuz if any of you have seen the movie "The Man with the Golden Gun", a James Bond flick, THIS photo should feel a little familiar. The rock behind me is featured as the headquarters in the movie. Thai's call this place James Bond Island. It was breathtaking! 

One thing is for sure, every trip I go on I do the same thing... I pack all my supplies to draw or paint with watercolors and then NEVER DO IT! Well I shouldn't say never, because I have in the past, but I certainly did not on this vacation. I must have really needed a vacation, that is my excuse. Actually I have one more... it was so fricken hot!!! It was hard to do anything in the day other than absorb rays and swim in the largest bathtub of an ocean until Mr. Sun went away. So now that I have returned and semi gotten back into the flow of my little artistic life, I am ready to dive in and get back in the game!

Tuesday I took my studio outside. It was the third day of sun and warmth in Seattle, and I just couldn't stand for being all cooped up in my studio to paint that day. It was fantastic! The sun, the cool breeze, the view... it was perfect! I met several new people who had come down to Kerry Park for the fabulous view AND met up with several others that had learned of my outing that day from my Twitter post before I left for the park. I ended up staying for 4 hours. The only reason why I left is because I had to pee. (Sorry- Probably too much information) But two bottles of water will do that to a person!

I used most of the day to begin painting a new series of REALLY tiny paintings... in fact they are THEE tiniest paintings I have ever done! And I am in love with them, cuz I am obsessed with all things little and precious.

These little trees are painted on vintage Scrabble tiles and made to hang as a pendant on any necklace or chain. I will talk more about them in my next post because I am making them available for purchase online as we speak... Mother's Day IS coming up you know! (wink)

Anyway, I am so glad to be back and with two new shows coming up, I have a lot on my creative plate! I am so rejuvenated I can't wait to see what comes off my brush next... because I am going back to painting large for awhile! Whoo hoo!

What is Art For?

SOLD

The quote below I read in an article today. It struck me. 

Got me to think a little bit more about why it is I do what I do in my creative world sometimes.  

The quote is from Ellen Dissanayake who wrote the books

Art and Intimacy and What is Art For?... see what you think.

"Art, is biological. It is an evolutionary adaptation that helped us become human. Art is not, she argues, a set of objects or compositions or paintings. Art, rather, is the behavior that leads to those things. Neither is art handed down only to a select few sensitive souls. Art, she says, is 'making special,' an act that gives us belonging and meaning. It is passed from mother to child. Its origins lie deep in the human past. It makes us human."

- excerpt from an article by Tim Steury in this month's Washington State Magazine.

For a transcript of an interview with Ellen Dissanayake click here.

For Ellen Dissanayake's website click here.

The above image is something new I have been cooking up. Was excited to share because I finished my first prototype the other day... I won't be able to elaborate until I have a clearer understanding as to what I will be doing with these magical little miniatures, but for the time being I have accepted the fact that I absolutely LOVE  to paint them! They are only 3/4" big! More info coming soon!