Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Phillips.
Jade, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Practice, passion, and consistency. Creating is not something that comes naturally to me. Luckily, the art classes I took in high school were almost as robust as the artistic education I received in college. This allowed me to understand the principles of art and design at a very young age. At 18, with around four years of practicing drawing/painting, I went on to receive my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (2016) and my Master of Arts degree (2018).
Over time, I studied the various ways in which we visually perceive the human experience. I dove deep into the world of fine arts and have relished there ever since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When it comes to maintaining a creative practice… I wish a smooth road existed! There are always struggles if you are serious about pursuing your passion. I’ve had clients that have asked me to stop working on a project in the middle of its creation. I’ve been rejected for many exhibition opportunities. I’ve had technical difficulties with the business/website side of being a working artist. I’ve gone in and out of cycles of being idle in my studio practice.
What matters is how you react in the face of adversity. You must keep cool, collected, and consistent. I have taught myself to see conflict as pre-requisite to my growth as an artist. In this way, I can start to appreciate the rugged journey, rather than dread it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my undergraduate degree, the classes that I took allowed me to emphasize my area of expertise in oil painting. I then moved into obtaining my graduate degree. There, my focus was on studio practice, color theory, and more painting.
Currently, I make paintings that can be classified as non-traditional portraits. These works usually depict an unconventional representation of a person, object, or environment. I have works that are on loan or under direct ownership with patrons across the United States in Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
I am extremely proud to have teaching experience in drawing, painting, and mixed media methods of art making. I want everyone to know that making things can be a completely learned skill – it does not require “natural talent” or “gifted abilities”!
I’ve been the recipient of scholarships and awards including (but not limited to) a National Portfolio Day Artistic and Academic scholarship, the People’s Choice/Artist’s Choice/Award of Excellence at Belleville’s Art on the Square, the Carla Miranda and Dustin Peletier Memorial Scholarship Award, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Fine Arts Departmental Award and was named Distinguished Graduate at Eastern Illinois University in the Master of Arts program.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Maintain a consistent studio practice above all else. If you need to do the dishes, ignore them until you’ve played in the studio for at least 30 minutes. You’ll find ways to trick yourself into avoiding what you love to do the most. Everything else will fall into place eventually if you keep making!
Contact Info:
- Website: jadearianaphillips.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadephillipsart/
Image Credits
All images belong to Jade Ariana Phillips
