Have You Seen This Stolen Art?

In March, Patch reported on two artists — — who had opened a working studio in a storefront smack in the middle of downtown Renton on Houser Way South.

Now one of them needs your help in locating some of their stolen artwork.

On Thursday, August 11, someone stole more than $11,000 of Phillips' property from her Jeep Wrangler, including $7,000 worth of art that was packaged and ready to be sold at the "Art in the Pearl" event in Portland, Ore. this September. 

Phillips had just dropped off some of her work at the Columbia City Gallery on Rainier Avenue. While on her way home, she decided to hit the Seattle Goodwill at 1400 South Lane Street. 

After spending some time in the store, Phillips returned to the Goodwill parking lot at around 7 p.m. to find that her car had been "ransacked," despite being parked next to the donation line.

Phillips immediately contacted Goodwill's security manager and the Seattle Police Department.

"We combed through footage in hopes of seeing "who dun it" ... unfortunately for the thief I was parked in the only blind spot in the lot, so the cameras didn't catch anything," she said.

The thief stole Phillips' iPhone, Mac computer and thousands of dollars of handmade jewelry and paintings that took her two months to create.

"All my personal items can be replaced," said the full-time artist. "But all the time and effort and creativity that went into making my art will never be recovered." 

The theft is all the more devastating for Phillips who recently found out she was pregnant and stopped working so as not to expose herself to some of the harmful toxins found in paint pigments and other art materials. Just recently, she invested in a respirator so she could continue to produce work for several upcoming summer and fall art festivals.

Some of that work recently appeared in the Bellevue Arts Fair. Phillips describes her stolen art as "all miniature oil paintings that I paint with a magnifying glass and tiny brushes on exotic hard woods, suspended from sterling silver and brass hand assembled even on real twigs."

Anyone with information about theft should contact the Seattle Police Department.

The theft serves as a painful reminder to never get too comfortable with leaving things in your car, Phillips said.

More of Phillips' art can be seen on her web site by clicking here.