 He conceived the idea of starting an art colony in Taos, which he discussed in correspondence with Blumenschein.In 1915, his dream became reality with the formation of the Taos Society of Artists, of which Phillips was a founding member together with his friends Ernest Blumenschein, Joseph Henry Sharp, and three other artists.The Society was founded in the dining room of Phillips' in-laws, Doc and Helen Martin, who was herself a batik artist.