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Hi! I'm Jennifer, the artist behind Butt UgLee. Ha! That sounded funny and I wasn't even trying. I have only one printable picture of myself.
Here it is ...
To be honest with you ... I rarely look like this.
I spend my day In baggy CSU sweat pants and an old t-shirt, that has no sentimental value, so when I kill it with acrylics and is coated with dog hair, it can go right in the trash.
If my neighbors did not know me they would think I was homeless.
This photo has not been touched up. BUT I have taken a shower, dried and styled my hair, used deodorant, applied mascara, blush and a tinted lip gloss.
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Below you will find an interview that was conducted, not long ago, by a very patient, fellow artist. I'll let her take it from here...
Hi!
My name is Amy.
I met Jennifer a few years ago at a local holiday gift show. We spent two days beside each other, as booth buddies. We hit it off and kept in touch during "show season." Jennifer approached me a few months ago and reluctantly asked if I would do her a favor. Jennifer needed some kind of an interview done, preferably by someone who knew of her, but not ALL about her. She gave me the details in an apologetic tone, then looked up for some sort of a response. "You want me to do what?" Was my answer.
Here are my thoughts from our afternoon together.
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I don’t think you have enough memory, in that little computer of yours, to handle all that it would take to “interview/describe” Jennifer Jones and her work, known as BuTT UgLee.
Her art has been described as unconventional, whimsical, a little out there, funky and “not right.” Her characters are handcrafted, original, one-of-a-kind designs.
Jennifer swears that all she needs to create an “UgLee” is muslin, stuffing, floss, acrylic paint, wire, glitter and a satin/gloss sealer sprayed on at the end for protection and a nice sheen. Each “UgLee” is signed and dated. Now … here is the best part. Jennifer actually goes so far as to tell you a little bit about each character like where they work, favorite food and education. You may even get a peek into their personnel life. OMG … You have to be kidding me! It is the funniest thing you have ever seen. Once you read the little pathetic ditty about each one, you want to buy them ALL! It sounds to me like each Uglee contains 10% material and 80% passion and 10% insanity.
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When you step into Jennifer’s home in Littleton, Colorado, you will get a better picture of why, what, where, when and how. She lives with her husband Keith, 18 yr old daughter Samantha, three cats and a 110 lb Bernese Mt dog named Lilly. Her home is as unconventional as her art. Doesn’t everyone have a working traffic light hanging above their TV, the grill of an old tractor on the ledge above the kitchen OR better yet, an armadillo named Clyde standing on the kitchen bar.
When asked why? Jennifer’s answer comes out a bit slower and more cautiously. The easy part of why? Humor … We all need more humor, more laughter, more joy and less stress. How can you feel stress looking at one of Jennifer’s creations? It is not possible.
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It was only 10 years ago that Jennifer was actually diagnosed and treated for depression and anxiety disorder. She explains that she now realizes she has had this all her life, as far back as she can remember. Doctors didn’t diagnose children, let alone young adults for depression.
There were fragments of her answer that she kept closer as to protect her from those who may not understand and be quick to judge. It has only been in the past 3 years that she learned she has or is a HSP and/or Empath. This is a constant drain on her system and often keeps her homebound for long periods of time. Crowds are overwhelming, parties and holiday gatherings are often stressful. It is a complete drain on her system. The world is just too overwhelming for her hypersensitive nervous system. It sounds really weird to most people, but once it is explained and examples are given it all makes sense. This HSP explains part of the why. When she is home, in her element, creating the things she loves, life takes on a different hue.
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Jennifer believes her art is what keeps her on this planet. She can feel her body and her emotions change as she paints, sews and designs. Her characters make her laugh. She understands them. They understand her. They all seem to look like they are on some great mind bending drugs. Jennifer jokes about this as well. She shares the anguish of tweaking a cocktail of medications, to balance her moods, energy level and migraines. She likes to tell people she is highly medicated, as a joke. Her Doctor would just laugh and tell her she isn’t even close.
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Art heals the artist, the one who buys the art and the one who is the receiver of the art. Jennifer believes that the energy she puts into each piece gets passed onto the recipient. Really! She even admits that she will NOT work on a project if her mood it not right.
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It is very hard for me, the person actually performing the interview, to keep focused when around Jennifer. Her passion and excitement for her creations just leaps out of her as she shows me the pieces she has just finished. Or … the bag of body parts just waiting their turn. Her space is filled with color swatches, small jars of acrylics, paint brushes neatly places in whimsical vessels, drawers full of colored floss, ribbon, markers, colored wire, glitter glue and too many sketch books to count.
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Her “studio” as she likes to call it, is really the dining room, just off the kitchen. When their daughter left in the fall for college so did the dining room table. Left beside the dumpster for the next owner, Jennifer and her husband Keith decided it was the best space for UgLee’s to be born. It had the best natural light, vaulted ceilings, plenty of open space to move around in, perfect view of the Rocky Mountains and the TV so she can watch the history channel. (Jennifer has not watched the news for over a year-except to make sure Michael Jackson really did die.) Audio books and total silence are her favorites.
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What is next?
Jennifer plans to continue to sell on Etsy and is looking for a few more Galleries to feature her unconventional creations. She would like to make larger pieces with more extras. She’d like to put some of her dimensional characters on stretched canvas along with text and some other unmentionables. She mumbled something about Cafe press and seeing her characters on other products. The sky is the limit. People will never get tired of whimsical characters. They do NOT go out of style. She actually sells more to adults than children.
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Now that I am totally overwhelmed and over stimulated I think I will bust out my check book, grab a few Uglee’s and head off to the closest craft store so I can find something to do with my hands. Something that I can create, give me a feeling of accomplishment and joy like the joy I see in the artist I have spent my day with. I want that! What is that line from When Harry Met Sally … “I’ll have what she’s having.”
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You can find Jennifer’s work for sale at buttuglee.etsy.com
Her website and main hub is buttglee.com (still under construction)
Her Blog is JenniferAJones.typepad.com
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*** If you would like to know more about HSP and being an Empath please email Jennifer at buttglee@gmail.com she would be happy to give you more information, both personnel and informative resources such as websites. ***
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Now ... bust out your PayPal account and head on over to buttuglee.etsy.com.
If her site looks bare, don't worry, she adds her creations as soon as she finishes them!
Buy the way ... I must admit ... I left her home with an armful of Uglee's and an empty wallet. I didn't care! I had an UgLee. The start of my collection!
Tag! You're it!
Your Artist Friend,
Amy
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