Life & Work with Jessica Bundy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Bundy.

Jessica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a Kansas Citian, born and raised. I grew up exploring the city with my parents and falling more in love with it with each year. As a child, I was always drawn to art and creative expression. If I wasn’t in an imaginary/childhood adventure with neighborhood friends, I was probably watching Bob Ross. Art classes were always my favorite in school, and I learned so much from the teachers I had. Beyond elementary/secondary school, I am self-taught in many mediums. My love for watercolor painting was born about five years ago, along with my business Beautifelt. I had always dreamed of being an artist when I grew up and finally decided to take a chance on myself. I am so grateful I did because with Beautifelt, I have participated in nearly 100 art/craft/maker shows, I’ve been featured on a local news segment, designed a magazine cover, and most importantly, I’ve met and connected with so many amazing people here in our community!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There have absolutely been obstacles along the way, but looking back on them, they have all been extremely valuable learning experiences. I remember the first art show I participated in….it was a two day event, and day one had me in tears. I made very little sales and didn’t receive much feedback from people visiting the event. I cried a lot that evening and questioned if ” I was good enough? If my art could mean anything to others?”. It was tough. The next day, I sold my first original piece of artwork. I had so many incredible conversations with people about art and life. And I haven’t stopped since!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I mostly create using watercolor and ink. My creations definitely reflect a love for Kansas City, Pop-Culture, and humor. I used to avoid watercolors as a medium because they can often be more difficult to “control”, but now it’s one of my favorite qualities about watercolor. It’s definitely a marriage of my creativity and what the watercolor chooses to do. I am drawn to bold and vibrant colors and am a lover of rainbows….so my pieces showcase that as well! I also create commissioned pieces (House paintings, pet portraits, etc.).

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve definitely become more of a risk taker as I’ve grown older. Specifically when it comes to taking a chance on myself. I’m a shy person by nature, and throwing myself into the maker community has pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone. It’s given me an opportunity to share my voice and be seen. About three years ago, I did a live news segment and talked about watercolor and the maker scene, leading up to an event I was doing. I was TERRIFIED. I was so nervous and really thought I would totally screw it up. On set, the day of, the nerves were definitely there, but as soon as it was “go time”, a confidence washed over me. It was a 3 minute segment (that felt like 30 ), but I was so incredibly proud of myself and how well I had done afterwards. I took a risk on myself, and I’m so glad I did!

Contact Info:

• Email: Lemoneyhoney@gmail.com
• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/BeautifeltShop
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautifelt
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Beautifelt