Local Artist Spreads Message ‘You Matter’ Through New Cards and Prints Business

Angela Johnson’s new Online business, named ‘hey, wiggle butt’ after her rescue dog, will debut at ogden’s first friday art stroll

The “You Matter” Pride card is one of the most popular and is available in the Vanilla and Salty collection. Image provided by Hey, Wiggle Butt.

OGDEN, Utah – Ogden-based artist Angela Johnson will debut “Hey, Wiggle Butt,” a new online cards and prints business, during Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll on Friday, June 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Bonneville workspace on Historic 25th Street.

The cards and prints feature Johnson’s bold abstract watercolor designs. Named after Johnson’s rescue dog, Hey, Wiggle Butt’s core mission is to remind people that they matter.

Johnson started painting during COVID at age 42 to express her “creative itch” and found that art supported her mental health, a topic she openly shares to decrease the stigma and sense of isolation that others may feel.

Her partner Richard Timothy, a creative writer who writes many of the messages on the cards, brings humor to the business and invented the name "Hey, Wiggle Butt" in honor of their 15-year-old rescue dog, Sadie.

“If you’re a dog person, you immediately know what ‘wiggle butt’ means,” Timothy said. “If you’re not a dog person, we describe an image of a happy dog wagging their tail, and that makes everyone smile.”

Another inspiration behind the business is Timothy’s father, who died in 2020. The couple realized that many of their friends and family didn’t know what to say or how to support them during their time of grief.

“We live in a society where we don’t talk about grief or how to handle it,” Johnson said. “You don’t have to have the perfect words when people are going through a hard time. They just want to know that you care.” Timothy created the card that he wished to receive during that time. “Our hope is when people don’t know what to say, our cards can help.”

The greeting cards come in four collections: Vanilla, Salty, Soulful, and a blank set. “The debut collections will bring tail-wagging joy to dog lovers, art enthusiasts and gift-givers alike,” stated the artist in a press release. She outlines the four collections:

The Vanilla collection features family-friendly classics celebrating many of life’s occasions, including birthdays, anniversaries, loss and more.

The Salty collection expresses heartfelt and funny messages with some “salty” language if that’s more your style.

The Soulful collection, ideal for sending to your friends, inspires self-belief and resilience by highlighting people’s tenacity and brilliance.

The blank set is ideal for corporate settings and people who want to write their own messages. Johnson’s art is also available in museum-quality giclee prints in sizes up to 50 inches wide.

The prints will bring beautiful and affordable art to homes and businesses across the Wasatch Front and beyond, Johnson says. She adds gold metallic ‘signature’ accents to each print to make them one-of-a-kind.

“We’ve been speechless with the feedback we’ve received,” Johnson said. “People love the art, and we’re accomplishing our mission of reminding people that they matter, which is incredibly fulfilling.”

Hey, Wiggle Butt donates 5% of its sales every quarter to the following causes: supporting LGTBQ youth and indigenous tribes in Utah, planting trees, and providing art supplies to underfunded schools in Ogden. Shipping is available throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia. Local pickup is also available.

The Hey, Wiggle Butt grand opening will be held Friday, June 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Bonneville, 221 25th Street, in Ogden. Print and cards will be available for purchase.

For more information visit heywigglebutt.com or @heywigglebutt on Instagram.

“Swan Dive” is Johnson’s newest addition to her print collection and is available in sizes up to 50 inches wide. Image provided by Hey, Wiggle Butt.