Artist Sketchbook: Tom Best
I want to share some details around the Once Upon a Christmas series.
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Once Upon a Christmas series
Every ornament starts as an idea and sketch.
I have been responsible for providing that since the beginning of the Once Upon a Christmas magic series. Our small team of artists, writers and engineers have been moving Santa along chronologically through preparation, preflight and midnight ride of Santa and his reindeer. Not every year is represented here in these photos, but they offer a peek at each ornament’s original inception on paper, as well as its final result as an ornament.
Though some adjustments were made, most look pretty much as they did when I first put pencil to paper. On the ornament of Santa dressing in the mirror, I also provided a bit of 3D computer sculpting by modeling the mirror structure with hat on the post. It was prototyped and handed over to artist Julie Forsyth to be covered on the back side with wax and night sky scene sculpted in bas relief.
Enjoy the views and look for what’s next in the series!
Ho Ho Ho,
Tom
Home & Family: Tammy Haddix & Edythe Kegrize Visit
Tammy Haddix and Edythe Kegrize Visit
Hallmark Senior Keepsake Artist Tammy Haddix and Hallmark Keepsake Master Designer Edythe Kegrize visit HOME & FAMILY to talk about 2018 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. The two women also discuss the holidays and their own favorite family traditions.
Artist Journal: Sharon Visker
Thursday, July 12, 2018
I would describe my style as playful, fun, and sometimes humorous—with a bright color palette. I’m not sure my process is different from other artists, but I like to look for inspiration in things I do and places I go. I never know when something I see might spark an idea. I love flea markets, antique malls, bookstores and shopping in general. Random things I see somehow pop up later in things I’m working on. In general, looking at pictures of old vintage ornaments, cartoons and images, and getting out and about is always inspiring to me.
I look at toys for movement ideas, listen to music for sound ideas, and watch movie clips, too. Sometimes just going for a walk to clear my head helps inspire me. And sometimes it takes time to “brew” an idea—it might take several days of thinking about it before I start to sketch and jot ideas down.
When I start working, I usually pin lots of images up at my desk, and you’ll see books, tracing paper, pencils and any other research I’ve gathered to spark ideas sitting out and about.
2018 Reveal: Holiday Barbie® Ornaments
The wait is over. Here she is! Inspired by the 2018 Holiday Barbie™ Doll, this Keepsake Ornament is the perfect way to celebrate the Barbie™ tradition of fabulous holiday fashions.
On her 30th anniversary, she wears a beautiful red gown reminiscent of the dress worn by the first Holiday Barbie™. It has off the shoulder cap sleeves, multi-tiered layers throughout the bodice and gown, accented with a delicate bow at the waist. Styled with a chic center part, her blonde curls are the perfect complement for her blue eyes. Sophisticated accessories — a headband, necklace and bracelet — feature 30 “pearls” to celebrate the occasion and add the finishing touches.
The holiday season is rich with traditions. For 30 years the Holiday Barbie™ Doll has created a long-lasting legacy of imagination and celebration. May she inspire you to live joyfully, celebrate special moments and create memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Holiday Barbie™ Ornament
4th in the series.
Inspired by the 2018 Holiday Barbie™ Doll
Press Release: Keepsake Ornaments Kicks Off 45th Anniversary with Ornament Premiere
More than 200 all-new ornaments arrive in Hallmark Gold Crown® stores and Hallmark.com for Keepsake Ornament Premiere Event starting July 14
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 12, 2018) — More than 200 new Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments will be released during the annual Keepsake Ornament Premiere Event beginning Saturday, July 14, at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide and online at Hallmark.com. This year marks the 45th anniversary of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, which began in 1973 as a collection of six glass ball ornaments and 12 yarn figures.
“Keepsake Ornament fans eagerly await the annual premiere of our new collection,” said Nicole Reid, retail product director for Hallmark. “We’re excited to show off this fantastic line of Keepsake Ornaments featuring top licensed properties and traditional favorites that help people remember those special times throughout the year.”
Forty-Five Years of Memories Rocking Horse Porcelain Ornament
Forty Five Years of Memories
The entire 2018 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament line includes more than 400 ornaments to help people capture memories and turn the Christmas tree into a holiday experience the whole family will enjoy. More than half the new line will be available at Ornament Premiere.
At Ornament Premiere, consumers will find three brand-new Keepsake Ornament series and can take advantage of special offers and Bonus Points for Crown Rewards members, which run through July 22. Shoppers will also find ten limited-quantity ornaments, available exclusively in Hallmark Gold Crown stores. More event details can be found at Hallmark.com/OrnamentPremiere.
New Keepsake Ornament Storytellers
Disney Christmas Carolers
Collector’s Set
Limited Edition
For 2018, Hallmark is expanding their offering of Keepsake Storytellers Ornaments. This innovative technology allows each ornament to give consumers a fun show on its own, but when other Storytellers ornaments from the set are added, they’ll unlock more interactive performances. With the push of a button on a Storytellers ornament it will send out a signal to determine what other ornaments are nearby. New Storytellers for this year include Christmas Carolers. This collection is sold individually and in a limited edition collectors set. The set features three new ornaments that perform a sound and coordinating light show with motion, each playing a favorite classic carol.
Favorite Characters
Hallmark welcomes a great lineup of favorite properties and characters to the Keepsake Ornaments 2018 line.
Fans of Keepsake Ornaments can feel nostalgic with new ornaments featuring their favorite classic toys and games. Gamers can relive popular games such as, Donkey Kong™, The Legends of Zelda™* and Mario Kart™.
Donkey Kong™
Link*
Legend of Zelda™
Mario Cart™
Iconic Hasbro® toys also join the lineup with My Little Pony™, Glo Worm™, the family board game Chutes and Ladders®* and more.
Firefly™
My Little Pony™
Glo Worm™
Hasbro®
Chutes and Ladders®*
5th in the Family Game Night series.
Keepsake Ornaments featuring sports figures like Jerome Bettis of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and Sidney Crosby* of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins® will appear as well.
Jerome Bettis
Pittsburgh Steelers
Sidney Crosby*
Pittsburgh Penguins®
With Super Heroes, favorite TV and movie characters, and beloved toys – all starring as Keepsake Ornaments – there is something to appeal to every fan.
Significant Anniversaries
This year marks a key milestone for two long-time Keepsake Ornament series as they hit their anniversaries.
Frosty Friends
39th in the series.
Frosty Friends marks its 39th anniversary this year and is Hallmark Keepsake Ornament’s longest-running series. This year’s ornament features Frosty and his penguin pal hanging stockings on their snow covered fireplace made of ice.
Festive Firs Christmas Tree Farm
35th in the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series.
Nostalgic Houses and Shops is also celebrating a special anniversary. This year marks the 35th year for the iconic series featuring architectural elements. The 2018 ornament features the “Festive Firs Christmas Tree Farm” with exceptional detail and artistry of a farmhouse decorated for the holidays.
Mischievous Kittens
20th in the series.
Mischievous Kittens will be celebrating its 20th anniversary as a Hallmark Keepsake Ornament series. This year’s ornament features a feline friend tangled in a box of Christmas lights and decorations. In late November, fans of the series can also purchase a commemorative 20th Anniversary ornament featuring playful kitties wreaking havoc on a Christmas tree.
For more information about Keepsake Ornaments, or to locate a Hallmark Gold Crown store, visit Hallmark.com
*NOTE: Link, Chutes and Ladders® and Sidney Crosby will be released on October 6 as part of Ornament Debut.
2019 Sneak Peek: National Barbie® Doll Collectors Convention
In conjunction with the National Barbie® Doll Collectors Convention (NBDCC), Hallmark once again provided an advance screening of the Barbie Keepsake Ornaments that will be released later this year and a Sneak Peek of next years line. Amongst the 2019 ornaments that were reveled were:
Blue Chiffon Ball Gown Barbie™
Fashion Model Collection
Ballerina Barbie™
On the Avenue Barbie™
SuperStar Barbie™
Press Release: Hallmark Prepares for SDCC 2018
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 5, 2018) — PopMinded by Hallmark is putting the final touches on plans for its annual trip to San Diego, Calif., for Comic-Con International—the nation’s largest pop-culture fan gathering—with limited quantities of products and collectibles developed exclusively for attendees of the event, scheduled July 19-22. (more…)
Home & Family: Ken Crow’s & Nichole Reed’s Visit
Ken Crow’s Visit
Hallmark Keepsake Master Artist Ken Crow visits Hallmark Channel’s HOME & FAMILY show to talk about his latest ornaments including Santa’s Magic Train, Christmas Carousel and Christmas lantern. He also shares that he loves how his ornaments play into people’s holiday traditions every year, including his own family’s.
Keepsake Ornament Club and Dream Book
Later in the show Product Director of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Nicole Reed stops by to talk about the Keepsake Ornament Club and Hallmark’s Dream Box.
Q&A: Robert Hurlburt
Keepsake Artist Robert Hurlburt was asked to give a little more background on some of his 2018 ornaments. Here’s what he had to say!
1932 Buick Fire Engine
16th in the Fire Brigade series.
Robert: It was great to talk to the folks at the Firehouse that maintain the fire truck and had a hand in rebuilding it, especially little details like the top half of a “milk can” they used to create the filler neck and lid for the water tank. They made us feel really welcome and even got the truck out for us to ride, which I hadn’t even thought would be possible. We always like to get the photos ourselves, and usually the firehouses are always so enthusiastic, that we get plenty of great pictures to work from. While working on the Fire Brigade series I always think of my best friend Bill who was a fireman who lost his life after answering a call. I always wish I could show him what I make every year.
1968 Chevrolet Nova SS
28th in the Classic American Cars series.
Robert: I love older cars! I had a 1965 Nova, a 1969 Mustang, a late 60s dodge Dart with a Hemi, and a 1977 Firebird. Sadly, I made choices to sell—with regrets always. When I was young, I did some restoration and worked in a body shop, so I appreciate the work that goes into it. This year’s ornament made me think of my oldest brother and his car (a Chevelle Super Sport) that he snuck out late at night to race every weekend that he could.
Cinderellas Castle
Disney Cinderella
Robert: You get several of the princesses together and with that castle backdrop all lit, and the music, it makes for a real celebration of each princess individually. The size and lighting effect timed to the music is very unique.
Santas Sleigh Dome
Heritage Collection
Robert: It was challenging to figure out how it needs to be sculpted to work with the glass blowers and how it will be constructed. I love the freedom of creating your own design elements and sculpting it as you go and making changes as you see fit, while trying out different paint schemes to get to the final look.
Artist Journal: Orville Wilson
Sunday, July 8, 2018
When I start working on a concept for a new ornament, I really get into looking for references for each and every part of the sculpt.
The Grandkids ornaments are good examples of that process. I looked up poses, clothes, hats, gloves and the sled.
Then when I am actually digitally sculpting the ornament, my imagination kicks in and I start to see myself at play—sliding down the hill.
Grandson
Granddaughter