Artist Insights: Santa’s Next Stop
Hallmark sat down (virtually!) with Keepsake Artist Anita Marra Rogers to chat more about the Santa’s Next Stop Special Edition ornament releasing on 6/12! Anita was the lead on the project, and she worked with the entire Keepsake Studio of Artists to bring the ornament to life! Keep reading to learn more of what she had to say about the process.
Don’t forget to join Hallmark on the Keepsake Facebook page on 6/12 from 12pm-1pm CST for their virtual Keepsake Artist Signing Facebook Live event! Anita along with fellow artists Debra Nielsen and Nello Williams will be chatting more about the Santa’s Next Stop Special Edition ornament and answering all your burning questions! There will be signed giveaways–the Santa’s Next Stop Special Edition ornament signed by the entire Keepsake Studio–as well selected from those in attendance. The event is completely free! See you on 6/12 from 12-1pm CST.
Anita also added, “I actually named this piece! Since the 1993 piece was “Santa’s Favorite Stop,” I thought it would be fun to call this one “Santa’s Next Stop.” I suggested it to Keepsake Editor Lindsay Evans, and she loved it!”
Lindsay will be hosting the virtual event on 6/12, so you’ll get to hear more from her then too! The KOC can’t wait to chat with you on 6/12 from 12-1pm CST. See you then.
Santa’s Next Stop
Studio Edition
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Anita Marra Rogers to chat about the Santa’s Next Stop Special Edition!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, May 26, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/permalink/2736156716624335/
Meet the Hallmark Keepsake Artists: Anita Marra Rogers
Meet Keepsake Artist…Anita Marra Rogers. Anita joined the Keepsake Studio in 1985 and has brought to life countless beloved characters through her ornaments, including her adorable Puppy Love and Happy Halloween series! Anita’s journey to become a Hallmark Artist began at a very young age.
As a child, Anita’s mother recognized her talent early on, and signed Anita up for oil painting lessons. Years later, a Hallmark sculptor and friend looked at those same paintings and he saw talent! He invited her to come in and see what the Hallmark Artists were working on—whimsical animals, warm Christmas scenes, wintry landscapes. Anita tried her hand at one, sculpting a deer and a bunny looking sweetly at each other over a snowbank. As soon as her friend saw it, he told her that her Keepsake Ornament career had begun. And so, it had!
Meet the Hallmark Keepsake Artists: Allie Jachimowicz
Artist Journal: Debra Nielsen (Tabletop Horse)
This entry is about a project Deb is working on outside of her Keepsake-related work projects. Hint: It’s beautiful! And large scale! And an animal (who can guess which one?)!
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Deb: “[Keepsake Artist] Kristina Gaughran and I were admiring some photos of larger scale sculptures and expressed an interest in giving it a try. Fortunately, Hallmarkers are given 5 days each year to pursue something that inspires them and their work.” This program is often referred to as #my5days and offers 5 workdays per year for creative employees to renew, explore, learn, and think differently about the world and work around them.”
Deb: “Kris, Matt Kesler [a fellow artist and workshop consultant] and I decided to take 3 days and gathered some larger scale tools and soft clay to sculpt with. [if you haven’t guessed by now, Deb has designed and is working on a stunning large-scale tabletop horse.] I wanted to focus on a dramatic pose for the horse I am sculpting. I still have a lot of detail work to accomplish, but making a familiar subject at a new scale, with different tools and materials has been very enjoyable.”
#My5Days – A program Hallmark began in 2016 that gives creative employees five work days per year to explore any creative project that inspires them.
Artist Insights: 2021 Puppy Love
Hallmark sat down (virtually!) with Anita to discuss her adorable Boston Terrier, the 31st ornament in her Puppy Love series. Enjoy!
Anita also added, “some Boston Terriers have a dot in the middle of the white blaze on their foreheads called a Haggerty spot, although some people call it an Angel Kiss, so I gave this pup the angel kiss for good measure. ” How cute!
We can’t wait for you to see Anita’s adorable Boston Terrier ornament when it releases at Ornament Premiere in July!
Boston Terrier
Puppy Love
31st in the series.
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Anita Marra Rogers’ Boston Terrier, 31st in the Puppy Love series!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, April 27, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/permalink/2736156716624335/