Artist Journal: Tom Best (Concept Drawings)
Monday, July 08, 2019
Here are some concept drawings, created by Keepsake Artist, Tom Best in the early 2000’s, for a possible new series that was never done.
These sketches depicting Santa piloting various flying machines were created, in 2003, 2004 –ish, during Tom’s first years in the Keepsake studio.
Artist Journal: Sharon Visker
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Sharon Visker Treasure Hunting
When Keepsake Artist Sharon Visker is brainstorming ideas for a new ornament, she’s inspired by a combination of factors. “I first research old sketches and look at images online and in books,” she said, “but my favorite is to get out and about to explore. I love scrounging around antique malls, flea markets and just wandering around stores to look at stuff. I never know what I might see that might spark an idea or get me thinking.” (see treasure hunting image)
Once that first spark of inspiration ignites, Sharon likes to keep the fire going with some of her favorite things. “I have a certain sketchpad I use and music I listen to which varies by my mood,” she said. “But I mainly use tracing paper pads so I can rip things out if I don’t like them or draw over to refine my first sketches. I don’t get very detailed when I’m just sketching. I like to add more detail during the sculpting stage. Once I get going, I really need quiet time to come up with my best ideas so I can really concentrate. I believe the best ornaments always start with a strong concept and if you have that, the sketching, sculpting and painting just complete the process. If I’m excited about a concept, I think it shows in the final product.”
Blue Christmas Sketches by Sharon Visker
Sometimes, those initial rough sketches can morph quite a bit as they become an actual ornament. One great example is Sharon’s 2019 magic ornament featuring Elvis’s song, “Blue Christmas.” “My first sketches looked a lot like Elvis,” she said, “but legally, I wasn’t allowed to do that so the end product is very different.” (see blue Christmas sketches)
Keepsake Artists typically sketch quite a few ideas before landing on one that will make the best ornament. Sharon is no different, and graciously shared some rough sketches of ideas that haven’t made the cut, and maybe even a sneak peek at one or two that will become future ornaments! (see ornament concept sketches)
In her spare time, Sharon gets inspiration by doing other forms of art for herself and for others. “I work on carvings and more crafty stuff on my own time,” she said. “I almost always have several projects going on at the same time. Recently, I painted a violin for a charity auction called Band of Angels, and also carved a cane for my dad.” (see violin and dad with cane images)
Artist Journal: Tracy Larsen
Friday, June 14, 2019
From the sketchbook of Keepsake Artist, Tracy Larsen.
Tracy Larsen’s Series Ideas List
One of Tracy Larsen’s favorite things to do as a Keepsake artist is come up with new ideas for a series of ornaments. “When it’s time to provide concepts for a new series, I generally grab a few 3X5 cards and just start writing down various ideas,” he said. “I’ll look at what has been done, what has been successful, and what I would like to see done as a series.” (see series ideas list image)
After his initial ideation, Tracy gets out his favorite vellum pad and starts to sketch, which is where his ideas really start to come to life. “I take what I feel are the best ideas and start to do rough sketches of what a few years of that series could look like,” he said. (see North Pole Tree Trimmers #1 concept sketches and Holiday Lighthouse–Santa and the polar bear interaction ideas–sketches). Sometimes, inspiration strikes him in the middle of a meeting and he ends up sketching on scraps of paper, or even his assignment sheet with a schedule of his upcoming work. (see assignment sheet sketches)
Then, when he feels like an idea has legs, he starts to flesh that idea out a bit more to make sure it’s not just a one off ornament and can hold together as a series for years to come. “When an idea is enough to sustain a series, I’ll start to refine sketches for one or two years’ worth of ornaments,” he said. (see North Pole Tree Trimmers #7 concept sketch) “Once I’m satisfied that the sketches portray my idea well, I’ll turn it in and wait to see if it gets the green light or not.”
So what happens to those ideas that aren’t chosen? Well, Tracy has been a Keepsake Artist long enough to know that sometimes, the timing just isn’t right for a certain idea. “If a series concept doesn’t get chosen one year, I’ll put it in a folder full of unused series ideas and I’ll often submit it again at a later time,” he said. (see unused series concept sketches: Santas in regional costumes riding different corresponding animals, Reindeer Games, and Santa du Soleil) Tracy’s perseverance has paid off for a few of his ideas that ended up taking a while to get officially approved. “North Pole Tree Trimmers is a good example,” he said. “It was first turned in as a series concept around 1999 or 2000, but didn’t officially become a series until 2013.”
When his idea is chosen to become the next great Keepsake series, Tracy decides which rough sketch would be best to become the first-in-series ornament. “Every year after that, I turn in a refined sketch based on my initial ideas,” he said. “Of course, those sketches often evolve a bit from the original, but that’s how a series is born!” (see 2019 Holiday Lighthouse, Tea Time! original ideas and 2019 Tea Time! #4 Snowman concept sketches)
Ask the Artist!
A few Keepsake Artists were asked: What ornament are you most excited about for 2019 and why?
Cuteness Beyond Measure
Nina Aubé: My #1 fav for 2019 is the measuring spoon Snowman, “Cuteness Beyond Measure”. My inspiration was my grandma’s old aluminum measuring spoons. She passed them on to my mom, so I grew up using them. My mom then gave to me when left for college. I’m still using them! And they still bring back fond memories of baking together with my family.
Runner up fav: My new series, Mini cozy critter. 2 reasons: I’m a huge bird lover; I’ve loved teeny tiny things since I was a kid. (I collect miniatures as a hobby, i.e. “Little Kiddle” dolls).
North Pole Public Radio
Tracy Larsen: For the ornaments I created, I’m most excited for the North Pole Public Radio. One of my favorite ornaments from the past is a cathedral style radio from 2006, created by Nello Williams and some terrific writers, that you can tune in to different stations and hear music and humorous ads. It also comes with that old radio static in between stations as you turn the tuning knob.
The ads are so well done that they still make me smile every time I hear them. I was fortunate to be able to create my own version, fashioned after some of the old bakelite radios from the 40’s and 50’s, using Santa’s belly, with belt and buckle, as a design motif. Our editors and sound people have again done a wonderful job of putting together music with funny ads that I trust will put a smile on the faces of those that “tune in”.
Prince of the Forest
1st in the Noble Nutcracker series.
Sharon Visker: Mine or someone elses? Here’s both: Terri Steiger’s new nutcracker series— Prince of the Forest- I love the old world style combined with the decorative fine details that Terri designed.
Mine – Tiki Tidings- Fun, festive tiki makes me just want to go vacationing somewhere warm and tropical!
Hyacinth
32nd in the Mary’s Angels series.
Robert Chad: Mary’s Angel #32 “Hyacinth” I made it especially for the collectors. Blonde hair, pink dress with butterflies. As feminine (girly) as I could.
Baby Girl’s First Christmas
Debra Nielsen: I have a twofer. The Baby (Boy’s/Girl’s) First Christmas (bear booties). I am excited about the boy and girl baby bear booties because they are full of personality, and I will enjoy gifting them to some special babies in my life this year.
Hogwarts™ Castle Tree Topper
Harry Potter™ Collection
Kristina Gaughran: I’m really excited for all the Harry Potter storytellers with the tree topper!!! I LOVE how they all interact with the castle and the music and light show for Hogwarts is fantastic!!
O Tannenbaum
Club Exclusive
Anita Marra Rogers: I am most excited about the KOC Exclusive, “O Tannenbaum” because it features my little granddoggie, Oreo Scruffles. He is representing my Puppy Love series.
Kringle’s Toy Shop
Ken Crow: Kringle’s Toy Shop is the ornament that I am most excited about. I identify with Santa creating mechanical things for the purpose of making people happy.
Share what ornament(s) you are most excited about for Premiere!
Artist Journal: Robert Chad (Never Produced Ornaments)
Wednesday, May 09, 2019
Here are photographs of a couple of Keepsake ornament designs created by Keepsake Artist, Robert Chad, that were never produced.
The first picture is of Santa’s Nightstand, an original hand-painted prototype created in 2003. One of these original pieces was included in the Keepsake Live Auction at the 2009 Keepsake Ornament Club Event.
The second and third pictures are of the original sculpt and hand-painted prototype Robert created in 1989 to commemorate Baby’s First Christmas.