Artist Journal: Debra Nielsen (Inspiration)
Sunday, September 16, 2018
See what continues to inspire me!
I would say my style is feminine and trend forward, with an overlay of a vintage, traditional Christmas aesthetic. All those years in the Keepsake studio will do that!
So many things inspire me. I like to shop at retail or antique stores, visit art galleries or craft shows, and find inspiring trends online. Sometimes just some quiet time to remember those childhood days and the fun we had is inspiring, too. And I love nature photography. Being outdoors and capturing that beauty is very inspiring. The important thing for me is to shake up my routine. That’s when the ideas pop up.
When I start a new concept for an ornament, I usually begin with a concept sketch or photographs of the object I am designing. I also do some research into its history or anatomy, like when I am sculpting a certain horse breed. I design sculpts in wax, illustrate on the computer, and do some parts in a 3D computer program. And I still love to paint. This flexibility allows me to choose the best way to approach my design. For example, I’d rather make a Pony for Christmas wagon in a 3D program, so I don’t have to reinvent the wheel!
At my desk, you’ll see very tiny paint brushes that paint eyelashes, handmade tools from x-acto knife blades (that my husband made for me), skinny wires and floss for sculpt armatures, a hot tool that melts and shapes a clay wax we make here in-house, and good shears for fabric, plus ribbons, colored pencils, paint, and great laptop computer. And don’t forget glitter!
I love that my role as an artist in the Keepsake studio allows me to be very versatile. Every day is different and is a creative learning process. Our staff is very inspiring and generous to share their knowledge, which is an invaluable asset.
2019 Sneak Peek: Little Green Apple’s In-Store Artist Signing Event
In conjunction with the Little Green Apple’s Friday night dinner in Lansing, MI, Hallmark Senior Artist Tammy Haddix shared a sneak peek of some of the designs she is working on for the 2019 Keepsake ornament line.
by Tammy Haddix
Cookies and Milk for Santa
Making Memories
12th in the series.
Holiday Parade
1st in the series.
Contributors to post: Janet
Q&A: Tom Best
Keepsake Artist Tom Best was asked to share a little more about being a Keepsake Artist. Here’s what he had to say!
Featured Artist: Tom Best
Title:
Hallmark Artist
Started at Hallmark:
December 1982
Started at Keepsakes:
June 2003
Hometown:
Avon Lake, Ohio
Anything from Tom Best’s childhood on Lake Erie is game to be turned into a Keepsake Ornament: food, music, fishing and every bit of Midwestern nostalgia you can imagine. Find out more about the artist whose “Beer Stein” ornaments are entering their seventh year of creation.
Tom Best grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, just west of Cleveland, Ohio. The youngest of three boys, he was surrounded by creativity. His brothers and father were all accomplished musicians, but Tom says music didn’t come naturally to him. It was his artistic abilities that, in grammar school, gave him the reputation as “that kid who can draw.”
By his freshman year in high school, he had decided to focus his studies on art. In 1982, he received a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Columbus College of Art and Design.
Tom’s career at Hallmark started immediately after graduation when he became an illustrator and graphic designer in the greeting card department. He also worked in Hallmark’s business-related loyalty marketing department and had a short stint in the licensing studio.
Some 21 years and hundreds of greeting cards later, Tom joined the Keepsake Ornaments department in 2003. He now truly enjoys developing 3-dimensional product for Keepsakes. “It’s a thrill seeing your ideas and drawings come off the paper or computer screen and into your hands!”
Outside of work, Tom enjoys running and keeps very busy with his daughter, Madeline; wife, Denise (also a Hallmarker); and three very active dogs. (more…)
Artist Journal: Tammy Haddix (Reimagining Snow Buddies)
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Here is the work I did for #My5Days on Snow Buddies!
Snow Buddies Tabletop
Tammy’s inspiration for this project was her popular Snow Buddies series. Through the #My5Days program she was able to re-imagine and explore what this beloved series would look like as a tabletop decoration.
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Another fun tidbit about the Snowbuddies tabletop piece. As many of you know I only have one hand, but with encouragement and guidance from Toni, my manager, I learned to knit with a loom. I knitted the scarves that are shown in the pictures. I actually loved doing it so much that I made about 10 neck scarves as gifts for Christmas that year!! I was hooked!
This piece is lighted in the base and the light will shine through the pierced stars and the lantern also glows. This is only a concept piece at this time, but maybe someday it can be more! Fingers and toes crossed!
#My5Days – A program Hallmark began in 2016 that gives creative employees five work days per year to explore any creative project that inspires them.