Monday, December 10, 2018

When I start a new concept for an ornament, I usually dive into all types of visual research first. This can be anything from a trip to an antique shop to admire vintage jewelry, pottery or glass to flipping through home décor magazines, spending some time on Pinterest to see what people are liking, or even visiting our huge archive of art here at Hallmark to see if anything “speaks” to me.

Brilliant Butterflies

The funny thing about inspiration is you never know where it will come from. There is a certain amount I pull from my own life experiences and childhood memories (Christmas wonders as a child, Great Grandma’s vintage jewelry or ornately decorated teacups). I am constantly keeping up with the latest crafts as well as trends in home décor. Everything from frames to soap dispensers can suggest interesting material combinations and finishes. You have to always be looking at everything, everywhere to visually stockpile a huge stash to pull when it comes time to submit new concepts. All good excuses to go shopping! If you can imagine all the visual clutter it takes for my creative juices to keep flowing, you might have a pretty good idea of how chaotic my workspace might appear to be. I definitely subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” point of view on cubicle organization. Everyone knows “Creativity is Messy”!

Songs of the Season: O Christmas Tree

My creation process is a “whatever it takes” approach to communicate the idea that is in my head. I may start with pencil and paper then move to a bit of clay to fully work out an idea. I have also been known to work out a rough design in paper sculpture. I have always constructed things of paper and I used to design complex folds with paper when I was a greeting card illustrator. It’s a quick way for me to think through a 3D form and how it sits in space. I always finish my creation in Photoshop on the computer, where I draw my ornament from enough different views to fully articulate my expectations for the final look of the piece.

My style tends to be decorative. I often prefer simple forms with ornate surface design, a carryover from my nearly 25 years as a greeting card illustrator, I think. I like to play with a variety of styles from classic to more modern, elegant to cute. Mostly I am known for a pretty and elegant point of view, but it is fun to explore other looks on occasion as well.