Artist Insights: Dream Box ornaments

“Charles Young, my art director, found a piece of artwork that was done by Hallmark illustrator Charlie Hadley and instantly knew it would make a wonderful piece for our collectors in the Dream Box. I’ve known Charlie for quite a few years, and was so happy we got to bring his artwork to life as an ornament. I wanted to be sure to capture the spirit of the original piece that’s done in a wonderful graphic style, so I took extra time to translate the triangle pattern on the tree and get the coloring just right.”

“The original design for Santa’s Favorite Treats was actually inspired by some wonderful artwork by Hallmark Artist Rick LaPierre. It was a fun challenge to capture the feel and whimsy of the original art, right down to a loose sketchiness of it. Originally, Santa was holding lots of packages, but we simplified it down to a cookie box. I thought it would be fun to (give a) nod to a few fan-favorite ornaments, so the cookies Santa holds are shaped like a train, a rocking horse and one of Joanne’s Snowtop Lodge snowmen.”

– Kristina Gaughran

“Sheyda Abvabi Best designed the original concept art for the beautiful,Decked Out Deer ornament. After I saw the artwork, I did quite a bit of research so I could get the sculpt just right. I compiled a lot of deer references, especially for the head. Then I drove into the sculpt, first loosely blocking in shapes, then adjusting proportions and finalizing details to capture the styling from Sheyda’s original design. It’s so fun watching 2D illustrations come to life As sculptures!”

– Simone Mariano