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.