Matt Johnson

For Keepsake Artist, Matt Johnson, sketching—whether digitally or on paper—has always been a part of his creative process. “I draw on paper and on my tablet monitor,” he said. “The monitor has a stylus which allows me to control pressure and draw or sculpt. I’ve started drawing more this way recently. Although sketching by hand is more natural and I can sketch ideas anywhere.”

Besides digitally sketching, Matt also is one of the artists in the Keepsakes Studio who digitally sculpts. “Digital is great because of the ability to modify and change things quickly,” he said. “You can scale, mirror, and create forms that are perfect shapes. You can also rapidly change forms. You can work on an area that you are trying to make look perfect when it is very small in size.”

Digital sculpting works great for Matt, but he’s also interested in trying his hand at a more traditional path. “The downside [to digital] is it takes a long time to get use to the scale of working in the computer,” he said. “I have never sculpted traditionally, but I think it would benefit me to begin as a hobby. Traditional sculpting allows you to see the ornament for what it is.”