Ornament Spotlight: Christmas Angels

A true labor of love
Joanne Wright shares the inspiration behind #6 in the Christmas Angels series.

Good Cheer
Christmas Angels
6th in the series.

The one question people always have for Keepsake artists is how they come up with the ideas for their ornaments. And you’ll find that no two answers are the same. Some artists are inspired by hobbies, trends or nature. Others simply dig deep into their imaginations. For Joanne Wright, inspiration for the latest ornament in her Christmas Angels series came from a beloved family member.

“My daughter-in-law Jill is beautiful and full of grace, so that is why I thought she’d be the perfect model.“

Joanne mentioned how excited her daughter-in-law was about the prospect. Who wouldn’t be?

“She was so thrilled when I asked her if she would pose for me,” Joanne continues. “She even helped me brainstorm around the story that the finished ornament would bring.”

The sixth ornament in her Christmas Angels series, which will be available for purchase at Ornament Premiere in July, is as elegant as it is endearing. Working with her editor, Lindsay Evans, Joanne chose to have the angel holding a poinsettia.

“Poinsettias symbolize the Christmas season and the miracles it celebrates,” Joanne says. “They also mean joy, cheer and success, which all represent Jill.”

Her process always begins with sketches, drawings and working with her model to ensure the proportions and gestures feel perfect. That’s when the sculpting begins-using a proprietary wax created here at Hallmark. Once the sculpted piece is approved and molded, she begins to paint and add attachments.

One such addition to this ornament was the message “Christmas is a season of love and good cheer” on the bottom of the ornament. We couldn’t think of a better sentiment to add to such a beautiful story.