Every artist in the Keepsake studio was involved in creating The Artist at Work. Each one added his or her own personal creative touch!

Keepsake Artist Contributions

Design concept – Tom Best
Art direction – Anita Marra Rogers

Base, desk, and table structure – Robert Hurlburt
Design on side of desk – Tom Best
Design around edge of base – Allie Robillard

Santa – Tracy Larsen

Mary’s Angel (in Santa’s hand) – Jake Angell

On desk:

Nellco clock – Nello Williams
Bird (cardinal) – Emma Leturgez-Smith
Santa mug – Tammy Haddix
Plate of goodies – Sharon Visker
Playful Penguin – Kristina Gaughran
Snowtop Lodge ornament – Joanne Wright
Toy train – Orville Wilson
Toy car – Rodney Gentry
Cookie Cutter Mouse (on back) – Nina Aubé

Sketches on drawing table:

Gnome for Christmas – Gregor Benedetti (SNEAK PEEK)
Rocking Horse Memories – Matt Johnson (SNEAK PEEK)
Noble Nutcracker (Snowfall Prince) – Terri Steiger

On floor:

Puppy with red bow – Anita Marra Rogers
A Pony for Christmas (on floor) – Debra Nielsen

Description

Santa Claus is a very busy man, designing special gifts for all the nice girls and boys on his list. Delight in his personal workspace with this incredible Christmas tree ornament. Every artist in the Keepsake Studio was involved in creating the handsome piece, crafting each element with his or her own personal creative touch. Intricate detailing in the desk, toys and pieces resembling beloved Keepsake Ornament designs makes this decoration perfect for celebrating 50 years of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments.

  • Artist: See Keepsake Artist Contributions
  • Released: 2023 (Ornament Premiere)
  • Retail Price: $49.99 USA
  • Material(s): plastic
  • Dimensions: 3.5" w. x 4.76" h. x 3.37" d.
  • SKU: QGO2827
  • Produced in: Sri Lanka
  • Production Date(s): 

A ho-ho-whole lot of help
Read how every artist in the Keepsake Village contributed to this year’s Santa’s Workbench studio ornament.

As part of our big 50th anniversary celebration, the Keepsake Village has been hard at work collaborating to create a very special studio ornament depicting Santa’s Workbench, shown above.

As you know, these studio-created ornaments are a team effort. With the merging of so many details and artistic styles, along with the number of design decisions to be made, these studio pieces take time to develop. This one, for example, was started in July of 2021 when Tom Best created the initial concept.

Anita Marra Rogers, the lead artist for the piece, was responsible for taking the idea and determining which elements would be designed by which artist based on their specialties.

“Each artist in the Keepsake Studio had a part in it, so I wanted to make sure a little of everyone’s personality or styling came through,” she tells us. From traditional sculptors to artists who create computer renderings, Anita wanted to bring together all the aspects of the studio.

Hearing her talk about the process might make your head spin. But, thankfully, she had Art Director Kurt Gaulke to help determine how each part of the ornament’s intricate design could work together in harmony.

“After the concept was chosen,” Anita says, “Robert Hurlburt crafted the structure of the whole thing, and Tracy Larsen was assigned to sculpt Santa in the same styling he has used for past club-exclusive ornaments.”

Tom Best chimed in to say that “the basic idea of Santa at his workshop drafting table came from Kurt, our art director, along with Jim Tronoski.”

And if you’re thinking the idea seems like the perfect fit for a 50th anniversary piece, you’d be right. The assortment of toys and ornaments displayed across his desk were all meticulously designed by artists throughout the studio.

“Every item at his drafting table is a nod to past ornaments throughout Keepsake Ornament history,” Tom adds.

While discussing this undertaking, Anita let us in on a sneak peek you won’t want to miss

“On top of Santa’s desk, you’ll find some drawings he’s been working on for future products,” she says.

That’s right. You won’t just have an amazing ornament created by the entire Keepsake Studio, you’ll also get a glimpse of ornaments yet to come.

“A true labor of love.” For Keeps 22 Spring 2023: 7.

NOTE: Little Puppy Love is Anabella, a friend of Anita’s.

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Description


Santa Claus is a very busy man, designing special gifts for all the nice girls and boys on his list. Delight in his personal workspace with this incredible Christmas tree ornament. Every artist in the Keepsake Studio was involved in creating the handsome piece, crafting each element with his or her own personal creative touch. Intricate detailing in the desk, toys and pieces resembling beloved Keepsake Ornament designs makes this decoration perfect for celebrating 50 years of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments.

A ho-ho-whole lot of help
Read how every artist in the Keepsake Village contributed to this year’s Santa’s Workbench studio ornament.

As part of our big 50th anniversary celebration, the Keepsake Village has been hard at work collaborating to create a very special studio ornament depicting Santa’s Workbench, shown above.

As you know, these studio-created ornaments are a team effort. With the merging of so many details and artistic styles, along with the number of design decisions to be made, these studio pieces take time to develop. This one, for example, was started in July of 2021 when Tom Best created the initial concept.

Anita Marra Rogers, the lead artist for the piece, was responsible for taking the idea and determining which elements would be designed by which artist based on their specialties.

“Each artist in the Keepsake Studio had a part in it, so I wanted to make sure a little of everyone’s personality or styling came through,” she tells us. From traditional sculptors to artists who create computer renderings, Anita wanted to bring together all the aspects of the studio.

Hearing her talk about the process might make your head spin. But, thankfully, she had Art Director Kurt Gaulke to help determine how each part of the ornament’s intricate design could work together in harmony.

“After the concept was chosen,” Anita says, “Robert Hurlburt crafted the structure of the whole thing, and Tracy Larsen was assigned to sculpt Santa in the same styling he has used for past club-exclusive ornaments.”

Tom Best chimed in to say that “the basic idea of Santa at his workshop drafting table came from Kurt, our art director, along with Jim Tronoski.”

And if you’re thinking the idea seems like the perfect fit for a 50th anniversary piece, you’d be right. The assortment of toys and ornaments displayed across his desk were all meticulously designed by artists throughout the studio.

“Every item at his drafting table is a nod to past ornaments throughout Keepsake Ornament history,” Tom adds.

While discussing this undertaking, Anita let us in on a sneak peek you won’t want to miss

“On top of Santa’s desk, you’ll find some drawings he’s been working on for future products,” she says.

That’s right. You won’t just have an amazing ornament created by the entire Keepsake Studio, you’ll also get a glimpse of ornaments yet to come.

“A true labor of love.” For Keeps 22 Spring 2023: 7.

NOTE: Little Puppy Love is Anabella, a friend of Anita’s.

  • Artist: See Keepsake Artist Contributions
  • Released: 2023 (Ornament Premiere)
  • Retail Price: $49.99 USA
  • Material(s): plastic
  • Dimensions: 3.5" w. x 4.76" h. x 3.37" d.
  • SKU: QGO2827
  • Produced in: Sri Lanka
  • Production Date(s): 

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