Keepsake Artist Jake Angell was asked to share a little more about his Keepsake Ornaments coming out this year. Here’s what he had to say!

Jake: To my family, the “classics” have always been movies like “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” “Rudolph” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” because those are the types of movies that our kids are into watching. The stop-motion ones are some of our favorites. We love that we can quote or sing a song from them together—we have great memories around those already. The ornaments definitely play into that Christmas spirit that we are already into and can then relive on our tree.

He’s Mr. Heat Miser
The Year Without a Santa Claus

Jake: There is definitely a lot more planning and thought that goes into it at first. I think about what part of the scene we can capture that gives it the most dynamic and is most memorable for the ornament. I always have to think about fitting all the batteries and light in it. Sometimes, it might need a base to fit all the batteries, lights and speakers. There’s a lot more to think through when it comes to magic.

Jake: Most of what I have worked on, from Muppets, to Star Wars, to Nintendo, to LEGO covers all the types of things I dreamed of working on or doodled away about when I was growing up. I wanted to draw comic books, and we played with our Star Wars toys in the mud recreating new scenes. I imagined creating my own stories about Muppets and working with Jim Henson. It’s an honor to work on these ornaments for me and be a little part of the nostalgia of them.

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The Legend of Zelda

Jake: They are all very fun to work on, but creating my own series or line of characters is an ultimate goal. I think as I do more and find my own following, that will help to find my voice in the ornament line.

Jake: Sculpting digitally offers me a little more freedom to create multiple poses and characters quickly. When I start creating, I look at it as being able to “sketch in 3D.” Once I have something at a place I am happy with it, I can call over an Art Director and turn something around in 3D so that people get a really good idea of exactly how the ornament will look. Also, making changes is so much easier if something isn’t working.

Jake: If you took a lot of my influences and mashed them all together, that would define my style. If you took A LOT of Jim Henson, Disney, Marvel comics, Saturday morning Cartoons, Nintendo gaming systems and added a big dose of Eastman/Lairds Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on top, you would have me. The creators of things I love have definitely influenced what I love about creating. My style is heavily influenced by them.

Its Tricky

Jake: I probably spent more time laboring over “It’s Tricky” because its my own character and those are always a little more stressful because you want EVERYONE to love the little guy and the music he plays. You hope no one tells you they don’t love him—it would break my heart!