Keepsake Artist Robert Chad was asked to share a little bit more about his contribution to this year’s Heritage collection. Here’s what he had to say!

“We all love Keepsake Ornaments, but recently, several artists in the studio have also been able to work on ornaments in Hallmark’s Heritage collection. My contribution was ‘Dapper Owl,’ a festive plaid jacket and top-hat-wearing feathery friend that’s hand-blown out of glass in Poland, then finished with extra sparkle—and even a monocle! It’s a beautiful piece, but still has some of the fun and whimsy I like to add to my ornaments.”

Dapper Owl

Dapper Owl

Robert: “The original art came from from Hallmark’s archives and then the 3D direction came from the two art directors Jim and Joanne. All of the Heritage collection is made from hand-blown glass in Poland. I had never sculpted for glass product before so that was my own personal hurdle. As I was sculpting out of the wax material I typically use, I had to over-exaggerate surface detail because the glass-blowing process softens all the detail. The color was executed by Cris Wingate with art direction from Jim and Joanne. It really took a village to make this one come to life.”

Robert: “You have to over-exaggerate all the detail when you’re sculpting for a glass ornament. Little details won’t come across once it’s translated to a glass design. With my typical ornaments, you get what you give. I can sculpt a lot of detail and know that every bit will stay true to my original sculpt when it gets molded for mass production.”

Allium
31st in the Mary’s Angels series

Robert: “This year’s Mary’s Angel is kinda boyish, but next year’s has much more girly details.”