I started the series of Santa's in
2005 at my wife's suggestion (she has excellent taste and sense
when it comes to things like this and I learned long ago to
trust her instincts).
We always created our own Christmas
cards, and prior to 2005 I created a different angel each year,
but after many many years of that (as much I really enjoyed the
religious theme) we decided to try something new.
Lynne thought Santa would be
perfect and in 2005 we produced our first image. The following
year I used my father as a model - he has more Christmas spirit
than most people I know and loves the season, and I thought this
would be an excellent way to pay tribute to someone who was so
instrumental in my life (and we called that years image
Father Christmas).
The first two images were so
popular we decided to create a third, and in 2007 used my wife's
father as the model, creating an image of Santa as a young man
(her fathers name was Nick, hence the title of the 2007 image).
Normally, we don't release the
image(s) we produce on our Christmas cards - I have always
thought of them as something somewhat personal between us and
the people we send greetings to each year, but the response to
the Santa's was so enthusiastic, that we have decided to exhibit
them as a group this year at your suggestion, as well as use
this opportunity to unveil this years Santa.
in addition, they are available as
prints and new this year (after much consideration) cards.
We now have many people who await
the release of each Santa (for which we are very
thankful and appreciative, and it does add to the fun,
excitement and general Christmas cheer as we plan and create
each image).
This years Santa will be the father
of one of our dear friends (and biggest fans of the Santa
series), and we really look forward to peoples reaction this
years image.
In addition to the Santa's, we will
be exhibiting several of our favorite Christmas Angels from the
series, the first time I have done so (as far as I can
remember), and we will be producing (specifically for this
event), the first Christmas Angel I have created since 2004.
We haven't exhibited work in a
couple of years, so we are looking forward to this show with
great anticipation, and cant think of a better way go bring in
the Christmas season than with such a wonderful opportunity at
Phelps.
Keith A. Rosko
