The holidays are upon us already. The stores are stocked with Christmas décor and joyful craft supplies. Most of us feel a little sorry for Thanksgiving as, each year, the autumn festivities get pushed aside. The bottom line…time to get cheerfully creative!
As you sit down to create something holidayish, what inspires you? Renee Geare, is a pattern designer. By watching her, I learn that inventing patterns is a detailed process. It requires vision, creativity, intricacy, knowledge, organization, and an overall something that most of us just don’t possess. I notice that she draws inspiration from beauty such as nature, animals, family, and subjects important to her.
Define Your Project
Before you begin your work of genius, define your project. Are you working on a pattern design, craft, painting, or hand-woven basket? Perhaps you are planning a holiday event or doing some seasonal entertaining and home decorating. Whatever your holiday project, we have inspiration for you.
Choose a Theme
While it’s doubtful there exists an exhaustive list, we’ve done our best to give you plenty of ideas. Here are five suggestions of topics for your holiday art designs:
1. Around the world
Although there are numerous options, here are some holiday theme ideas from our friends around the world:
Germany - Pickle in the Tree
If you wake up in Germany on Christmas morning, be the first person to find the hidden pickle in the tree and receive an extra present from Santa Claus. I suppose you would also get first dibs on eating the pickle.
The Philippines - Giant Lanterns
The City of San Fernando, Pampanga, in the Philippines, holds a Giant Lantern Festival to launch the holiday season each year. The colorful, enormous lanterns symbolize the release of worries and problems.
The Netherlands - Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas is called Sinterklaas in Dutch. On December 5, families exchange gifts and hold festive parties in honor of Sinterklaas, a 4th-century bishop who brought gifts for the children. Singing and sweets are part of the celebration.
Sweden – Donald Duck and Yule Goat
At 3:00 p.m. every Christmas Eve, Swedes turn the television on to watch the 1958 Walt Disney Christmas special: Donald Duck and His Friends Wish You a Merry Christmas. It’s a family tradition.
In Sweden, a 42-foot-high Yule Goat is erected for Christmas each year in the town of Gavle. The Goat is built out of straw and wood. The Goat's symbolism and meaning constantly change, but its origins stem from a pagan 11th-century man-sized goat.
Japan - Kentucky Fried Chicken Dinner
Hungry for Christmas dinner? If you live in Japan, you’ll probably be served Kentucky Fried Chicken in the bucket. KFC has been the traditional Christmas meal since the 1970s. A brilliant marketing campaign by the company convinced the Japanese that their chicken was the perfect way to satisfy a hungry family on a joyful day.
Iceland - Rotten Potatoes and Candy
Thirteen days before Christmas, children place a shoe beneath the bedroom window. Iceland’s traditional 13 Yule Lads will fill the shoes with candy for the good children or rotten potatoes for the bad ones. This occurs each of the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. The 13 individual Yule Lads are elf-like, mischievous characters from Icelander's old folk tales.
2. The Birth of Jesus
The birth of Christ is meant to be the essence of Christmas. Some of the themes of the birth of Jesus include advent wreaths & candles, nativity scenes, the Star, shepherds, stable animals, and angels. If you opt to design around Christ's birth, it will most likely be a meaningful project.
3. Winter Wonderland
Bundling up for a snow day is a treat. For cold-weather folks, the holidays can also be a favorite time of year. Celebrate the warm, cozy themes as you design all things winter. Some classic symbols are snowflakes, boots, mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, sleds, ice skating, hot cocoa, stockings, fireplaces, yule logs, snowmen, and sleighs.
4. Symbols of Christmas
Vintage holiday motifs are traditionally used for design. It seems that we just can't get enough of the nostalgic feelings these symbols awaken within us. A beloved holiday song or image can send us back to childhood in our minds.
Some simple yet popular ideas are wreaths, candy canes, poinsettias, angels, lights, doves, Christmas trees, angels, presents, Santa, gingerbread houses and gingerbread people, ornaments, holly, cookies, peppermints, candles, bells, eggnog, mistletoe, Christmas carolers, fruitcake, reindeer, elves, the North Pole, the Nutcracker, chimneys, cookies & milk, and the Grinch.
5. Holiday Colors (best in threes)
We know you love to work with colors. As artists and designers, we are quite sure you have a knack for taking individual colors and grouping them together expertly. If you feel unsure, just remember that if the outcome pleases you, it will probably be inviting to others as well. Here are some color combinations to get you started:
Traditional - red, green, and gold
Metallic – silver, gold, and copper
Trends – 2022 color combo is bright crimson, dark green, and dark blue or black for depth
Elegant- white, gold, and clear
Appealing combinations – chocolate, dark blue, gold - neutrals of black, white, and tan
Simple – a pure white Christmas
If you would like more inspiration about all things art, visit us at our Geare Designs website anytime!
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