See A Christmas Ornament? This Bridgewater Artist Probably Designed It

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — When you spot a Christmas ornament in stores, online or even inside someone's home, it most likely was designed by Bridgewater artist Karen Loccisano.

Loccisano has been designing, sculpting, and painting mass-market Christmas ornaments for Kurt S. Adler in New York City for more than 20 years.

"It is kind of gratifying," said Loccisano when she goes into stores or to a Christmas market in New York City and sees her work.

"There I am," said Loccisano whenever she sees her designs on display.

Loccisano specializes in ballerinas. She has also sculpted elves, Rockettes, angels, Irish dancers and children playing sports. A simple search on Google or Amazon for Kurt S Adler and hundreds of her designs pop up.

Loccisano started her artistic journey when she went to art school and then got a summer job in Middlesex at Knickerbocker Toys.

"I wanted to be a children's book illustrator and got a job making stuffed toys and did illustrations on the side," said Loccisano.

She worked at the toy company for 17 years. Over that time she had always been interested in dolls and went to doll shows.

At one show she met a woman who worked for a Christmas company, Kurt S. Adler, who asked her to bring in some samples and was hired.

In 1998, Loccisano's first task was to design a line of children in a mid-century modern theme doing Christmas things like playing in snow, caroling.

Since then Loccisano would design, sculpt and paint her Christmas creations in the summer months while others were at the beach.

Using polymer clay, she would sculpt the figurines, paint them, dress them — do everything but put a hook in the head.

She creates about 30 to 40 designs each year. Each figurine can take anywhere from one week to a month depending on how many details are included.

"By Christmas time I am done. I am submerged in Christmas all summer long," said Loccisano.

After the ornaments are completed they are sent to Kurt S. Adler's company to mass-produce them based on her design.

More than 20 years later, Loccisano is happy with her decision to become a Christmas ornament creator.

"I never knew it was a job," said Loccisano. I always wanted to be a children's book illustrator but my skills are much more suited to doing this type of work."

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