Sparks designs Santa’s 3D sled

Sandy Sparks painted “Frosty The Snowman and Santa” for Christmas Card Lane. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Santa’s reindeer literally flew into the air on Sandy Spark’s design for Christmas Card Lane.

Her painting, “Frosty the Snowman and Santa,” depicts the jolly duo thanking everyone for visiting Christmas Card Lane. She extended Santa’s reindeer from the card to ‘fly.’

A friend cut out reindeer from plyboard. All reindeer had jingle bells, and the lead, not surprisingly, had a “shiny red nose. Getting them to seem like they were flying off the card was a challenge. I ended up using PVC to make them fly,” Sparks said.

She also created “The Little Drummer Boy,” “a religious card with raffia for the roof and bark for the manger. It has a lighted Christmas star shining onto Jesus. I was truly honored that I was asked to create two cards this year,” Sparks said.

In addition, her “Christmas Carolers” card from 2014 returned to Christmas Card Lane this year. Each card took more than one month to complete.

Madison Arts Council (MAC) sponsored Christmas Card Lane, which was taken down a few days early due to inclement weather. “I’m a proud member of MAC, and I just couldn’t wait to get started on (my paintings). I’m already thinking about what I’ll do next year,” Sparks said.

“I just love the reactions of those visiting Christmas Card Lane,” Sparks said. “I’m so glad to help create memories and bring back old memories.”

Currently, Sparks works from her home studio. “I’m one of the resistant artists at XSudioX Gallery in the PX/Commissary Complex on Redstone Arsenal. I work in acrylics, watercolor, carving, graphite, chalk pastels and wood-burning,” she said. She primarily paints commission portraits.

Her husband, retired Army Colonel Ralph Sparks, works for Army Material Command on Redstone Arsenal. Their daughter Kelly and husband Robert live in Wilmington, N.C. Their son Steven is a sophomore at the University of Alabama.

For more information, email Srksparks@bellsouth.net or visit Facebook/Artistic Treasures by Sandy Sparks.