Courage Cards Announces 2008 Fine Art Holiday Greeting Card ...(ighters rescue procedures. The training ...),Health

Lavona Keskey, Plymouth, Minn. -- Birch Grove and Winter Fun, Minneapolis, original watercolors.

Keskey's interest in art began as a child with encouragement from her mother, and later evolved into her profession. As an award-winning cake decorator, Keskey is best known for her portraits and scenes on cakes using airbrush painting and elaborate frosting techniques. Her many artistic interests include figure sculpture, watercolor and oil painting.

Patricia King, Waukegan, Ill. -- Four Seasons and Nature's Offerings, original watercolors.

King first began painting as a child. She took many art classes in college and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education with a minor in Art from Northern Illinois University. Today, she enjoys teaching art to young students while also participating in summer art shows in the Chicago area. For King, painting is a connection with nature. "It is my joy to express the beauty in our world!" Her paintings hang in many private, nonprofit and corporate collections in the United States, Ireland and Australia.

Maria Langell, Albany, N.Y. -- Peace Among Nations, an original paper collage.

Langell was born in Budapest, Hungary. Her love of art began at a very early age. She always dreamed of becoming a professional artist and that dream came true in the United States. Langell studied illustration in New York and made her career in fashion illustration as a layout artist for newspaper advertising. Today, she is a free-lance artist and enjoys the freedom of creating images that have a contemporary look. Langell likes expressing her feelings with art: "I want to express the hope that the holidays bring joy and peace to all!"

Amy Larson,
'/>"/>