Meet our Courage Kenny Card Artists

I paint in watercolor, acrylic and oil primarily of landscapes, nature scenes and still life. I also paint personal angels for people which are one of a kind and designed specifically for each person through a few questions I ask and then I wait for inspiration from the angel. I feel it is an honor and a gift to be able to share peoples' personal angels with them. I also enjoy photography of landscapes and nature. A third art form is fused glass, including functional and art fused glass, and jewelry. I love color and various styles of art so that is reflected in my eclectic style which often includes bright colors.

Sharon Cameron lives in Prior Lake, Minnesota. She received her first sketch pad as a young child and is grateful for excellent teachers who guided her talents. She has been fortunate to study with many artists and has continued to draw and paint for over 80 years, because she enjoys it! Much of her work has been for family. Last year, she was recognized by Global Music Awards for an album cover she drew for her son's band. She also loves the immersive experience of nature scenes, especially from Minnesota's North Shore. Her artwork on this card features Split Rock Lighthouse, where she fondly remembers summertime vacations with her family.

Carolyn has always loved to paint, taking a brush and paints with her wherever she goes. "I never had an art lesson," she said, now thinking of herself as self-taught and Spirit-led. "For years I admired the talents of others, wishing I had the same. I was convinced that I lacked any artistic ability," she remembered. Then one day, she came across Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Carolyn's artistic inspiration comes from her passion to "portray the real meaning of the first Christmas, that glorious hope-filled event when God sent a Savior for the world." Carolyn and her husband, Jim, has seven grandchildren whose likenesses have appeared in her illustrations over the years and to whom she has dedicated many of her Christmas cards.

Suzanne is a passionate (well, more like obsessive) New England photographer. She has lived in various places from the south to the northeast and has always had an interest in photography, but it wasn't until she moved to New England that she became more serious about it. Landscape and seascapes are her favorites although she enjoys taking pictures of just about anything. Photography is her passion and allows her to slow down, live in the moment and capture nature's beauty. It's her therapy! Suzanne is amazed and inspired at the photo opportunities that present themselves around her every day - in every direction. She would rather be out walking with her camera than anywhere else.

Lisa Fertig grew up in Duluth, where she learned to appreciate the beauty of nature and the changing of seasons. Lisa received formal training in the Fine Arts Program at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois with further study at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Atelier Lack in Minneapolis. She has belonged to many art groups and served as Workshop Chair of the Northstar Watercolor Society in the Twin Cities. Lisa works in watercolor, acrylics, and oils and has produced a substantial body of work in a number of categories including landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts. Her art is shown in galleries throughout Minnesota, and has received awards in competitions, and is held by numerous private collections, businesses, and corporations. Commissions, teaching, participation in art fairs, and gallery representation keeps her enthusiastic about painting.

Art has always been part of my life but when I retired in 2008 from a career in retail merchandising, it has become my primary focus/passion. I have two diverse styles of work ranging from loose impressionistic watercolor work to tight realistic paintings/drawings of natural objects. I am alternately regenerated and humbled by Nature’s profound beauty, her complexity and her ruthlessness; in my art. I seek to pay homage to this power by interpreting my glimpse into our natural world. My work has been influenced most by Stephen Quiller who instilled in me the importance of value and color. I paint in a pure transparent style by glazing many thin washes of color and often pouring paint onto the paper to let the mixing of colors guide my process. I’ve recently retired from teaching painting, drawing and botanical art at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, but continue to teach workshops throughout the United States.

"Smitha George is a self-taught artist with a love for wildlife and nature. Smitha has had the privilege of living and growing up in different parts of India. Majority of her childhood was spent traveling which helped her understand different cultures. After majoring in finance and having worked in the field of finance for many years, she decided to take a break when she moved to the USA and this gave her an opportunity to dive deep into the world of art. For her, painting is a different language and an expression of ideas. All the artwork is inspired by the day-to-day things she sees around her be it the current political, social issues or simple things from nature. In her work, the subject matter determines the materials and the forms the art. In 2017, Smitha began painting professionally, since then there has been no looking back. Her first group show was in 2017 and from then on she has had many solo and group exhibitions in and around Kansas City. She also had the privilege to jury on many art shows. She also enjoys working on many commissioned works. Smitha now works from her home studio.

Patty is primarily a self-taught artist whose desire to create came out of a journey through cancer. "Prolonged illness brings with it a sense of loss; loss of control, loss of normalcy, loss of self. Life as you know it changes." It also brings clarity and the time to slow down and focus on God and the joy and beauty of His creation. Starting with charcoal, she quickly moved on to pastels and colored pencil and now works in watercolor, acrylic and photography, as well. She continues to grow and explore and each day appreciates the opportunity to create in ways that bring joy to others and give glory to God.

Chaska, MN. Jean has been creating art since she could pick up a crayon, and has been pursuing art-making full time for most of her adult life. She received her B.S. in art from Iowa State University, and has taught art for the secondary level, adult education, art center and private lesson. Jean works in a variety of media including: mixed-media painting and collage, assemblage, watercolors, and found-object jewelry. Jean says, "My favorite part of being an artist is that it allows me to escape easily to a magical place. Being a bit eccentric is readily accepted. I do not have to set aside my inner child…every day is a surprise!" Texture and color are her favorite elements, and most days you can find Jean in her home studio working on her art from early morning to late afternoon—following her passion.

LouAnn is an accomplished artist who can get lost for hours in a variety of mediums. Watercolors, acrylics, photography and fabric arts are her current passions often capturing nature in the beautiful state of Minnesota as well as other destinations. Water, rocks, trees, flowers and birds are consistent subjects. She has had displays in art galleries and shows and has artwork in private and public collections. LouAnn Hoppe is past-president of NorthStar Water media Society, and is a member of Minnesota Watercolor Society. She has twice been chair of an art show/sale involving 100 artists and is currently chair of an extensive exhibition in Minneapolis. She has been married to husband, Del, for 50 years, is mother of two and grandmother of two. Creating weighted blankets for people with autism has become a recent mission. Traveling, gardening, reading, golf and water sports keep her active.

Cari Raynae is a retired Interior designer who now has time to make creative ideas come to life in paintings. She works in watercolor and acrylic paints and often includes bits and pieces of textiles, and handmade papers in her pieces of art. Cari has been supplying several local gift shops with greeting cards for over 10 years. Sometimes the cards are small reproductions of her paintings and sometimes the cards are created from scratch, along with a quirky idea she’s thought of. Cari’s artwork has been featured in Stampington and Company’s magazines: A Stampers Sampler, Take Ten, Altered Couture, and Somerset Studio. She was Rubber Stamp Madness magazine’s best new stamper in Spring 2020.

I have always been an artsy person, dabbling in many different mediums but never mastering any of them mostly because I would start projects and then I would give up once I began to experience any exasperation of of my mental health symptoms. Following a traumatic brain injury in 2018, a therapist encouraged me to choose a hobby to help me "stay in the moment" helping to ease my anxiety. I chose painting with acrylics and have found it to be a great coping skill. I am a self taught painter, using You Tube videos to learn new techniques.

The elusive and unpredictable nature of watercolor makes it both a challenge and a delight for me. With watercolor, I am able to capture the essence of my subject. I seek out both lost and found edges, intentionally balancing controlled definition to help you see with blurred edges to let you enter. In this way, I invite the viewer to join me... to bring something of yourself to the work, to touch the paper with your experience, your memories, your story. I'm a painter, but I begin each piece by drawing. Using pencil or ink, I learn to "see" each subject before painting. Once I have an understanding of the subject, I am set free to paint with spontaneity and joy!

I have always been inspired by the beauty and wonders of nature. Beginning with pencil drawings as a child, my love for nature expressed as art unfolded. I took my first watercolor class in 1986, and continue to enjoy the versatility of this medium. The way light strikes an object, the pattern of cast shadows, and reflected light make a subject intriguing. The transparency of watercolor allows me to express these subtleties in a painting.

I earned a BS and an MS in biology at Emporia State University, and taught biology for fourteen years. Working as a park ranger naturalist in Yellowstone for many summers gave me the opportunity to study nature intimately firsthand. I have exhibited in national shows and received many awards. In 2013 I was an Artist in Residence in Rocky Mountain National Park where I studied the work of early landscape painters of the park. My love for the natural world has led me to make conservation the focus of my artwork."

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

Pat King was born and grew up in Northern Illinois. Living in the Midwest has drawn her towards painting the beauty of forests, flowers and atmospheric skies. Her watercolors reflect the rural environment that was so much a part of her life. The spontaneous, fluid nature of watercolor has allowed her to express her sensitive interpretations of all that she sees. Pat brings a sense of warmth and beauty to her paintings. Her love of nature is strongly represented by using light, textures and shapes to create her dramatic and unique landscapes. She has studied with other well-known artists and received many awards for her paintings. Pat believes in creating a painting that will give the viewer as much pleasure as she had when she painted it. Her paintings can be found in many corporate and non-profit collections throughout the United States, and abroad.

Linden Kirby started painting for family and friends at a young age, but not until a few years ago was he able to take up a brush on a regular basis. And strictly speaking, it's not always a brush that he paints with. He enjoys painting and mark-making with credit cards and putty knives, string, plastic wrap, manipulative tools and other inventive ways of expression on paper and canvas.

Kairong was born in China and came to the United States when he was twenty-three years old. He received his M.F.A. degree from the University of South Dakota. Since then, his art has been in many shows and collections throughout the Midwest. Kairong says beauty can be found in the most unexpected places and he tries to reveal that in his work. "My paintings are my feelings and appreciation of what I see. I like to paint things that are very ordinary but beautiful in an artistic way."

Katharine Robinson has been painting with watercolors for about ten years. She loves living in Minnesota because of the natural beauty that the state offers. She has always been drawn to watercolors because of the translucency of that medium.

Deborah is a professional artist working in watercolor, acrylics and mixed media. She received her B.A. in Fine Art and Education from Gustavus Adolphus College and has worked from her home studio for over 30 years. She paints in several styles, from realism to abstraction. "I love the luminosity of watercolor" says Deborah. Nature is her constant source of inspiration as reflected in her subjects of flowers, lake scenes, landscapes, golf holes and children at play. "I especially enjoy collaborating on custom paintings with my clients to create Fine Art Memories of their travels, lake homes and one of a kind pieces. I believe art is the bridge that connects us all." She is a longstanding member of Minnesota Watercolor Society and Artists of Minnesota and has won numerous awards. Her work can be found in many private and public collections.

Since childhood art has been a constant in my life. Subjects are any and many but favorites are florals, animals and snow scenes. I use a direct watercolor painting style. A registered nurse by profession, studios are maintained in both Texas and New Mexico. Daily sketching keeps me focused and energized. Signature status has been achieved in 9 art societies and my work has been published and licensed by numerous entities. It is up to me to offer the viewer a new way of seeing by showing something never before seen. kaysmith.artspan.com

Susan Solomon is a freelance paintress currently living in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She paints the natural world and its creatures. The Midwest landscape is an endless source of inspiration, with its changing light and openness. Susan is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her paintings are in the permanent University collections of Metropolitan State and Purdue.

My name is Marla Storey and I am a Graphic Designer, Illustrator and Fine Artists. I have always loved to draw and paint since I can remember. I took some college classes in Painting but mostly taught myself. Right now I am really interested in mixing Acrylic Pours with Oils and experimenting with Resin. Currently I own a flower shop and I have several pieces of art in the Northland Artists Gallery in Weston, Missouri. I hope you enjoy my art.

A "Glad heart with a good theme" is how Gail likes to describe her watercolor paintings. At five years old she made the bold statement, "I'm going to be an artist!" And while growing up in Golden Valley, Minnesota, she began carrying out her love of art by drawing and making her own greeting cards for family and friends. At every occasion, sharing her heart with love, fun and a bit of humor on a personal note, she continues designing cards to this day! After college, she spent many years working in advertising and since began fine art painting using watercolor. "It is a flowing medium that is 'alive' with water, "she says. "Its qualities bring out movement and life in the birds, animals and flowers in my gardens as well as the country landscapes around my home with a soft atmospheric effect." She joined the Minnesota Watercolor Society in 2011 and won Best of Show in the juried spring exhibition for her painting. She quickly became a signature member the following year and has won other top awards, sold numerous originals and prints nationally and internationally for private and commercial venues. She does not like to glory in herself, but to the One above who gave her the gifts to use. She hopes everyone who views her work will be uplifted with a glad heart while unlocking the hidden message behind them.