The 2006 Cardinal Glennon
"Cards for Kids" winners

Judges in the Cardinal Glennon Hospital "Cards for Kids" art competition liked 13-year-old Kevin Todd's artwork even though it didn't have a traditional holiday theme. His was a painting of a cardinal.

But, the artwork wasn't inspired by the St. Louis Cardinal baseball team.

The 8th grader at Queen of All Saints School in south St. Louis County admits, "I'm not that much of a sports fan. But, the cardinal is one of my favorite birds."

Kevin has birdfeeders at home that have special seed mixtures to attract cardinals and two other favorites, the goldfinch and the chickadee.

He said the goldfinch likes thistle seeds. The cardinals and chickadees like "black oil sunflower seeds," he said.

Kevin has an earlier illustration of a cardinal framed and hanging in his room.

Kevin was one of three Queen of All Saints students whose artwork adorns this year's holiday cards offered by the hospital. Proceeds from the "Cards for Kids" program go to support the hospital's care program for kids.

This year's program offers 17 different card designs done by St. Louis area kids.

(If you or your family would like to purchase holiday cards, go to www.glennon.org. Then, click on the "Cards for Kids" icon. You'll also get a complete list of the other student winners along with their winning designs.)

The other Queen of All Saints students who had their designs chosen were Jamie Stogsdill and Amanda Piatchek.

Fourteen-year-old Jamie is now a freshman at Oakville High School. Fourteen-year-old Amanda attends Cor Jesu Academy. The two girls were 8th graders at Queen of All Saints when they submitted their artwork last spring.

Jamie's card design also was unusual for a holiday card. Her's was of her puppy, Bailey.

"I got my dog just before Christmas last year. He was a 'mess' during the holiday season. He was always digging into the presents under the tree," said Jamie. So, for her at least, her cocker-poodle-mix dog reminded her of the holidays.

Unconventional or not, Jamie's dog artwork made her a two-time winner in the Glennon holiday card competition. In 2005, she had another unusual design, that of a penguin.

Amanda's illustration had a more traditional theme. Her's was a holiday sleigh.

"Our room at school had a lot of Christmas decorations last year. One of them was a sleigh and I thought that made a good theme," she said.

All three of the Queen of All Saints students submitted entries to the Glennon competition both in 2005 and 2006. But, Jamie was the only two-time winner.

The students whose artwork was chosen received a framed copy of their card, 100 cards and envelopes and painting supplies.

Jamie is carrying on her interest in art to high school. "I'm taking a foundation class in art as a freshman. That will allow me to go on to bigger and better things in art later in high school," she said.

She said art is her favorite subject. She said she's looking forward to classes in photography and sculpture. "I'm very interested in art," she said.

Jamie isn't sure about a future career. But, she added, "I know I want to do something crafty and will be involved in working with people."

Amanda said her interest in art is more like an interesting hobby. "I like drawing in my spare time," she said.

Amanda said she plans on going to college but isn't sure about a career. "I like lots of things," she said.

But, Kevin has a definite goal and it has an unusual artistic element to it. He said, "I want to take over the family business."

His parents have a manufacturing firm, Magnet Works, Ltd. The company makes magnetic signs that attach to vehicles and other objects. One big sellers is magnetic decorative designs that attach to rural mailboxes.

Kevin said he has a long-time interest in drawing. "Also, my brother, Michael, is a good artist," he said. Nineteen-year-old Michael is in college and working on an art minor.

Kevin said he takes sketchpads along on trips so he can draw while on the move.