It's hard to beat teddy bears and the American flag. Just ask watercolor artist and Cape Girardeau native Anne Lamkin Kinder.

While her paintings feature many other items including apples, flowers, toy trucks, books, road signs, rabbits and quilts, Kinder admits that bears and the American colors of red, white and blue are some of her favorite things.

"I got started on teddy bears because my daughter, Kara, collected them," Kinder said. "It started with one called 'Kara's Bears' and just kept going. I really can't explain why I use a patriotic theme. It's something that's just in me."

A current resident of Houston, Texas, Kinder will have her artwork on display and for sale at an art show from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Hirsch Community Room at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. The show is being held as a fund-raiser for the Friends of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Foundation. Original paintings, prints and note cards will be available. Reservations cost $20 per person.

Kinder will be at the show to visit with local friends and family. She will be donating a portion of her art sales to the Friends Foundation in memory of her parents, Bob and Virginia "Skeeter" Lamkin.

Kinder's mother was an art teacher before she married, and her father served on the Cape Girardeau Public Library Board. A longtime Cape Girardeau family who owned Buckner-Ragsdale Company at the corner of Main and Broadway, the Lamkins were always supportive of the library, according to Carolyn Ford, vice-president of the Friends Foundation.

"It all sort of fit together, and I was flattered to be asked to feature my work in an art show to benefit the library," Kinder said.

Kinder's work has also been shown in New York City, Florida, Kansas and Missouri.

"She was patriotic before it was 'in,' and she was always artsy," said lifelong friend Nancy Bray of Cape Girardeau. "Her work is so detailed, it is almost photographic."

According to Bray, in addition to painting, Kinder also needlepoints, cross stitches, draws with pen and ink, makes pillows and utilizes many other mediums. But for the past 20 years, her main focus has been on watercolors.

"Watercolors are sometimes considered difficult because they are not forgiving, but once you are hooked on them, you are really hooked on them," Kinder said. "They are wonderful, fresh and clean."

Kinder received a bachelor of science degree in art education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Appointed by President George W. Bush when he was governor of Texas, Kinder served six years on the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Call 334-5279 for art show reservations.

jgosche@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133