Christmas at the White House will have a New Mexico touch this year. The first couple's Christmas cards— sent to 895,000 of their closest friends, relatives and others this holiday season— are designed by Albuquerque watercolorist David Drummond.

    New Mexico is also represented on the Christmas tree at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. with an ornament painted by Los Lunas santero Nick Otero.

    First lady Laura Bush announced Thursday at a press preview that she had selected Drummond's "East Colonnade" for the front of the Bushes' card, according to her staff. It depicts a statue titled "Gardener," which is in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden at the White House.

    A spokeswoman for the first lady said Bush had seen Drummond's artwork in the National Arts for the Parks annual competition.

    Drummond has been in 16 of the 20 competitions, said Drummond's wife, Priscilla.

    Drummond said he received a phone call in May from the first lady's staff, asking whether he would create the garden painting for the card. Bush picked the subject.

    "I am certainly flattered that she chose me," the 60-year-old Drummond said.

    "Holiday in the National Parks" is the White House holiday theme this year.

    Otero's ornament portrays a rendering of Fort Union National Monument, a collection of adobe ruins 100 miles northeast of Santa Fe.

    "It's really a vibrant painting with contrasting colors of brown adobe, blue sky and green grass," said Frank Torres, chief of interpretation at the monument. "We're extremely excited as a park unit. It also helps promote the area."

    Otero said he traveled to Washington, D.C., this week for a White House ceremony. However, he wasn't able to comment further by press time.

    Drummond said he submitted revisions of his card image between early July and mid-September when the final version was approved. He flew to Hallmark Cards headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., to review the final proofs.

    The Drummonds attended the first lady's press preview Thursday when she announced White House holiday decorations.

    Drummond said he donated the painting "East Colonnade" and all reproduction rights to the White House.

    The painting, he said, will be placed in the White House art collection, which includes work by such artists as Norman Rockwell and John Singer Sargent.

    "Just to be in their collection is a tremendous honor," Drummond said.

    He began taking lessons in watercolor in elementary and secondary school. But his formal education is in physics. After he received his doctorate, Drummond went to work for the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base from 1973 to 1987.

    "I had been selling more and more paintings, so I retired early," he said.

    Drummond has been a full-time artist the past 20 years. He is represented locally by Weems Gallery.