POST FALLS — When prompted with the word "listening," Rachel Bonner didn't think of ears or something to make a statement.

She imagined satellites.

"Instead of going for a more political type theme, I decided I wanted to do something a little more abstract," the Post Falls High School senior said April 14, showcasing a painting of satellites in the desert beneath a star-scattered sky.

"Those are satellites that are supposed to be listening to space," she said. "It’s meant to invoke a feeling of if anything’s out there aside from us, if they're out there, if we can hear them."

Rachel's creative mind explores unique experimental ideas when she is in front of a blank canvas. When given a puzzle to incorporate into a painting, she turned it into a window.

"It depicts a guy holding up a frame,” she said. "It’s creativity being shown through this smaller lens, holding it up and letting the creativity spill out. It shows one’s true colors."

Rachel plans to be an art major at the University of Idaho and may someday pursue a career in video game design, or might have her own studio.

"I think it would be really fun to have a studio,” she said. "I like to experiment with a bunch of different mediums."

Isabella Moreno is also a student artist at Post Falls High School who enjoys toying with the eclectic. In a small sample of her work are paintings of a plague doctor, her interpretation of the word "toxic" and a colorful American Indian tribal dance.

“That one’s actually pretty special to me,” said Isabella, who belongs to the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians.

Her acrylic shows two dancers in traditional regalia, with special attention to detail.

"That’s a painting of a picture from one of the powwows from my tribe from 2019," Isabella said. "I decided that would be cool since our theme was 'cultures around the world.'

"It’s nice because I feel like there’s a lot of different ideas about who we are as people, especially since we only make up 2% of the population, barely,” she added. "It’s nice to be able to make my own addition to what we already have out there in artwork and modern representation, especially in my own tribe."

Rachel and Isabella are students of honors art instructor Michele Chmielewski, who sings the praises of her hard-working pupils.

"There’s some kids that are just naturally talented and have no inhibitions, they just jump in the deep end and tread," she said. "Those are my all-time favorites. I just have to get the materials and watch their ideas."

Chmielewski explained that Post Falls elementary schools don't offer art classes, so it's refreshing when students get to her class eager and excited to embark on their arts adventures.

"They take it way further than I ever expected," she said. "That’s what feeds my soul as a teacher. They’re so creative and experimental and they go for it."

This is an ongoing series that highlights the talents of local student artists. Have a student or a class to feature? Email dweeks@cdapress.com with suggestions.