SANDPOINT — Conversations, acoustic guitar notes, and creativity reverberated under the high ceiling and warm lamp light of Pend d’Oreille Winery last Thursday, as Sandpoint High School students showcased the paintings, drawings and other works of art they’ve developed throughout the year. 

The pieces will remain on display at the winery throughout the month. For seniors in instructor Ezra Stafford’s Advanced Placement Studio Art class, the March 6 show was one of the last hurrahs in a years-long education in SHS’ art program. 

“Most of my AP kids, I've had since they were freshmen,” Stafford said. “The growth that you can see is really cool.” 

SHS students typically begin their humanities education by fulfilling a requirement to complete an art, music or foreign language course. Those who choose to continue take progressively more advanced electives until they reach the last class. For visual art, that’s the yearlong AP course, in which students can earn college credit and assemble a portfolio of works that can serve as a resume piece for college admissions or independent ventures.

“It’s a nice thing to have as they end the program,” Stafford said. 

Projects across Stafford’s courses include unique exercises like painting a skateboard deck and decorating a paper coffee cup to be displayed on the counter at Evans Brothers Coffee. 

In Stafford’s Pre-AP class, an assignment to incorporate the loud colors and unique mannerisms depicted in Wes Anderson’s films inspired junior Ani Vick to create one of the works she exhibited at Pend d’Oreille Winery — a vibrant portrait of a woman in a pastel green gown, her face framed with aluminum beverage cans acting as hair rollers. 

“It’s a cool aesthetic,” Vick said of the tone of Anderson’s works. 

Junior Bridget Weig said Stafford’s diverse assignments help students develop a well-rounded skillset that prepares them to work in a variety of styles. 

“He really throws stuff at you that you wouldn't usually do,” Weig said. “He makes it so you get out of your comfort zone.” 

Weig recalled a “stippling” project in which Stafford challenged students to make a work exclusively made up of tiny dots — no pencil lines or brush strokes. 

“He said, ‘OK, this should take you guys three weeks.’ It took me three months,” said Weig. “It really tested my patience. But at the end, it was the best thing I've ever made.” 

Going forward, Stafford is moving into a larger space set to be remodeled this summer. The new classroom will accommodate more students next year and was enabled by a donation from a resident aiming to support developing artists. 

“The community cares,” Stafford said. “People want to foster art in our community, and I think that’s super important.” 

Whether or not his students go on to be career artists or designers, Stafford hopes they can carry their ingenuity and expressiveness into the future. 

“Creativity is a huge part of any career,” Stafford said. “Fostering that is super important, even if they’re not going into an art career.” 

“’Making’ is such a big thing about being human,” he added. “I think it's an important part of being a full individual.” 

    Students in Ezra Stafford's Art II, Pre-AP Studio Art and AP Studio Art courses showcased paintings, drawings and other works at the event.