Local students among state art contest winners

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint High School junior Izzy Davidson and senior Clara Campell were among 13 students across the state selected as winners of the Idaho Department of Education’s 2024 holiday card contest. 

Each holiday season, the department recognizes artwork submitted by students at every grade level and selects designs to be used in its greeting card. This year, Campbell’s ski dog design won the 12th-grade category, while Davidson’s moose, mountain and festive tree drawing won the 11th-grade category and was deemed the overall winner of the 7-12th-grade division. 

Both students drew from Sandpoint’s local character in creating their designs. In Davidson’s case, the inspiration came from a chance encounter with one of the area’s quintessential animals.

“I saw moose the other day, and I was like, ‘Oh, that's really cool — that reminds me of Idaho,’” she said.

The rest of the design came from Davidson’s proclivity for landscape art and her own passion for North Idaho’s wilderness.

“I'm pretty inspired by nature and the outdoors,” she said. “I'm really big into skiing and rock climbing and backpacking and all that kind of stuff.” 

Campbell said her drawing aimed to encapsulate two local favorites — winter recreation and pets.

“I think it really represents this area well,” said Campbell. “Most people here ski a lot, and there's also a lot of dogs, because they go really well with outdoor activities.” 

Both Davidson and Campell used alcohol markers to create their designs; both students also said they were encouraged to submit their work for the contest by art teacher Ezra Stafford, who leads an Advanced Placement studio art course at Sandpoint High. 

As one of two overall winners, Davidson’s design will be printed on the education department’s 2024 holiday card, and she’ll receive copies of the card to use during the holiday season. 

“This is always a fun and refreshing way for the department to get into the holiday spirit with a focus on students, and I always love seeing the amazing talent that these young artists have,” said Idaho's Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield. “I’d like to thank each student who took the time to submit to the contest and to congratulate Emersyn and Izzy on their winning work this year.” 

Neither Sandpoint student said they saw themselves pursuing a career in art, but both expressed an intent to continue creating in their free time. 

“I'm hoping to keep art as a hobby because I don't want to turn it into something that is stressful,” Campbell said, adding that she hoped to one day illustrate a children’s book. 

Campbell also encouraged her peers to submit their work to be considered in competitions like the holiday card contest in the future. 

“If kids want to enter competitions like that, they should totally go for it,” she said. 

“I didn't expect at all to win,” she added. “You never know what will happen.”

    Sandpoint High School senior Clara Campbell won the 12th-grade category of the Idaho Department of Education's 2024 holiday card contest.