October 17, 2025 - Comal ISD hosted the first of four student art shows of the 2025-2026 school year on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at its Support Services building in New Braunfels. Each show will feature more than 100 pieces of art created by students from various campuses.
The fall show highlighted work from 10 campuses in the Canyon Lake High School and Davenport High School feeder patterns including Comal Creek Elementary, Garden Ridge Elementary, Morningside Elementary, Mountain Valley Elementary, Rebecca Creek Elementary, Startzville Elementary, Danville Middle, Mountain Valley Middle, DHS and CLHS.
The invitation-only art-gallery-style show featured artwork created by students in kinder through 12th grades, selected by campus art teachers. Each artist was given a medal as the teachers explained the different pieces. Parents and family members were on hand to take photos and view the work.
For the second year, a highlight of the show was the announcement of the Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art, which is hand selected by Superintendent Dr. John E. Chapman III.
“We are excited to continue the Superintendent's Excellence Award for Art this year,” said Gary Cooper, Comal ISD’s director of fine arts. “This prestigious award recognizes outstanding talent and creativity.”
The artists to receive the year’s first Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art are listed here.
- Alice Lindfeldt, 2nd grade, Startzville Elementary, for “My New York City”
- Arya Grimes, 7th grade, Mountain Valley Middle School, for “Leo”
- Isabel Templeman, 12th grade, Davenport High School, for “Amity”
The show featured sketches, watercolor, oil pastels, sculptures and more, and teachers explained what students are learning in their art classes.
For example, students at STZES were introduced to American artist James Rizzi by art teacher Jennifer Eskew who used his work to teach positive and negative space. Positive space is the main subject in art, while negative space is the area around it.
Lindfeldt’s winning piece, “My New York City,” was inspired by Rizzi. She used bright colors to create tall skinny buildings featuring cartoon-like faces and a blue sky for the background.
“I like making pictures,” Lindfeldt said, “and I like using colors.”
In middle school, art teachers continue to provide instruction on techniques including continuous line drawing which challenges a student to draw a single, unbroken line to create an image.
Andrew Almagabar, a 7th grade student at MVMS, drew his “Contour Crazy” art of hands. He explained that he used colored markers and overlayed his continuous line drawing about 20 times.
“I think art is a good way to express yourself,” said Almagabar, who has been taking art since elementary school and hopes to be a carpenter one day. “I would like to learn to create more realistic art, and I want to continue to take art in high school.”
The middle school piece that received the Superintendent’s Award was titled “Leo” and featured the image of a lion created through texture and patterns using pencil. Grimes, the artist, explained that she chose her different patterns through suggestions from her family using various animals and plants. She even based some of the lion’s mane shape on octopus’ legs.
“I was incredibly surprised to hear my piece was chosen because I had seen the others’ artwork,” said Grimes who enjoys being creative. “My favorite art tool is just a good old pencil. You could literally do anything with just a pencil, and you can erase any mistakes.”
As students take advanced art classes in high school, they are introduced to additional techniques, forms and tools.
A senior at DHS, Templeman, is taking Advanced Placement (AP) studio art drawing in her final year and was proud that her ink on watercolor piece was selected for the high school Superintendent’s Award at the fall show.
Titled ‘Amity,’ the intricate work featured her cat, Reggie, sitting on a chair surrounded by a garden of flowers. Templeman used her grandmother’s backyard as her inspiration. This piece was a challenge for the experienced artist who created it as her Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) entry last spring.
She started with a sketch followed by ink and then watercolor. She placed final touches with a gel pen to define certain areas. The final product qualified for the state VASE competition.
“I enjoy art because there are no rules,” explained Templeman, who is a member of the DHS soccer team as well as a club team, is enrolled in five AP classes and is a member of the DHS Pack Press. “It’s an escape.”
The district, which has been named a District of Distinction by the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) for seven years in a row, plans to host three additional art shows this school year in January, March and May.
Students featured in Fall Art Show
Elementary Campuses
Comal Creek Elementary School. Art teacher Jasmine Ryan. Alberto Aguero, 1; Ramon Aleman, 5; Charlotte Biesenbach, 3; Y. Cantu, 3; Chloe Childers, 4; Alexander “Alex” Hobbs, 2; Daphne Johanningmeier, 5; Mateo Reyes, 1; Emily Rodriguez, 4; and Isabelle “Izzy” Taylor, 2.
Garden Ridge Elementary School. Art teacher Rachelle Ortiz. Eloise Barnett, 1; Spencer Carse, 5; Liam Cavenaugh, 3; Everleigh Garcia, 2; Reese Gonzalez, 4; Bella Gunst, 3; Micah Irving, 5; Penny Lloyd, 4; Barrett Puls, 2; and Kassidy Puls, K.
Morningside Elementary School. Art teacher Kimberly Klingaman. Everly Dannheim, 2; Nayelli Docken, 4; Kade Kenyon, 3; Vivian Ramirez, 3; Hudson Rowden, 1; Jacqueline Sikes, 5; Charlotte Utley, 2; Parker Winn, K; Kyndal Wood, 2; and Eleanor Young, K.
Mountain Valley Elementary School. Art teacher Taylor Murrow. Weston Ausmus, 4; Elleigh Decker, K; Emery Duncan, 5; May Hinds, 5; Keiry Jimenez, 5; Emma Laganiere, 4; Tucker Nickerson, 4; Bam Snyder, 5; Wyatt Taylor, 5; and Grayson Walker, 2.
Rebecca Creek Elementary School. Art teacher Kimberly Long. Clementine Bailey, 4; Charlie Carpenter, 4; Jesse Davis, 4; Hallie Einkauf, 4; Aniyah Esparza, 4; Elysia Jones, 4; Jensen Marek, 4; Charolette Napiontek, 4; Kira Rek, 4; and Max Vargas, 4.
Startzville Elementary School. Art teacher Jennifer Eskew. Roselynn Bazaldua, 4; Mckenzie Granzeier, K; Gabbie Hoffman, 3; Alice Lindfeldt, 2; Madelynn Lindfeldt, 4; Dalila Rangel, 2; Sloane Rodriguez, 5; Adalynn Sarmiento, 3; Haylee Thoele, 5; and Lorena Tyler, 1.
Middle Schools
Danville Middle School. Art teachers: Heather Dunn and Christina Hallum. Dakota Blaine, 7; Emma Cordero-Velez, 7; Grayson Davila, 8; CJ Garrison, 7; Carter Hicks, 6; Katelynn Marino, 8; Molly McCelvey, 6; James Osborne, 8; Liam Parker, 6; and Destiny Perez, 7.
Mountain Valley Middle School. Art teachers: John Payne and Angelique Reynaud. Andrew Almogabar, 7; Ainsley Baker, 8; Brody Bright, 8; Allie Gibson, 8; Arya Grimes, 7; Miley Hallmark, 8; Paisley Kennedy, 8; Nolan Mayes, 7; Whitney Middlebrooks, 8; and Calypso Moore, 8.
High Schools
Canyon Lake High School. Art teachers: Heidi Myklebust and Kara Stracener. Brynn Alvarez, 9; Sara Barlow, 12; Savannah Cargill, 12; Lee Cisneros, 10; Isaiah Coborn, 11; Rosebella Gonzales, 9; Jayden Jacks, 9; Micah Key, 11; Layne Leddy, 12; Kyndal Mathis, 12; Danielle Moffett, 12; Candice Navarro, 9; Layla Nelson, 11; Liam O'Connor, 11; Zoey Pennell, 11; Andrea Rico Garcia, 9; Chloe Rockwell, 11; Kinsley Van Meter, 11; and Phoenix Wine, 11.
Davenport High School. Art teachers: James Collins and Lauren George. Katelynn Armstrong, 11; Marili Arredondo, 11; Alejandro Castro Resendiz, 10; Penelope Delgado, 11; Ellianna Drennan, 9; Jocelyn Jackson, 11; Taylor Kiser, 11; Cole Mizell, 10; Kaylee Nangle, 10; Tavi New, 12; Urban Poiski, 12; Abigael Rogers, 12; Joslynn Rull, 9; Seth Saberon, 12; Isabel Templeman, 12; Javier Torrez, 9; Judy Victorin, 9; and Scarlett Wade, 12.
Photo Information:
-Alice Lindfeldt a second-grade student at Startzville Elementary School, received the Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art during the Comal ISD Fall Art Show on Oct. 14.
-Arya Grimes, a seventh-grade student at Mountain Valley Middle School, received the middle school Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art during the Comal ISD Fall Art Show on Oct. 14.
-Isabel Templeman, a 12th-grade student at Davenport High School, received the high school Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art during the Comal ISD Fall Art Show on Oct. 14.
-Andrew Almagabar, a seventh-grade student at Mountain Valley Middle School, showed off his continuous line drawing which was selected for the Comal ISD Fall Art Show on Oct. 14.
-Elleigh Decker, a kindergarten student from Mountain Valley Elementary School, was excited to receive a medal for her artwork which was selected for the Comal ISD Fall Art Show on Oct. 14.
-Elementary winner of Superintendent's Excellence Award for Art.
-Middle School winner of Superintendent's Excellence Award for Art.
-High School winner of Superintendent's Excellence Award of Art.
-Comal Creek Elementary artists selected for fall art show.
-Garden Ridge Elementary artists selected for fall art show.
-Morningside Elementary artists selected for fall art show.
-Mountain Valley Elementary artists selected for fall art show.
-Rebecca Creek Elementary artists selected for fall art show.
-Startzville Elementary artists selecting for fall art show.
-Danville Middle artists selected for fall art show.
-Mountain Valley Middle artists selected for fall art show.
-Canyon Lake High School artists selected for fall art show.
-Davenport High School artists selected for fall art show.
Comal ISD Fall Art Show photo album.