Originally printed in Texas School Business magazine.
San Saba — if one has never heard of it, they are not alone. San Saba is a tiny Texas community nestled between two rivers, creating a fertile valley known as “The Pecan Capital of the World.” Pecans are not the only crop cultivated in San Saba; the local high school also cultivates hardworking students.
Tradition runs deep in this tiny Texas town, from the unique mascot — an Armadillo — to the football field called “The Graveyard,” because it was built over a bulldozed cemetery. Generations of students have worked to keep school traditions alive. Students are called upon to balance their studies with multiple extracurricular activities so the school can excel in UIL, FFA, VASE (Visual Art Scholastic Event), and other programs.
San Saba High School art students were recognized for their hard work when the program received the District of Distinction Award from the Texas Art Education Association. It was one of just 96 districts — out of 1,200 statewide — that met the high standards required for this honor, placing San Saba in the top 5.5% of visual art programs in Texas.
As the art teacher, I have seen this work ethic in action. My philosophy is simple: Anyone can learn to draw if they practice the three P’s: Practice, Patience, and Perseverance. Students learn that creating art doesn’t require incredible talent, just hard work, close attention to detail, and a willingness to let their imagination soar.
As one student reflected, “I simply reminded myself of Mrs. Wright’s words: It doesn’t require exceptional skill, only hard work and close attention to detail.”
This philosophy, rooted in effort and tenacity, is the heartbeat of the program, turning unsure beginners into confident creators.
More than half the student population at SSHS participates in the art program, which allows opportunities for students to create outside the classroom and engage with the community. Students learn how to create balloon art and face painting so they can volunteer at community events such as the Fall Festival, Santa’s Workshop, and Night at the Museum, a celebration of Texas Independence held at the local city park and the San Saba Historical Museum.
Students discover that collaboration is the secret to creating something extraordinary. Each year, they produce a mural based on a historical photo of San Saba. With the help of the local museum, pictures are gathered, and students vote on their favorite. The chosen photo is then graphed into squares and cut into tiny sections. Each student receives a square and a 4” x 4” canvas. The canvases are taped to a wall so the students can sketch out the image.
Then the fun begins: The young artists are limited to four colors — white, black, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna — to paint their canvases. Using their individual square as a reference, they contribute to a collective masterpiece.
Once finished, the squares are assembled like a giant puzzle to produce the full mural, which is framed and displayed in a school hallway for one year. The following year, the mural is auctioned off as a fundraiser. In 2024, the Community Foundation of San Saba, an organization that raises money for restoration and beautification projects, purchased the mural for $600. It was later auctioned for $5,820, allowing the art department to fund future projects and give back to the community.
These hardworking students don’t just participate in community outreach, they excel in competition. They have earned honors at the Congressional Art Competition Award, won the Space Art Contest, and taken Grand Champion at the San Saba Stock Show Art Contest. Every year, students earn numerous gold medals from VASE, with several advancing to the state level and receiving top honors. Hard work does pay off.
The annual art museum field trip is a highlight for these students, who live far from Texas’s cultural hubs. Visits to the Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, or the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, feed their imaginations. This year’s trip to the McNay included an outdoor scavenger hunt and a docent-led tour — memories were made and minds were expanded!
The end-of-year Student Art Show is a labor of love and a true logistical challenge. Students organize the artwork, create the displays, hang the art, and manage takedown. It’s hard work in action. The entire student body attends the show, with elementary and middle school students touring throughout the day. Art students stand beside their pieces, explaining their creative processes. In the evening, the public is invited to view the artwork, giving students a chance to shine in front of the community.
When students enter the art room, they know they’re supported and capable of achieving great things through effort and attention to detail. For many, the art room is a refuge from the pressures of adolescence. In a world saturated with screens and standardized tests, San Saba’s art program offers a space to disconnect and create.
Students learn that creativity isn’t a rare gift — it’s a muscle built through the three P’s. They discover that art is less about perfection and more about persistence, learning from mistakes, and having the courage to start again. They leave with more than just artwork; they carry confidence, a sharper eye for detail, and the belief that their ideas matter. In a world that often demands conformity, this program reminds students that their unique voice can shape the world around them.
As they step out of the art room, creations in hand, they embody Picasso’s truth: “Action is the foundational key to all success.”
Bio
Shara Wright teaches art at San Saba High School and is Region 15 representative for the Texas Art Education Association.