Festival at Sandpoint has selected “Shadow Serenade,” a colored pencil composition by local artist Cyndie Hammond, as its 2026 fine arts poster. The artwork was unveiled on July 7 at an event celebrating the festival’s annual fundraising initiative.
Hammond’s piece draws inspiration from the natural landscape surrounding Sandpoint—its lakes, rivers, mountains, and forests. The artist builds each work through multiple layers of colored pencil, ranging from two to twenty applications depending on the composition’s intricacy. The final piece can require up to forty-five hours of meticulous work.
Artist Background and Community Ties
A third-generation North Idaho resident, Hammond has deep roots in the region. Her grandfather homesteaded on the south end of Lake Pend Oreille east of Long Bridge, establishing family ties to the area that continue to influence her artistic vision. Before becoming a full-time artist, Hammond spent eighteen years in education—eight years teaching special education and a decade instructing fifth grade across North Idaho and Eastern Washington. She earned a doctorate in education at age fifty-four and served as executive director of the Coeur d’Alene Baccalaureate Center for Lewis-Clark State College.
Hammond described her artistic philosophy in statements about the commissioned work. “Memories and joy underpin all my pieces, especially this one,” she said. She views her compositions as more than visual representation: “My work is an invitation to the viewer, a visual feast of exuberant color and light to evoke personal memories.”
Supporting Festival Mission Through Auction
Hammond donated the original artwork to support Festival at Sandpoint’s nonprofit mission. The piece will be auctioned to raise funds for the organization, which hosts the annual Summer Concert Series in Sandpoint.
The original artwork is currently on display at the Festival office, located at 525 Pine Street, through July 24. Beginning July 30 through August 9, the piece will be exhibited at the merchandise booth during the Summer Series concerts. Online bidding for the original is available at fasfineartposter.ggo.bid, with the auction concluding on August 9 at the Grand Finale event.
The selection of a fine arts poster each year has become a signature element of Festival at Sandpoint’s fundraising strategy, combining local artistic talent with community support for the nonprofit’s cultural programming.