Scarlett Broere, a Central Kitsap High School senior, has come a long way from the days of only using markers and pens. The 17-year-old has been taking classes from Ruth Harris, owner of KitsapArt School of the Arts in Old Town Silverdale, since she was 5 years old — when the use of pencil was not permitted at a young age.

“If you make a mistake, you stop and make it into something else,” Broere said. “I tried to sneak pencil.”

Broere, along with two of her fellow seniors — Dana Rubenstein and Lindsey Holdren — currently have their art ranging from works of painting to colored pencil, showcased at Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery in Silverdale. The exhibit, “The 3 Art-keteers,” runs through the end of the month.

The trio said that art has been a part of their lives because it is something that has no boundaries. Broere enjoys drawing animals while Holdren said she likes creating portraits and landscapes. Rubenstein said she has recently gotten into drawing faces.

“It’s not sports where you win or lose. There’s no failing in art,” said Rubenstein, 18, who began taking art classes at age 6 after being convinced by Broere.

Even though the three will leave Central Kitsap to attend college next fall, they still plan to keep art in their lives.

Rubenstein will be attending Washington University in St. Louis and plans on majoring in computer science with a minor in art. She wants a career in a field where she can combine the technical side of computer science with the creative side of art, she said. Broere will head south to the University of Portland where she will study education — she wants to be a kindergarten teacher. Holdren will stay in state at Whitman College to study science and film.

“It’s a good way to calm down — therapy,” said, Holdren, 18, on the impact of creating art.

Harris has seen the artistic talents of her three students grow after spending nearly every Friday with them over the years. Broere was one of her first students.

“What these guys are drawing now is amazing,” Harris said. “They have an ability to really see values. A lot of adults come in and can’t see values.”

The “values” Harris describes include the light and dark tones of one color that give an image more depth.

Harris’ classes have given the girls the flexibility to try new things compared to a high school class where they felt more restricted, they said.

“You never have that freedom when you’re graded,” Rubenstein said.

And although she is sad to see her young artists leave, Harris is confident that art has helped them become confident individuals who can problem solve.

“They are ready to fly,” Harris said.