HS Art Auction

This is the second year I've been teaching and I've decided to continue the silent art auction I did last year.  I want to make it kind of a tradition as long as I'm in this same district.
Since we live in southwest Kansas, we make that our inspiration.  I leave the project pretty wide open in terms of subject matter as long as it fits with our inspiration.  I also let the students choose to do pencil shaded drawings, use colored pencil, or paint.  The focus of this project within the classroom is quality and craftsmanship, knowing that we are putting them up for sale.  Allowing the students to choose which media they want to do helps them to work with something they love and know they can do well.
Both years I have done this project, I have seen my students step up to the plate with this challenge.  They try so hard, knowing that a lot of people will be seeing them and that people will be purchasing them.  My students have blown me away by what they can do and I think they surprise themselves as well.  It is a great feeling!
I pair the art auction with a home basketball game and have our art displayed in the commons area so the work is highly visible.  This year the particular game I chose was paired with our winter homecoming and the gym was packed.  I received many, many compliments on the work from my students and everything I heard was so very positive.  We sold 28 pieces and made $592!  It's the easiest fundraiser I've ever done.  The prep work is mostly done within the classroom by my students and my work is minimal only needing to make bid sheets and hang everything up.  After half-time of the varsity boys game I started collecting money and the art went out the door with the highest bidder.  Everything was collected and all cleaned up by the end of the game.  Easy!
Most of the pieces were bought by parents or teachers and some other community members.  This year I had one lady who purchased 5 or 6 pieces and when she came up to pay, she told me she didn't need the art work and although it was wonderful she wanted me to give the art back to the students who made them.  She bid for encouragement.  I just love that!  And my fellow teachers do the same, supporting the students that need the most love and encouragement.  It just gives me the warm fuzzies inside knowing that people are just so good!

Like I said, we had 28 pieces for sale but I won't post them all.  I'll try to pick some of the better ones and some of my favorites.  6 of the 28 pieces were out plaster buffaloes inspired by the Cow Parade which you can see a few posts below, so I'll leave those out of this post.

Sophomore

Sophomore - Our school mascot is the buffalo and our colors are purple and white

Senior - Watercolor

Senior

Junior - Acrylic Painting

Senior

Sophomore - Watercolor

Senior

Senior

Junior - Acrylic Painting