Artists are ecstatic because rodeo art is almost here. THS artists have a history of success at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and this year’s students are hoping to continue that tradition.

Students are gearing up and finding the perfect western style pictures to begin drawing in a couple weeks. This is one of the biggest events for the art department and a very exciting time for the school.

Some students are hoping to make money for their drawings, and sometimes this can be a large sum.

In the past three years Tomball has had four big auction winners in rodeo art. Last year, Carly Robledo earned $12,000; the year before that Amanda Jentzch collected $25,000; and in 2012 there were two winners, Alexa Johnson with $8,500 and Alex Clark at $13,000.

These are huge amounts of money, and although most of the money goes to the general rodeo scholarship fund, the winners do get a chunk of the money to put in their pocket. A couple of thousand dollars for college isn’t bad for doing a school project.

Carl Buhr, a junior exchange student in the art program, hopes to hold his own against a talented group.

”There are some really, really good artists in the art program, so I’m not sure about it but I hope I do good,” Buhr said. “I think I can make it.”

Brittany Brzymialkiewicz, a sophomore Art 2 student, is optimistic.

”I’m excited about it,” she said. “I have a really good idea of what I want to draw, I hope it’s good enough and original.”

If Brzymialkiewicz wins money in the auction she said she is putting all away for college.

“I want to go to college for art, I plan on doing it my entire life and if anyone wants to do art then just do it and don’t give up,” she said.

The students are going to start drawing in about two weeks, and the art department is eager to get to work on their western style masterpieces.

If anyone is interested in joining art or participating in rodeo art, speak with Catherine Dawson or Jeanne Maddy, the art teachers.