Area artists are using their goodwill and creative instincts to offer an online art auction to benefit tornado relief efforts. The auction is being held via the online social media site, Facebook.

The Facebook site, Art Auction for Alabama Tornado Relief has brought together 49 participating artists who have offered more than 60 donated art pieces for bid.

The art items that are available range from ceramics to acrylics, pen and pencil drawings to watercolors, mixed media, photography, jewelry and more.

Proceeds will be donated to the local American Red Cross to benefit the Alabama Tornado Relief efforts. The auction will run until next Saturday, May 21. You must log on to the site and place your bid under the piece that interests you.

The site is showcasing high-quality artwork and shows how easy it is to become a good citizen while receiving an original art piece created by any one of a multitude of area artists. The hope is that as the area begins to heal, the art will serve as a feel good reminder to those who purchase it of the efforts of many in the recovery process.

There is a time to mourn and a time to roll up one’s sleeves and do whatever is needed to make it better. This art site serves as an artists’ grass roots effort at making it better. In the day to day, local artists want to contribute to the community’s health and vitality by creating interesting art for people to enjoy. They also see that it is good to use their talents to give back with their time, money and creative energy when tragedy strikes.

  “We are interested in benefiting the people affected by the tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011,” said Anna Braden, who is a Huntsville artist and founder of the project. “Artists are some of the most generous souls around. While we always hope to turn some new people on to the arts, we understand that this tragedy deserves our attention in whatever way we can give it. All of these artists wish to contribute in a real way to the recovery efforts of North Alabama, while giving the winning bidders an art piece they can enjoy for years to come.”

Many of the contributing artists have full-time jobs, families and obligations outside their creative endeavors. This is a way for them to give back to the common good.

The site offers diverse art pieces for all tastes. There are whimsical, traditional, child-like, serious, and conservative pieces from which to choose. For people who appreciate creativity and want to help this community affected by the tornadoes, this is the site to visit.

DeAnna McNeil is a participating Athens artist whose work is mixed media.

“I’d like to see the community continue to stand up for those who have lost so much. I’d also like to see people happy to own something created out of the heart space of a local artist. The artists are making a creative and financial commitment. They’re using art to mold together this community torn apart by the tornadoes,” she said.

If you are interested in helping, log on to Facebook and bid on your favorite art pieces. The site is Art Auction For Alabama Tornado Relief.

Participating artists include: Leslee Bechtel, Anna Braden, Amber Brookman, Jill Burhans, Anthony Cavins, Cindy Cummings, Starr Weems de Graffenried, Amy Detlefsen, Barb Frizell, Susan Hemphill, Kelsy Gage, Kristine Gage, Victoria Garner, Sonya Gordan, Tori Hayes, Suan Hemphill, Kathryn Jill Johnson, Murray Johnson, Greg Lee, Michelle Lee, Diane Lehr, Leslie Lockhart, DeAnna McNeill, Paxton Mobley, Lynn Morris, Elizabeth Norwood, Yuri Osaki, Michele Parker-O’Riley, Kim Potter, Katherine Purves. S. Renee Prasil, Katherine Purvis, Jenny Ragland, Wendy Reeves, Alissa Rose-Clark, Kim Rynders, Tina Seeborg, Arlene Stone, Rene Stubblefield, Deborah Taylor, Barbara Thornton, Angela True, Connie Ulrich. Roxie Veasey, Diane Walls, Amy Wilburn, Leslie Wood and Lana Woody.