May 22, 2023 - He did it again. Canyon Lake High School senior Baten Evans walked away as the champion of the Rodeo Austin art contest in the sculpture/3D category this spring after winning the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Western Art Contest.
The two-time champion received a $10,000 scholarship at the San Antonio show and $14,000 at the Austin show where his entry sold for $6,000 during the rodeo’s auction and then garnered an additional $8,000 from a donor.
This is a new record for CLHS for the highest selling art piece by a student.
“I absolutely love encouraging student to participate in these are shows and events,” says Nell Anderson, CLHS art teacher. “Not everyone can win, but it gives hope to students to want to participate next year.”
The winning entry, titled “Bucking Metal Bull,” was made with scrap metal and epoxy sculpt, says Evans, who was inspired by the Austin Rodeo’s main logo to create the piece.
“I was confident in my piece, but I was still very surprised to have won, sincere there were so many brilliant pieces,” Evans says. “It means the world to me to have won both of these contests, because this is where my passion is heading. I am proud to see the potential I have for a great future.”
The soon-to-be-graduate plans to use his earnings for college tuition and other needs for higher education where he plans to become an advanced artist with a career in welding which will allow him to keep creating his art.
“I am very appreciative and thankful for all of my winnings and the great results that came out of each of them after the work it took to get my favorite pieces done.”
Read about Evans win at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo here.
Congratulations!
-Canyon Lake High School student Baten Evans was honored at the Comal ISD Board of Trustees meeting on May 18 for winning two major art shows this year.
-Canyon Lake High School student Baten Evans is pictured here at the Rodeo Austin contest.
-The winning entry titled “Bucking Metal Bull” by Canyon Lake High School student Baten Evans.