Fatima Zahra

Mini canvases showcasing student artwork, including a Tabasco bottle painting with vibrant yellow zigzags and a furry animal with its strawberry, stand displayed on wooden easels at Jefferson’s NAHS holiday art sale. “I think the [artists] at our school are extremely talented. This time I could walk through and really admire the skill these [students] have,” Senior Alex Do said.

What began as a J-Day tradition has evolved to the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) bringing an artistic flair to the holiday season. This year’s sale—which took place the week before winter break—features an expanded collection including festive ornaments, transforming Jefferson’s art gallery into a winter wonderland of student creativity.

“Usually [the] National Art Honor Society makes mini canvases and sells them before [winter] break; we did that last year as well,” senior NAHS co-president Fatima Zahra said. “We decided to incorporate this [into] NAHS and sell it before winter break as a way for everyone to celebrate [the] holiday season and buy gifts for their loved ones.”

The creative process behind these miniature masterpieces involves the dedicated efforts of the NAHS members who craft each canvas as a part of their society’s projects. Hours of careful planning, painting and preparation go into ensuring each piece meets the high standards that Jefferson’s art community is known for. This year, the collection has expanded beyond traditional mini canvases to include ornaments—suggested by NAHS sponsor Jayne Matricardi—measuring approximately 1.5-by-1.5 inches.

“Since we were already selling mini canvases, we also had very small canvases too,” Zahra said. “Matricardi suggested [making] the ornaments as well since it adds [a] more festive mood to the whole holiday sale.”

The diverse collection has caught the attention of many Jefferson students, offering pieces that speak to various personal tastes. Senior Alex Do purchased a miniature painting of a seascape featuring seagulls on a beach, drawn to a portable size.

“I really like birds and I thought the painting would be a nice addition to my desk,” Do said. “It’s also small so I could transport it to college and not take up that much space.”

The sale serves a dual purpose, celebrating student artistry while securing resources for future creative endeavors. All proceeds from the sales flow directly into the NAHS department, supporting various initiatives throughout the year.

“The money we make [goes] into the NAHS department, which we use for future projects, like the memory project and buying materials for other projects,” Zahra said. “The memory project is an organization that we are collaborating with to create portraits of impoverished children to create a lasting ‘memory’ of their faces.”

The sale provided students with the opportunity to showcase their artwork and discuss their pieces with peers.

“[Being] able to see your friends in art point out pieces they liked and try to sell you some made it easy to connect with the artists,” Do said. “I also liked how there was such a wide range of art pieces; there [were] so many different styles.”

As NAHS continues to evolve and grow, the holiday mini canvas sale stands as a testament to the organization’s ability to adapt traditions while maintaining their essential spirit. The NAHS mini canvas sale stands as a shining example of how art can bring a community together, one tiny masterpiece at a time.

“It’s really fun to see all the students and teachers come together [and] engage in the art community,” Zahra said.