Fine Art Auction Raises Charitable Funds For The American Red Cross

By Thomas Leturgey

Some 24 hours after an auction to help victims of natural disasters in North Carolina and California, the owners, hosts and staff of the Fine Art Auction are just happy to help those in need.

On Monday, January 13, the Fine Art Auction, as well as German artist Simon Roland, aka “KeF!” joined together to help raise funds by auctioning of a historic piece of art.

Veteran host Richard English enthusiastically opened the broadcast with a “very big surprise,” a “magnificent” painting. Less than a year ago British-born English hosted a similar auction with a KeF! painting that garnered $63,000.

“We wanted to do something for the Red Cross,” he said. So, the host and company decided to forgo the usual 10-percent buyer’s premium and donate 100% of those proceeds to the American Red Cross. “As you know there have been terrible disasters, both in North Carolina and the terrible situation in California,” continued English. He has been involved in other, similar charitable offerings in Australia and his home country, and early on hoped that the Atlanta-based art program would fetch between $50,000 and $70,000 for the impressive work.

As a tease, English said he wanted at least three prospective buyers to begin the bidding at $10,000. About halfway through the five-hour program, English confirmed that nine viewers had shown interest in the mammoth work.

The Fine Art Auction, owned by Atlanta-based AVC, has successfully auctioned off other paintings, and wanted to do something organic. “Our prayers are with everyone who has been effected by these disasters,” English said. “They are in desperate need.”

The painting, which measured 80” by 90” and entitled “Crescent Moon Fills My Heart #3”, featured KeF!’s signature style of swirl, was also dotted with blue and a “primrose yellow” a tint that English fancied since childhood. The painting, which was designed to be a museum piece and has a "sister" painting, was to be delivered in a wooden crate.

Leading up to the crescendo, English and co-host and art expert Mitch Carter featured works by Richard Wolfryd, Jules Cheret, Francoise Desmont, Salvador Dali, Albrecht Durer, and young prodigies Pedro Ortiz and Sarah Wall to name a few. The works by Ortiz and Wall were “gifted” as reduced prices by the hosts in eager anticipation of the main event.

With less than 15 minutes left in the auction, English introduced the painting. An initial bid was lodged at $14,000--$1,400 to charity. Another bid came in at $15,000. Soon after, the amount was raised to $16,000, $17,500 and $18,000.

The well-intention hosts simply didn’t give themselves enough time to capture the imagination and wallets of their interested charitable investors. But they had a plan to continue.

When midnight came, bidding on the piece reached $20,000 with English promising “The Bid Goes On!” It's a familiar phrase when a terrific work of art has the phone ringing.

It was announced overnight that the team had sold the painting for $33,000, a $3,300 donation to the American Red Cross.