December Artist of the Month: Virginia Goesch

Virginia Goesch was selected as December Artist of the Month and has her artwork exhibited at the Cheyenne County Community Center and the Sidney Public Library through Monday, January 13, 2014.  Goesch’s focus is landscapes rendered in oil and acrylic paints and the things included in the landscapes.  She also paints people and animals.  She finds herself drawn to old things--their function, imperfections, their shadows and their impact on the land.  She states, “I’m influenced by how I grew up, where and when I grew up in rural Nebraska—the Depression, being poor, the wars, storms, and being alone in the rural parts of Nebraska.”  These are reflected in Goesch’s work, which show the sensitivity of having grown up during hard times and yet with the delight of color, wonderment, and happy times, too.

She finds she’s still amazed at taking a flat piece of paper or any surface and creating distance and depth with paint.  As a child she was interested in distance, changing skies and clouds, colors in the sky, plants in the pasture and the trees.  She grew up around horses and cows and she tried to draw the horses.  “I knew there was a way to know how to draw and I finally found it,” she said.  Goesch said that she is still challenged by color, the seasons, and the time of day.  She remains amazed at summer lightening revealing a storm, of the depth of light and the reflective quality of it.  She continues to question, observe, and learn.  She describes her work as somewhere between realistic and impressionistic.

Goesch has been a member of the Cheyenne County Art Guild since she moved to Sidney in 2003 upon her retirement from the teaching profession.  She has attended numerous workshops on watercolor, oil, and pastel.  Her works have been shown at Kearney, Neligh, Sidney, Holyoke, CO, murals in local businesses in Sidney, and the Cheyenne County Fair.  Her work has won many awards and been in the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs Conference Annual Show.  One of her special awards was winning the People’s Choice Award at the 2013 CCAG Spring Show with her artwork titled “Red Barn”.  Great things are coming from this fine artist, Virginia Goesch!

Chuck Borcher: Artist of the Month ~ Oct/Nov

The Cheyenne County Art Guild has selected Chuck Borcher as the October/November Artist of the Month.  Chuck began drawing and painting while in grade school.  Throughout his life, Borcher has always maintained a love for creating works of art.  Even when college and career choices--Engineering and Computer Science--led him in other directions, he has dedicated much of his free time to drawing painting and photography.

Borcher's artwork and photographs have won many awards including several Best of Shows, Association of Nebraska Art Clubs awards, and People's Choice Awards.  His love of photography has led to a lucrative secondary career that he likes to call his working summer vacations.  Over the years he has been selected three times as the official photographer of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo.  He has also served as photographer for the Wyoming Professional Rodeo Association, the Colorado Professional Rodeo Association, and the Nebraska State Rodeo Association.  

"Getting to mix my love for rodeo with my love for painting makes a very enjoyable and rewarding experience," Borcher stated. "With my photography I get to add another aspect to the creative mix."  On display through Monday, November 11th are thirteen photographs--one at the Sidney Public Library and twelve at the Cheyenne County Community Center.  The public is encouraged to view these fine photographs by Chuck Borcher, CCAG President.

Paul Adkinson: Artist of the Month ~ Sept/Oct

Imagination plays a big part in his paintings, collages, and photography. He will see or read something or someone will say something that will spark an idea for a painting or an altered photographic artwork.  His artwork evokes emotion in viewers and helps them remember events and good times.  Adkinson states, "Art should give the viewer a sense of feeling." He believes that people "should experience the sense of imagination, beauty, wonder, and feeling that went into the creative process of an artwork, no matter the medium or the subject."

Adkinson's artwork has been displayed at the Governor's Mansion in Lincoln; the American Art Association Regional Invitational Exhibit in Denver; the Artel State Show in Omaha; the Art and Gift Gallery in North Platte; and the Nebraska Gallery  in Bayard; to name a few. 

His artwork has also won many awards including the Museum of Nebraska Art's Purchase Award at the 2009 Association of Nebraska Art clubs' conference.  He has won Best of Show and many other awards including the People's Choice Award at the CCAG Spring Show, several Honorable Mentions at the annual ANAC conferences, Grand Champions at the Cheyenne County Fair, and the Audrey Towater Award for Colored Photography at the West Nebraska Arts Center's 2007 Photography Competition in Scottsbluff.

He is a charter member of the Cheyenne County Art Guild and has served as an officer and on many committees throughout the years.  Adkinson is a role model to many in the guild for many reasons--one of which is by continuing his pursuit in striving to improve his artwork by taking workshops, studying, and painting on a regular basis.  Also, he is always optimistic and encourages others in their artistic endeavors. 

Patrick McNabb - August/September Artist of the Month

The Cheyenne County Art Guild has selected Patrick McNabb of Chappell as Artist of the Month. 

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McNabb came to western Nebraska to fulfill a request by his late father to watch over his mother. Bringing his family and his artistic talent with him, he is currently exploring America's oldest past time; romanticizing our own mortality in a series of artworks entitled "Pavement Ends", bringing a glimpse of his travels beyond where the pavement ends.  It is a taste of American's Heartland and a celebration of life through art using street art on street signs and painted skulls.

McNabb, a self-proclaimed cynical surrealist, uses stencils, brushwork, and aerosol paint worked with a specially prepared reflective background to create the packed ambiance Georgia O’Keefe-like desert skull images that come to life with light effects capable of crazy psychedelic extensions.  His internally reflective and revealing light produced paintings capture the attention of the viewer.  At a show in June in the greater Philadelphia area, he received the following comments:  "I was seriously impressed at the gritty, thought provoking, "modern" art," and "Buck's County's (PA) creative genius, master of light and medium and social commentary, reknowned loveable rascal does it again!  Hidden light effects and meanings produced by mastery of concepts and material.  The depth of Patrick's expression is mastery."

Patrick McNabb's artwork can be seen at the Sidney Public Library and the Cheyenne County Community Center through Monday, September 9th.  The public is encouraged to view this fine artwork.

Margaret Evans: Artist of the Month - July

Margaret Ann Evans has been a Cheyenne County Art Guild member since 2010.  This is the second time she has been named Cheyenne County Art Guild “Artist of the Month” (the first being in April 2011).. Aargaret would again like to dedicate her “artist of the Month” showing this year to her dear mother, Betty Evans, who died in January 2011.  Margaret’s mom loved to see her photos and often said to be sure to bring the camera, when she visited the farm.  Margaret became the “family photographer.”

Margaret liked to draw as a child and with that interest, enrolled in her high school’s art classes.  She learned to work with different media such as oils, regular and colored pencil, pastel, watercolor and ink.  Oils, regulare and colored pencil were her favorite media.  With the shortage of one’s time these days, she hasn’t painted or drawn pictures for twenty years.  Her artistic creations are now solely photography.

Approximately in 1972, she got a Kodak 110 pocket camera for her Dad for Father’s Day.  He never used it, so thought someone should and began taking photos.  Her beloved Grandpa liked taking photos, nothing creative, just snap shots.  He showed her how to use the camera.  The one recollection that he taught her was to hold your breath when you’re pushing the shutter button, so the camera wouldn’t shake (and cause a blurred photo.  She discovered right away that photography was fun, especially with the anticipation of seeing what the photos looked like after they came back from the photo lab.  Of course, as all photographers know, there are disappointments with major catastrophes missed in between…  Margaret realized that photography is her artistic passion.  When digital cameras became popular in the 1990s she got on board and has never looked back on the film medium.  Currently Margaret’s favorite digital cameras are the Panasonic FZ28 and FZ60.

For the past several years Margaret has entered photos in the Cheyenne County Fair and won many ribbons.  She also entered photographs in the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 CCAG annual spring show in which she has received one first and one second place ribbon plus several Honorable Mentions.  In 2012, her CCAG second place entry “Breaking Through the Darkness” was chosen to be in the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs show in Aurora, NE.  This was an incredible honor!!!  Other art shows that Margaret has displayed photos include the Carnegie Art Center CCAG show in Alliance, NE, and the Phillips County Art Show in Holyoke, CO, in which she received a second place ribbon.

Margaret took a digital photography class at Western Nebraska Community College in 2010, and continues to see great improvement in her photographs.  Margaret has had photographs published in Western Nebraska Community College’s “Emerging Voices” Journal of Literature and Art publication since 2010.

It is a great honor for Margaret to be chosen as the July 2013 CCAG “Artist of the Month”

Margaret’s  photographs are displayed at the Sidney Public Library and the Cheyenne County Community Center (in main hall to the left)

May 13 Meeting

The next CCAG meeting is this coming Monday, May 13, at the Community Center, starting at 7:00 p.m.  Judy M. and Pat M. are hostesses for the meeting.

 

There are several things on the agenda:

• Officer elections
• Silent auction
• Scholarship selection report
• ANAC Conference in June
• Summer Kids Art program at the Community Center

Hope to see you there!!!

Sheila Phelps,  CCAG President

Ben Ramsey - Artist of the Month

    The Cheyenne County Art Guild has selected Ben Ramsey of Sidney as Artist of the Month. Ramsey recalls drawing at a very young age and has been drawing all of his life. He had the good fortune in having parents who encouraged him and who later augmented a scholarship to the Art Instructions School when he was fourteen years of age. It was then that the young artist began to paint.

Art continued to be a part of Ramsey's life throughout the years and in the early 80's he and another gentleman had a commercial art business in Laramie called Islands Bound Graphics. He also took drawing classes at the college and painted art for friends. He stated that since at one time he was hopeful of becoming an engineer, most of his drawing skills were in mechanical drawing. Then for twenty years he stopped doing much art in order to raise a family.

(Family Dinner - 2nd place 2013 spring show)

Three years ago Ramsey came back to what he loved to do: painting in acrylics and drawing in pencil and ink. He was a member of the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Artists Guild and exhibited in their monthly shows. Then upon moving to Sidney a couple of years ago he became a member of the Cheyenne County Art Guild. "I was totally amazed at the amount of talent in Sidney as seen in the CCAG," he said. "I feel lucky to be amongst that much talent." And Ramsey has added his talent to the mix and last year won First Place in Acrylics at the CCAG Spring Show and this year won Second Place in Pencil and in Acrylics.

(Lookin' For Love 2nd place 2013 spring show.)

He continues to study and apply ideas and things he has learned to his artwork. He has been inspired and appreciates the artwork by Disney and Van Gogh, the drawings of DaVinci, and the details and concepts created by the Brothers Hildebrandt whose work has been seen in the original Star Wars movie posters and JRR Tolkian Lord of the Rings calendars. With such artists for inspiration Ramsey is sure to have fun and keep busy with his new goal--Ramsey related, "I am wanting to "break out of my (artistic) box a little bit and try to use more color in my paintings and possibly do more expressionistic work." He eventually would like to have his artwork in the open market and exhibit in galleries, too.

(My Spot first place 2012 spring show)

   

On his way to artistic excellence and his goals Ramsey is thankful for his parent's encouragement and guidance and remembers the interest and talent his dad had for drawing. Following in his father's footsteps Ramsey encouraged his own children and is proud that his son, daughter, and daughter-in-law all have Bachelors in Fine Arts degrees and all three work in art for personal enjoyment and for their jobs.

(The Moment)
 

So while Ben Ramsey continues his artistic journey the public is encouraged to see his painting titled "Water Fun" at the Sidney Public Library. It was done in acrylic paint mostly with an airbrush. Twelve other artworks of Ramsey's can be seen at the Cheyenne County Community Center. The public is encouraged to view these fine artworks.

(Life's Reflections)

Spring Show

The CCAG Spring Show was a smashing success!!! 

Congratulations Ethan Nelson: Best of Show

CCAG Spring Art Show April 5 - 7

The CCAG Spring Art Show will be held at the Cheyenne County Community Center - Sidney, NE.  the weekend of April 5-7, 2013.  This year's judge is Peter Youngers.  Stop by to see a REALLY GREAT SHOW!!! with featured artwork from your friends and neighbors - members of the CCAG. The show is open to the public Friday evening (artist reception), Saturday all day, and Sunday afternoon.

Categories include paintings in oil, acrylic, pastel/watercolor, mixed media and colored pencil, photography, sculpture, fiber art and miscellaneous.  Vote for your favorite piece of artwork to receive the "People's Choice" award.  Register to win a door prize by Virg Shumacher and enter the raffle (tickets are 1 for $1.00 or 6 for $5.00) for a chance to win artwork by Paul Adkinson. 

Time Schedule:

April 4 (Thursday)

• 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. CCAG member art entry 

April 5 (Friday)

• Judging  9:00 - 11:30
• Critique 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Rehang art for public show  (committee time - TBA)
• Show Open to the Public and Artist Reception 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

April 6 (Saturday)

• Show Open to the Public  9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

April 7 (Sunday)

• Show Open to the Public 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
• Artwork released after 4:00 p.m.
• Take down show and clean-up  4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

(photo from the 2012 CCAG Spring Art Show)

Peter Youngers: This Year's CCAG Art Show Judge

Peter L.Youngers has taught art for 36 years at Northeastern Junior College from 1965 until his retirement in 2001.  He also served as Associate Dean for Humanities and Human Services for 17 years.  He has served as juror for local, regional and national exhibits.

 Since coming to NJC, Peter has been actively involved in the leadership of community and state arts councils as well as the Colorado Art Education Association and the Colorado Education Association.

Peter is a painter, printmaker and stained glass artist.  His most recent works have been watercolors, stained glass and woodcuts.  His expressionistic watercolors and woodcuts reflect the landscape images of Colorado with emphasis on the northeastern plains of Colorado, where he has lived since 1965.  The majority of his glass pieces are abstract using light, color and texture to create the visual effects. 

“A large part of my influence as an artist is interpreted through expressionistic renderings of the landscape motif, both vertical and horizontal axes juxtaposed in a relationship to the horizon and ‘real space.’  The conceived motif may appear two-dimensional but through line and color, the space one observes is compressed and refined to display nature both symbolically and in flat planes or fields of activity.”

Mr. Youngers holds a BFA and MFA degree from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.  His art works are in private and public collections throughout the United States and Europe.

 

Patrick McNabb - March Artist of the Month

(Information update very soon!!!)

ANAC Conference in Alliance June 12 - 15

Looks like the A.N.A.C Conference in June is going to be great.  Here is a link to the web page listing the instructors for the workshops being held.  http://www.nebraskaartclubs.org/instruc1.html  Since the conference is in our neck of the woods this year, it would be a great opportunity to participate in the wonderful workshops and events. 

Art Teasers - Take the Challenge and Run

Art teasers are a great way to get those creative juices flowing.  The idea is to use at least 2 of the items on the list and create a piece of art.  Here is a list of the teasers chosen for the past three months.  Have fun!!!

February 2013:

• Cezzane
• acrylic
• draw with a weed
• Christmas decoration used in 3-d art
• cat
• body

January 2013:

• Howard Terpining
• chalk and buttermilk
• mechanical gears/glass
• pop can
• Earth and stars
• blue

December 2012:

• draw with a stick
• Marjolin Bastelin
• conte
• rusty metal pressed on canvas (print of rust???)
• estimate
• something with wings

Hank Jessen - Artist of the Month

Hank Jessen is a prolific artist sometimes completing as many as 15 artworks in oil, acrylic, and watercolor.  His favorite subject matter is landscape, whether it is landscapes on his farm, his backyard, or the many travels that he and his wife, Joyce, enjoy throughout the year.  Jessen especially likes painting flowers and people.

Hank has been an active member of the CCAG for over twenty years and has exhibited his award-winning artwork at the CCAG Annual Spring Members' Show for many years.  He has also exhibited artwork at the Carnegie Art Center in Alliance, NE, the Holyoke, CO and Yuma, CO Art Shows, the Dalton Fall Festival, and the Cheyenne County Fair as well as the community Center in Sidney, NE and at the ANAC annual conferance, and many other places.

Jessen served as president of the CCAG in 2004-2005 and continues to serve on various art committees and continues to be an enthusiastic, participating member of the CCAG.  Hank also serves as the guild's Historian.

The public is encouraged to view Hank's fine artwork on display at the Cheyenne County Community Center and at the Sidney Public Library through March 11, 2013 .

Artist of the Month: Chuck Borcher

CHUCK BORCHER SELECTED AS ARTIST OF THE MONTH

The Cheyenne County Art Guild announces Chuck Borcher of Sidney as the new Artist of the Month. Borcher's paintings and photographs have received many awards and recognition throughout the years. He has been elected four times "Artist of the Month" by the Cheyenne County Art Guild. He has taken home several Best of Show awards from both the Cheyenne County Fair and the Holyoke Art Show and has had one painting selected by the Associtaion of Nebraska Art Clubs to be included in their annual traveling show, but the award he treasures the most are the two People's Choice awards he has received from the Cheyenne County Art Guild Annual Spring Show. "The People's Choice Award tells me that the general public appreciates my efforts and my vision."

Borcher began drawing and painting while in grade school. Even then he enjoyed the challenge and reward of putting his vision into two-dimensional pictures. During high school his skills were directed and refined by teachers Jan Pippitt and Mildred Elwell. Even though he chose to pursue a college education in Engineering and Computer Science, he still continued to work on drawings and small paintings in his spare time.

It was during college, while attending a college rodeo with some close friends, that Borcher first picked up a camera to record his companions competition efforts. It was an instant love affair that has led to a lucrative secondary career that he likes to call his working summer vacations. Over the year Borcher has been selected three times as the official photographer of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo. He also serves as photographer for the Wyoming Professional Rodeo Association, the Colorado Professional Rodeo Association, and the Nebraska State Rodeo Association.

"Getting to mix my love for rodeo with my love for painting makes a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. I have always chosen to represent the western and cowboy culture in my paintings. With my photography, I get to add another aspect to the creative mix," he said.

Chuck Borcher's oil painting titled "Claudia's Sun" is on display through February 10, 2013, at the Sidney Public Library. The painting was started in a workshop given by Claudia Garber and finished later in her honor. It is the first time the artwork has been shown in public. Twelve other artworks and photographs may be seen at the Cheyenne County Community Center. The public is encouraged to view Borcher's fine artworks.

ANAC Traveling Show at Sidney Library

The Association of Nebraska Art Clubs traveling show will be in Sidney SOON!!!  The show will be at the Sidney Public Library on January 26, 2013 through February 13, 2013.   The show includes artwork from 26 artists, including CCAG members Cyndi Egging and Sheila Phelps.

Denver Art Museum: Becoming Van Gogh

The "Becoming Van Gogh" exhibit at the Denver Art Museum closed yesterday.  I'm sorry I missed it.  The exhibit was sold out when I had a chance to get to Denver.  I recently came across this article posted by the DAM on Facebook:  Becoming Van Gogh
Check it out - links to several articles and videos about the exhibit.

Next Meeting - Jan 14

Quick Reminder:  The next CCAG meeting is this coming Monday, Jan. 14th starting at 7:00 at the Community Center

Art resolutions for 2013???

It's the beginning of a new year and time to make those new year resolutions.  Make 2013 your best artistic year yet.  I recently read an article on making resolutions.  The bottom line is that if a resolution is not specific, it will probably be forgotten within a couple of weeks.  Instead of saying "I'm going to get better at drawing."  say "I'm going to commit to drawing at least 20 minutes three times a week."   That way you have committed to setting aside time to practice.  And, as we all know, with practice comes improvement

One of my resolutions for this coming year is to post something once a week on this CCAG blog.  It may be a technique I'd like to try, a demonstration video link, a website, or anything else in the art world that strikes me.  If there is anything you'd like me to post, please send me an email:  sheilaphelps59@gmail.com and I'll make sure I get it posted.

I would really like this part of the CCAG blog to be a place for not just providing information, but sharing ideas.