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.