May Artist of the Month: Ben Darling

A Sidney resident since 1997, Mr. Darling is the middle school and upper elementary art teacher for Sidney Public Schools. Darling also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the Sidney Campus of WNCC, offering courses in painting and drawing. He has had numerous residencies with the Nebraska Arts Council Artist in the Schools and Communities program and toured shows with the Nebraska Touring Program. In 2004 he received a Masters Degree in Education from UNK.

Darling is known for his landscape paintings which can be found in many private and public collections.  The appeal of the changing light and interaction between the weather and the land keeps him out and looking for subject matter.  Ninety percent of the time his work is started on location.  Sketched in with oil paint on canvas, the paintings are then completed in the studio.  His recent drawings are of local wild flowers, generally started from life and finished in pastel and colored pencil.  He also does theatrical painting for Way Out West, and has helped with the High School musicals and one act plays as a scenic artist.

With some of his spare time he makes hand built pottery, most often using the coil and paddle method.  Darling also enjoys bicycling, backpacking, hiking and gardening. 

Darling's work will be on display at the CCCC and the Sidney Public Library through June 9, 2014.  The public is encouraged to view his fine artworks! 

Pat Albers: June Artist of the Month

The Cheyenne County Art Guild has selected Pat Albers as the June Artist of the Month.  Albers has fun doing art and creates artworks just for the pure joy of it.  She did a little art while in high school several years ago and didn't do much with her creativity until after her husband passed away six years ago.  Since then she is enjoying painting whatever catches her eye.  When asked what her favorite subject matter was, she stated, " Whatever comes to mind."  She has painted on paper and canvas but doesn't let a stray piece of burlap or slate go to waste either.  "When something sparks my imagination," she said, "I go with it!" 
Alber's favorite media are acrylic paints and oil pastels.  Her creative artworks of landscapes, flowers, etc. are happily shared and given away to family and friends  One of her artworks won a First Place Award at the CCAG Spring Art Show in April and was one of over 350 artworks in the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs Annual Conference June 11-14, 2014, in McCook, NE.
After moving to Sidney from Council Bluffs, IA, Albers has enjoyed the exchange of art ideas and fun with other artists of the Cheyenne County Art Guild of which she is a member.  She also works at the Fort Sidney Museum during the summertime where she paints original postcards in her spare time.  

Pat Albers' acrylic painting titled "A Walk with Jesus" is on display now through July 13, 2014 at the Sidney Public Library.  Twelve other artworks of Albers are on display at the Cheyenne County Community Center.  The public is encouraged to view these creative and joyful artworks.