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!