Chuck Borcher named Cheyenne County Art Guild’s Artist of the Month

Sidney artist Chuck Borcher has been named the Cheyenne County Art Guild’s Artist of the Month.

He has been elected artist of the month four different times by the guild and has received many different awards and much recognition for his paintings and photography over the years, according to a press release by Judy McElroy, a Cheyenne County Art Guild representative.

Borcher has received numerous Best of Show Awards at the Cheyenne County Fair, as well as the Holyoke Art Show. One of his paintings was even selected by the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs for their annual traveling show.

According to McElroy however the awards that Borcher holds most dearly are the two People’s Choice Awards he has been given at the Cheyenne County Art Guild’s Annual Spring Show.

“The People’s Choice Award tells me that the general public appreciates my efforts and my vision,” he said.

McElroy said that Borcher’s passion for art began in grade school as he enjoyed the “challenge and reward” of making two-dimensional creations out of visions in his mind.

His high school teachers, Jan Pippitt and Mildred Elwell, sculpted and redefined his skills during his younger years, and even though he pursued Engineering and Computer Science degrees in college he never lost touch with his artistic side, said McElroy.

Borcher got his start in photography while watching friends compete during a college rodeo one year. He decided to record the event for his friends and thus began his new passion.

“It was an instant love affair that has led to a lucrative secondary career that he likes to call his working summer vacations,” said McElroy.

His passion for photographing rodeos did not stop during his college years however.

“Over the years Borcher has been selected three times as the official photographer of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo and he also serves as photographer for the Wyoming Professional Rodeo Association, the Colorado Professional Rodeo Association, and the Nebraska State Rodeo Association,” she said.

“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,” said Borcher. “With my photography, I get to add another aspect to the creative mix.”