Ramsey named Cheyenne County artist of the month for April

The Cheyenne County Art Guild’s Artist of the Month for April is Sidney’s very own, Ben Ramsey.

Ramsey said that he has been painting ever since he was a kid and that his passion has carried on throughout his life.

Although as a child he favored drawing “airplanes and Army guys,” he admitted, one of his main focuses as an artist has always been landscapes and wildlife.

“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,” said Judy McElroy of the Cheyenne County Art Guild (CCAG.)

“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,” she continued. 

Ramsey attended 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,” McElroy said.

Ramsey returned to the artistic scene three years ago and began painting in acrylics and drawing in pencil and ink.

As to why he continues to create art he said, “It’s something that I feel that I pretty much have to do; I’ve always drawn and painted.”

Being a member of the Cheyenne Artists Guild in Wyoming and exhibiting in their monthly show, it was almost automatic that he joined the CCAG upon moving to Sidney a couple of years ago.

“I try to sell at shows and when I can locally,” he explained. “That’s one of the paradoxes of being an artist - you have to frame them to sell them, but then you have to sell them to frame them.”

Ramsey won first-place last year at the CCAG Spring Show in acrylics, and this year he won second-place in pencil and in acrylics.

“He continues to study and apply ideas and things he has learned to his artwork,” said McElroy. 

He appreciates the artwork by Disney and Van Gogh, the drawings of DaVinci, and concepts created by the Brothers Hildebrandt ,whose work can be seen in the original Star Wars movie posters, as well as J.R.R. Tolkian Lord of the Rings calendars.

Ramsey told McElroy “I am wanting to ‘break out of my box a little bit and try to use more color in my paintings and possibly do more expressionistic work.’” 

He would eventually like to have his artwork in the open market and exhibited in galleries.     

Ramsey said he is thankful for his parent’s support and encouragement, and that he will never forget his dad’s interest and talent in 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,” said McElroy.

Twelve of Ramsey’s latest works can be seen on display at the Cheyenne County Community Center, and his painting titled “Water Fun” is also being displayed at the Sidney Public Library.

McElroy encourages the public to view these works.   

Ramsey’s piece “Water Fun” is an example of acrylic painting, mostly applied with an airbrush.

“I try to use line, color and perspective to allow the viewer to enter the world of painting,” Ramsey explained in his Artist Statement.

“In this painted world, the viewer is permitted into an intimate wilderness of animals in majestic commune with nature. The common and startling events of the animals’ daily lives are isolated for indulgent investigation of the viewer,” he added.

This is the first time that Ramsey has received the Artist of the Month title from the art guild.

“I think it’s a great honor,” said Ramsey. “I was pleasantly surprised by the talent that was in the Cheyenne County Art Guild. There are a number of talented artists in Sidney.

“I feel humbled and fortunate to be amongst so many talented artists.”