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The 2026 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum Opens Friday, April 17

Published on April 16, 2026April 16, 2026 by DeniseLeave a comment

Poster artwork by 2026 Spring Featured Artist, Cheryl Holz. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

The 2026 Spring Art Exhibit by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be held this weekend, Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, at The Morton Arboretum. More than 200 works of art by approximately 70 Guild members will be displayed.

Throughout exhibit hours, 10 to 4 daily, visitors can also enjoy interacting with members of the Nature Artists’ Guild demonstrating their work in various media (schedule listed here), and raffle tickets will be available for beautiful themed gift baskets. (Admission to the Arboretum will be required, but there is no additional charge to attend the exhibit.)

Friday evening’s reception, from 4:30 until 7, will be open to the public, completely free of charge. No registration is required, and there will be no charge for admission to the Arboretum or the exhibit for this reception. Complimentary light refreshments will be offered, and wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. Reception visitors can let the Arboretum’s gate attendant know they are there for the reception to be admitted and directed to free parking for the exhibit.

The following small sample of exhibit artwork gives a preview of the variety of media, subject matter, and artistic styles that visitors can expect to enjoy. Click here to see the full versions. (More images to come, soon after the exhibit closes.)

Nature Artists’ Guild Featured in Local Magazine

Published on April 16, 2026 by DeniseLeave a comment

Glen Ellyn’s recent issue of their Stroll magazine features an article about the Nature Artists’ Guild! This lovely article highlights the upcoming exhibit this weekend, and includes insights and artwork by Guild president, Lisa Kanellos, and other members.

Thank you, Stroll! We hope your readers enjoy learning about the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.

Artists Creating Art, April 17 through 19 at The Morton Arboretum

Published on April 10, 2026April 10, 2026 by DeniseLeave a comment

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to present the following schedule of demonstrators for the upcoming 2026 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum this April 17th through 19th.

In addition to enjoying over 200 works of art by more than 60 Guild artists, including Featured Artist, Cheryl Holz, Arboretum visitors will have the opportunity to watch and interact with the following members as they demonstrate and discuss their methods, materials, and inspirations.

Detail of Spring Reflections, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker

Detail of Sovereigns of the Sky, copyright Dan Danielson

Detail of Water Lily, copyright Cynthia Boudreau

Detail of Two Scarlets, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe

A sample of artwork by many more participating artists and details about Friday evening’s reception (open to all) coming soon!

April Brings More than Showers!

Published on April 3, 2026April 3, 2026 by DeniseLeave a comment

Verdant Rain, copyright Lia Liu. This stunning watercolor will be included in the upcoming Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2026 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.

April has arrived with plenty of showers for the May flowers (as well as a whole lot more for all those interested in nature and art) –

On April 8, 2026, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and guests will be gathering at the Daffodil Glade of The Morton Arboretum for a paint-out from 9:30 until about noon. Coordinator Celia Rodee will provide hot coffee and delicious treats to begin the morning of painting and sketching among the trees and flowers. All are invited to drop by (participants will meet by the entrance to the Fragrance Garden near the Thornhill Education Center), but registration is strongly encouraged to be added to an email list for updates, including weather-related.

The opening of the Guild’s 2026 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum is just two weeks away! The exhibit opens on Friday, April 17, and runs through Sunday, April 19 in the Cudahy Room, adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library, located in the Administration Building of the Arboretum. Over 200 works of art in a variety of media, created by more than 60 Guild members, will be showcased. A reception will be held on Friday evening and is open to all. Registration is not required, and there will be no charge for admission, parking, or entry to the Arboretum for the reception.

Nature is right on schedule with its flora and fauna – ephemerals are springing up to share their beauty, and frogs and birds are singing their songs! Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild can make the most of this fleeting season with sketches, plein-air paintings, and photographs for future works, such as this year’s small-works (8 x 8 inches) project honoring The Morton Arboretum, “Fauna,” to be shown this November alongside the annual Autumn exhibit.

2026 Spring Exhibit Featured Artist Cheryl Holz

Published on March 24, 2026 by DeniseLeave a comment

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is pleased to present its 2026 Spring Exhibit’s Featured Artist, Cheryl Holz.

My goal is to inspire, in others, the same love of nature that I experience, to bring nature into their space, to motivate them to immerse themselves in it and experience the same peace and awe I do. – Cheryl Holz

Numerous examples of Cheryl’s artwork will be showcased in a designated area near the exhibit entrance, where visitors will have the opportunity to meet and talk with Cheryl before entering the main exhibit space. The Cudahy Room will contain nearly two hundred works of art in a variety of media by more than sixty members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. (Cudahy Room is located in the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum, adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library.)

Cheryl beautifully describes her inspirations and fascination with nature and shares a preview of her stunning artwork on her Featured Artist page of this website. (Much more of her work can be found on Cheryl’s website.)

The 2026 Spring Art Exhibit will be held from Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, with a reception on Friday evening. Much more to come soon, including more about the reception, a schedule of demonstrators, and samples of exhibit artwork by various Guild members.

Daffodil Glade Paint-Out April 8, 2026

Published on March 20, 2026March 23, 2026 by Denise1 Comment

Daffodil Glade, copyright Yvonne Buckley

Nature Artists’ Guild members and guests are invited to enjoy what The Morton Arboretum describes as “a sunlit glade beneath grand old oak trees . . . paved with daffodils,” for a paint-out on April 8.

Coordinator Celia Rodee will greet attendees with coffee and delectable treats at 9:30 on the morning of Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the entrance to the Arboretum’s Fragrance Garden, near the Thornhill Education Center. From there, artists can walk or drive to nearby Daffodil Glade, and find their spot for painting, sketching, or strolling through the glade taking photographs for future inspiration.

“Beneath widely spaced old oaks, spring rolls out a grassy carpet filled with waves of cheerful, varied daffodils.” The first daffodils were planted at the Arboretum in 1946 as part of some of Joy Morton’s earliest plans for the location.

All are invited to stop by and enjoy the morning, but registration is recommended to be added to an email list with details and updates (including weather-related).

Reminder – Tomorrow, March 21, 2026, is the final day to register for the 2026 Spring Nature Art Exhibit. Members can learn more here, and there is still time to join or renew membership in the Guild and be included!

Spring Nature Art Exhibit this April

Published on March 12, 2026March 12, 2026 by DeniseLeave a comment

Poster artwork by Featured Artist Cheryl Holz. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

Spring comes marching in, and along with the flora and fauna and sights and sounds, brings the annual Spring Art Exhibit of more than 200 works of art by approximately 70 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild have fewer than ten days to register to participate in this popular and well-attended (nearly 1500 visitors!) annual exhibit at the Arboretum. Each member is invited to register up to three exhibit pieces and up to three pieces of “bin art” by March 21, 2026. All artwork must meet the prospectus guidelines. (Potential new or returning members can still join or renew membership in the Guild by March 21 to participate.)

Much more about Featured Artist Cheryl Holz, a schedule of demonstrators, and samples of exhibit artwork coming soon!

Nancie King Mertz March 5, 2026, at The Morton Arboretum

Published on March 4, 2026March 7, 2026 by Denise1 Comment

Detail of plein-air pastel painting by Nancie King Mertz

Award-winning pastel artist Nancie King Mertz will demonstrate and discuss her materials, methods, and inspirations at The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 7 until 9 pm.

What a magnificent opportunity to watch a world-renowned pastel artist in action! Nancie will bring some of her completed paintings for in-person viewing, along with her hand-selected private label sets of Richeson Soft Handmade Pastels. Copies of her demonstration source photo will be shared with the audience so they can visually follow along as she works.

This program, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild, is open to the public free of charge. There will also be no charge for parking or admission to The Morton Arboretum for the event. No registration is required, and visitors can let the Arboretum gate attendant know they are there for the program to be directed to the Thornhill Education Center.

Plenty of seating and complimentary light refreshments will be available.

Master Pastelist Nancie King Mertz at The Morton Arboretum on March 5, 2026

Published on February 26, 2026February 26, 2026 by DeniseLeave a comment

Plein-air pastel painting, copyright Nancie King Mertz

The Nature Artists’ Guild is thrilled to sponsor a program and demonstration by 2025 Pastel Society of America Hall of Fame Honoree Nancie King Mertz on the evening of Thursday, March 5, 2026, at The Morton Arboretum.

Lifetime pastel and oil painter Nancie King Mertz has been awarded the highest honors by the International Association of Pastel Societies and the Pastel Society of America and was twice named “Chicago Artist of the Year” by the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. Nancie is also a long-term member of the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, the Degas Pastel Society, Plein Air Painters Chicago, and the Chicago Pastel Painters.

All are invited to attend a presentation and demonstration by Nancie on March 5, from 7 until 9 pm, at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. The program will be open to the public, free of charge, and there will be no charge for parking or admission to the Arboretum for this event. Plenty of seating and delicious light refreshments will be available. No registration is required, and visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the program to be admitted and directed to Thornhill.

An Artists’ Expedition to Jurica-Suchy on March 12, 2026

Published on February 19, 2026March 12, 2026 by DeniseLeave a comment

On the morning of Thursday, March 12, 2026, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will journey into the wilds of the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University to sketch and paint some of the thousands of specimens on view from around the world.

Beginning at 9:30 am, artists will arrive at Jurica-Suchy to begin scouting the museum for sources of inspiration. Coffee and delicious treats supplied by coordinator Celia Rodee will sustain the artists as they search the aisles for a subject or scene to explore in paint, pencil, or pixels.

The Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, located on the second floor of the Michael and Kay Birck Hall of Science at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL, is home to a vast variety of specimens, many native to the area, and many from the far reaches of the world. The paint-in is a wonderful opportunity to see and sketch these species closely (and safely!) and gather reference material for future projects.

Although members and guests are welcome to just drop in any time between 9:30 and about noon, registration is recommended to receive emailed updates and details.