April has arrived with plenty of showers for the May flowers (as well as a whole lot morefor 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.
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.
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).
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!
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.
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.
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 Arboretumfor 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.
Plein-air pastel painting, copyright Nancie King Mertz
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.
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.
Harbingers of Spring – Daffodils, copyright Cheryl Holz. Cheryl will be the Featured Artist of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2026 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.
Even though there are weeks to go before spring, nature and the Nature Artists’ Guild are eagerly preparing for the longer and warmer days ahead.
In just a few weeks, the March program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild will be held at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. This event on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 7 until 9 will be free and open to all and will feature award-winning pastel artist Nancie King Mertz as the presenter. Much more about the program to come soon.
Guild members will be visiting the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum for a “paint-in” on Thursday, March 12, from 9:30 until noon. (Drop-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended in order to receive email updates and details.) More coming soon.
Guild members can begin thinking about their contributions to the Guild’s annual special exhibit showcasing 8 x 8-inch pieces. This year’s display, “Fauna,” will be inspired by the native mammals, fish, insects, birds, amphibians, and spiders that can be found at The Morton Arboretum. (Detailed instructions for members will be shared later in the year, and “Fauna” will be exhibited in November alongside the Guild’s annual autumn exhibit at the Arboretum.)
In tomorrow evening’s presentation, textile artist Kristin Field will discuss “her natural dyeing practice, her experience growing dye plants in Chicago over the last 7 years, her soil chromatography work, and past and current textile projects inspired by the intersection of nature, science, and art. – fieldandgardner.com
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild were recently emailed a link and instructions for attending the online program, which begins at 7 pm.
The Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual “paint-in” at world-renowned grower of orchids, Orchids by Hausermann, will provide members a warm and tropical break from the winter weather!
The gathering will take place at Hausermann’s vast greenhouse in Villa Park, IL, on the morning of Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 8 am until 10 (before the showroom is open to the public). Surrounded by the sight and scent of thousands of orchids, Guild members will be able to sketch, paint, or photograph for future reference many of the varieties on display.
One lucky participant will win a $25 gift certificate to use towards the purchase of an orchid of their choice, and all participants will be able to enjoy free delicious refreshments, coffee and pastries from Paris Baguette.
Nature Artists' Guild 
