Wonders of Summer with the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Blue Heron and Koi, copyright Carole Stone Carson

July brings a multitude of wonders for artistic inspiration, and Nature Artists’ Guild members and The Morton Arboretum are generously providing opportunities to enjoy many of them.

On the morning of Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 9:30, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will meet at fellow artist Mary Ann Thompson’s home to paint and sketch the beauty of her garden. Mary Ann’s garden is filled with wonders, including a large koi pond and swaths of floral color. Coffee and delicious pastries will be provided, and registration is required.

Two weeks later, on Thursday, July 23, another Guild member, Ann Lamoureux, will open her garden to fellow artists. The wonders of Ann’s garden include numerous large trees shading and cooling the surrounding flora, as well as the artists painting it. More about this paint-out coming soon, and registration is required.

Nature Artists’ Guild members and guests can sketch birds, butterflies, and bees at The Morton Arboretum each Wednesday morning, about 9:30, at a Coffee and Art gathering at the Visitor Center. These cool mornings, before the crowds, would be perfect opportunities for members to work on their contributions to this autumn’s small works display, “Fauna,” or to just enjoy the company of fellow artists. (An Arboretum membership or gate fee will be necessary for entry.)

Opportunities to Develop and Enhance Nature Art Skills this July

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Awakened By Sun, copyright Shuli Wang

Members (and not-yet-members) of the Nature Artists’ Guild will have numerous opportunities to learn and practice nature art skills at The Morton Arboretum this July!

Artists who paint or sketch outdoors will enjoy the Arboretum’s Plein Air Community Meet-Ups on alternate Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. The coordinator at each session will greet artists and help them locate a prime location on the grounds for capturing lovely landscapes or captivating close-ups in paint, colored pencil, pastels, ink, or other portable media.

The Nature Artists’ Guild has many fabulous fiber artists in its membership, and the Arboretum is offering space to gather on alternate Thursday evenings. These Bring your own project: Fiber Arts sessions are a fun way to share tips with and enjoy the company of fellow artists.

In addition to these meet-ups, the Arboretum is offering nature art classes and workshops taught by talented and experienced instructors (many of whom are Guild members or former presenters) that begin in July.

Cyanotype Printing – Harness sunlight to create striking blue botanical prints.

Woodblock Printing – Create relief prints from carved blocks of wood.

Natural Dye Workshop: Cochineal – Hand-dye fabric using traditional methods.

Make Your Own Gourd Birdhouse – Learn gourd art techniques and create your own beautifully decorated birdhouse.

Summer Blooms in Watercolor – Capture the shapes, colors, and intricate details of flowers in watercolor.

These meet-ups, classes, and workshops are offered by The Morton Arboretum and are open to the public. Registration is required.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s Summer Paint-Outs Continue

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Thompson garden. Photo credit Mary Ann Thompson.

The next paint-out in this summer’s Nature Artists’ Guild series will feature the garden of Guild member Mary Ann Thompson in Wheaton, IL.

It is obvious from the start that Mary Ann’s exquisite garden was carefully planned by an artist using the elements of design – color, line, shape, texture, space, form and value. Those elements, along with the stunning focal point, a large koi pond, ensure that paint-out attendees will have an abundance of subject matter for their sketches, paintings, and photographs.

Mary Ann and coordinator Celia Rodee will welcome participants at 9:30 on the morning of Thursday, July 9, 2026, with coffee and delicious pastries. Interested Guild members can register here, or by contacting Celia by email, to receive the address and all the details and updates.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s Bloomingdale Exhibit Opens August 2026

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Detail of Yellowstone Tree Root, copyright Jeffrey Zawada

The prospectus and registration link were emailed to Guild members on June 25, 2026. Registration can only be completed through the emailed link, not through this website. (Guild members who did not receive the email or have questions about the exhibit should contact Irena Gintilas or Jeffrey Zawada. Their contact information is listed in the Guild’s 2026 Yearbook.)

Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World will be exhibited from August 8 through September 12, 2026 at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum. A reception will be held on Sunday, August 16, from 2 through 4, with music and light refreshments provided by the museum, and a demonstration by a talented Guild artist.

Participants must be members of the Nature Artists’ Guild (half-year memberships are now available for first-time members), and the artwork must either have been included in a previous Guild exhibit or be juried by emailed photos to ensure it meets Guild exhibition guidelines.

The museum welcomes artist demonstrations during its open hours, and the Guild’s special exhibit coordinators, Irena Gintilas and Jeffrey Zawada, encourage members who may be interested in demonstrating to contact them by email. Museum hours are Wednesdays, from 3 to 7 pm, and Thursdays and Saturdays, from noon to 4.

There is no entry fee or volunteer requirement for this exhibit, and the artwork drop-off will be on August 7. Volunteers to help hang the artwork that day would be welcome and can contact Irena or Jeffrey to sign up. Artwork pick-up will be on September 13, and no artwork can be stored. All the details will be included in the prospectus and emailed to members.

Paint-Out Bonus this Saturday

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Photo credit Anne and Charles Bouchard

New opportunity!

Guild members who register for the Bouchards’ private garden paint-out on June 11 will also be invited to paint in the garden when it is featured by The Garden Conservancy for an “Open Day” event on June 6. “Open Days“ is “America’s only national garden-visiting program . . . and offers the extraordinary opportunity to visit private sanctuaries across the country and to learn from the gardeners behind these exceptional spaces.”

Nature Artists’ Guild participants can register here (and do not need to register through The Garden Conservancy’s website). Celia Rodee will share details with those who register by tomorrow.

Three Talented Artists, a Paint-Out, Meet-Ups, and Gatherings Greet the Summer!

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Pondside Dancer, copyright Terrie McComb, White Petunia, copyright Marge Hall, Oriental Bittersweet, copyright Kumie Kim

It’s a great time to set aside a few hours from the gardening, summer parties, and vacation plans to enjoy some nature and art with the Guild.

  • Coming up this Thursday evening, June 4, 2026, at 7, is the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual “Talented Trio” program, featuring three members demonstrating their methods and materials at The Morton Arboretum. This program is free and open to the public, and there will be no charge for the event, for entrance to the Arboretum, or for parking. No registration is required. Details here.
Garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard, Glen Ellyn, IL. Photo credit Anne and Charles Bouchard.
  • Each Wednesday morning, at about 9:30, Guild members and their guests meet at the Arboretum’s Visitor Center for coffee, friendship, and the opportunity to sketch or photograph the surrounding beauty. “Coffee and Art” is a casual weekly gathering, and all are invited to drop by.
  • Registration is now open to all for The Morton Arboretum’s summer classes and workshops, including a new offering of a “Plein Air Community Meet-Up.” The meet-ups are not classes, but gatherings of artists interested in painting nature, and will take place every other Wednesday evening throughout the summer, from 5 to 7:30, beginning on June 10. Member Maggie Mardis will be attending the first event and sharing information about the Guild. Guild membership is not required to attend, but registration is required, and there is a nominal fee.
Untitled, oil on canvas, copyright Maggie Mardis

Fauna of The Morton Arboretum

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Camofrog, copyright Linda Hilderbrant (cropped to illustrate square format of the Fauna project. Click on image for full version).

It’s time for Nature Artists’ Guild members to get started on this year’s small works project honoring The Morton Arboretum!

This year’s theme for our members’ 8 x 8 inch works, to be displayed alongside the Guild’s 2026 Autumn Exhibit at the Arboretum in November, is “Fauna.”

Merriam-Webster defines “fauna” as the “the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment.” The special environment for this project is The Morton Arboretum, so inspiration will be diverse and plentiful this time of year!

From the tiniest insects to the largest mammals, all the wild creatures ever found at The Morton Arboretum will qualify as subjects for “Fauna 2026.” (Domestic animals not eligible.)

Fauna 2026 –

  • A registration form will be emailed to members later in the year.
  • Guild members can participate by creating up to three works, completed at or inspired by The Morton Arboretum.
  • Artwork must be exactly 8 by 8 inches and less than 1/2 inch in depth, unframed, and can be in almost any medium.
  • There will be no exhibit fee or volunteer requirement.
  • This special display is separate from, but will be exhibited during and alongside, the Guild’s 2026 Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.

(Click here for samples of artwork from last year’s “Flora.”)

A Talented Trio of Nature Artists at The Morton Arboretum on June 4, 2026

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Everyone is invited to The Morton Arboretum on the evening of June 4, 2026, at 7 pm for a free program featuring three talented members of the Nature Artists’ Guild!

Each year, the Guild invites three of its artists to share their sources of inspiration, their methods, and their list of favorite materials with the audience as they demonstrate their processes.

This year, the Guild will welcome visitors to the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on June 4, 2026, at 7 pm for a program featuring Terrie McComb sharing techniques for using colored pencil on Mylar film, Marge Hall working in oils, and Kumie Kim demonstrating watercolor.

This free event, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, will be open to the public. Visitors can enter the Arboretum free of charge by letting the gate attendant know they are there for the program, and they will be directed to free parking for the Thornhill Education Center. No registration is required. Plenty of seating and free light refreshments will be available.

Pondside Dancer, colored pencil on Mylar Film, copyright Terrie McComb
White petunia, oil, copyright Marge Hall
Oriental bittersweet, watercolor, copyright Kumie Kim

The Bouchards’ Garden Paint-Out on June 11, 2026

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Garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard, Glen Ellyn, IL. Photo credit Anne and Charles Bouchard.

This summer’s private garden paint-outs for the Nature Artists’ Guild begin at the home of the Bouchards in Glen Ellyn, IL.

Anne and Charles Bouchard have a large and lovely garden, and have graciously offered to share its sights, scents, and sounds with members of the Guild from 9:30 until noon on June 11, 2026 (with a rain-date, if needed, on June 12).

Paint-out coordinator, Celia Rodee, will greet attendees with hot coffee and delectable baked goods to help begin the morning on the perfect note. The artists can then choose their subjects and compositions before settling in to enjoy the morning, free from the distractions of public passers-by.

Participants can sign up and learn all the paint-out details by emailing Celia, or by using this registration form.

Exhibits, Paint-Outs, and Programs Coming Soon!

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The Joy of Plants, copyright Patricia Joyce.

The next few months will be filled with opportunities for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to share, sketch, and learn, all while enjoying the company of fellow artists.

  • The Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum will be the location for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s trio of artist demonstrations on the evening of June 4, 2026, beginning at 7. Three talented Guild members will share their inspirations, methods, and materials at this popular annual event. The program will be open to all, free of charge, and registration is not required.
  • On June 11, 2026 (rain date June 12), Anne and Charles Bouchard will share their professionally designed and beautifully updated private garden in Glen Ellyn, IL, with members of the Guild from 9:30 until noon. Guild members can register here for this event, the first of four different private garden paint-outs scheduled for this summer.
  • Initial preparations for this summer’s Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum have begun, and prospectuses will be emailed to all members next month. The exhibit will run from August 8 until September 12, 2026, and will include member demonstrations and an opening reception. Guild members will have the opportunity to enter work previously exhibited at The Morton Arboretum or juried by email photos.
  • Guild members can use this busy time of wildlife activity to begin their contributions to this autumn’s special display of 8 x 8 works honoring the Arboretum, “Fauna.” Each member will be eligible to include up to three unframed works, which must be 8 x 8 inches, less than 1/2 inch deep, and inspired by the fauna of the Arboretum. (Examples of last year’s small works display, “Flora,” can be seen here.)
  • As always, Guild members (and guests) are invited to attend a casual Wednesday morning gathering at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum, Coffee and Art. This friendly and welcoming group of artists spends a few hours each week chatting, sketching, or just enjoying the morning sights and sounds of the Arboretum. No registration is required.

More details about these and more events coming soon!