Month: March 2017

An Added Bonus for Members and Guests

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For members of The Morton Arboretum and guests of Nature Artists’ Guild members, the Artists’ Reception for the Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art on Friday evening, April 7, from 5 until 9 pm will include a bonus exhibition of the work of and an opportunity to meet Luciana Peters in the Sterling Morton Library, located next to the Cudahy Auditorium in the Administration & Research Center.

Painting of birds, copyright Luciana Peters

Luciana Peters has been an active and influential member of the Nature Artists’ Guild for 30 years, and an illustrator and artist for almost 80!  At the age of 97 1/2, Luciana has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of, and is still working on more.

Luciana began her career as a commercial illustrator at the age of 18 in the late 1930’s, and has contributed to Vogue, Parade and Harper’s Magazines. As comfortable in nature as in the big city, Luciana is also an award-winning children’s book illustrator, an accomplished botanical artist, portrait artist, and naturalist. Her art is widely loved and collected and the Nature Artists’ Guild is honored to have her as a member.

Portrait of Wason (naturalist and educator Richard R. Wason), copyright Luciana Peters

Nature Artists’ Guild members can read more about Luciana in an article by Gail Diedrichsen for the Spring edition of The Nature Artists’ Quarterly.

Preparations for Next Week’s 2017 Spring Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Are Almost Complete

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The food is being ordered, the rooms are being prepared, the flowers are being planned, and the exhibiting artists of the Nature Artists’ Guild are busy finishing up details or picking up their work from the framer.

Copyright Nancy Wu, featured artist of the Spring 2017 Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibition

Artwork drop-off (more officially known as Referee Night) is next Wednesday, April 5, 2017 between 6 and 8 pm in the Cudahy Auditorium, located in the Administration & Research Center of The Morton Arboretum.  

The opening of the exhibit and Artists’ Reception takes place on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 5 until 9 pm in the historic Sterling Morton Library, also located in the Administration & Research Center.  Refreshments will be available and all members of The Morton Arboretum as well as guests of the artists are invited. Guests can let the gate attendant know they are there for the exhibit and they will admitted free-of-charge and directed to the location.

The exhibit will continue throughout the weekend of April 8 and April 9, 2017 between 10 am and 4 pm and is open to all Arboretum visitors.  The Cudahy Auditorium is just a short and scenic walk from the Visitor Center.

Artwork pickup will be on Sunday, April 9, 2017 between 4:15 and 4:45 pm.

All Artists Welcome on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8, 2017

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Whether you are a Nature Artists’ Guild member who has been working diligently to prepare your artwork for the upcoming Spring Exhibit and need a fun and educational break, or not a member, but still an artist who wants to improve your artwork, The Morton Arboretum’s Visiting Artist Series may have just what you were looking for –

Visiting Artist Series: Value and Color in Landscapes with Laverne Bohlin

Learn why value is essential to accurately capturing a landscape in your art. In this two-day pastel workshop, visiting artist Laverne Bohlin will show you how to use the correct value and to notice the subtle shifts of value that exist in the landscape. Develop your sensitivity to a color’s value so you are better able to separate it from its hue. During the one-hour lunch break on Saturday, visit the Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Exhibit in nearby Cudahy Auditorium for some inspiration.

Copyright Laverne Bohlin

Note – Basic drawing skills and some pastel experience required.  Limit 15.

Supplies – Rembrandt Pastels, half stick of 15 colors, 3-4 sheets of Canson Mi-teintes paper, 8 1/2″ x 11″, color white, ivory or eggshell, 1″ foam brush and kneaded eraser, 11″ x 14″ foam core board, any additional pastels you may already have.

Schedule and Location – Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8, 2017, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Herbarium Conference Room of The Morton Arboretum.

Fees and Admission – Fees include admission to the Arboretum and are $138.00 for members, and $162.00 for non-members.

Registration Information – Course number A149, online – Register, call 630-719-2468, or in person at The Morton Arboretum at the Visitor Center during open hours.

Peggy Macnamara’s Invitation to The Field Museum in April 2017

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“Inspiring curiosity about life on earth for more than a century”

Artist-in-Residence Peggy Macnamara has generously invited the Nature Artists’ Guild to a day at the museum, that is The Field Museum, the world-famous museum of natural history on Chicago’s spectacular lakefront.

The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Photo credit www.fieldmuseum.org.

On Thursday, April 20, 2017, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, after a brief  but exciting behind-the scenes tour with Peggy, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be able to sketch, draw, paint and photograph among the vast collections.

Please click on this link for a fascinating and inspiring article on the museum’s website about Peggy and her work.

Artwork by Peggy Macnamara at The Field Museum. All artwork copyrighted by the artist.  Photo credit www.fieldmuseum.org.

Interested members must contact Jane Kellenberger to RSVP for this special event, since Peggy will be providing admission passes to attendees who are not museum members, as well as seating. Jane’s contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook. Further information about parking and the meeting location for entrance will be also be provided. Directions to the museum and parking instructions can be found by clicking on this link to The Field Museum’s website.

This event is limited to members of the Nature Artists’ Guild.  Please read more about becoming a member by clicking on the Membership Brochure tab above.

The Field Museum Ronald and Christina Gidwitz Hall of Birds.  Photo credit www.fieldmuseum.org.

The Nature Artists’ Guild Spring 2017 Exhibition

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Congratulations to Nancy Wu, the featured artist for the Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art. Nancy and nearly 50 other members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL will be exhibiting more than 150 stunning works of nature art in a variety of media.  The exhibition is open to all and admission is free, although a fee will be required (except for members) for entry into The Morton Arboretum.

nature-artists-guild-spring-2017-exhibition-poster
Artwork copyright by Nancy Wu. Poster design by Evelyn Grala.

An artists’ reception is scheduled for the evening of Friday, April 7, 2017 for members of The Morton Arboretum as well as guests of the artists. Nature Artists’ Guild members will receive a copy of the postcard with all the details by e-mail, which they can forward to their friends and family.

Copies of exhibit posters and postcards are available at the Thornhill office, or by contacting Evelyn Grala or exhibit co-chairpersons Patty Koenigsaecker or Mary Sinclair. Members can find contact information in their Yearbook.

Please click on this website’s Featured Artist page for more artwork by Nancy Wu .