Author: Denise

Celebrating the May Flowers

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Photo credit Lilacia Park, Lombard, IL

Members of The Nature Artists’ Guild can celebrate the results of recent April showers with a visit to Lilacia Park next month.

On the morning of Wednesday, May 8, 2024, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be gathering at Lilacia Park in Lombard, IL for a paint-out from 9:30 until noon.

What is now Lilacia Park was begun by Colonel William Plum and his wife Helen Plum as their estate garden, inspired by a visit to a garden in France during their Grand Tour. Designed by world-renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen, the park is now over 8 acres and features more than 700 lilacs and 35,000 tulips, as well as a pond and walking trail. Lilacia Park is the site of Lombard’s annual Lilac Time celebrations.

There is no fee for admission to the park, and some seating is available (portable chairs are also allowed). Interested Guild members can stop by the park any time that morning, but registration is recommended in order to receive details and updates by email from Paint-Out Chair Celia Rodee (who will, by the way, be bringing coffee and her wonderful homemade muffins).

Photo credit Lilacia Park. Click on image to register for paint-out.

‘Tossing their heads in sprightly dance’

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Daffodil Glade, copyright Yvonne Buckley

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

……………………………………

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

……………………………………

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” (3-4, 11-12, 23-24)

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to join their fellow artists at the Daffodil Glade of The Morton Arboretum for a paint-out on the morning of Friday, April 19, 2024 from 9:30 to noon. (Note – paint-out was postponed from April 17 due to weather concerns. Participants do not need to re-register.)

The Arboretum’s latest Bloom Report shows the daffodils thriving, accompanied by their little blue dance partners, Siberian squill. Add some sunshine (hopefully), and coffee and homemade scones provided by Paint-Out Chair and accomplished baker Celia Rodee, and members might just be tempted to ‘dance with the daffodils’.

Nature Artists’ Guild members and their guests are invited to stop by the glade any time between 9:30 and noon, but registration (by clicking here) or emailing Celia is strongly recommended in order to receive details and updates by email.

Nature Artists’ Guild Cards at the 2024 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum this Weekend

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Just one more reason to visit the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2024 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum this weekend!

A limited number of these sets of four cards (blank inside) featuring the artwork of Nature Artists’ Guild members will be available for purchase (10 dollars per set, cash or check only) at the Guild’s Spring 2024 Exhibit from Friday, April 5 through Sunday, April 7.

Exhibit visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy more than 200 works of nature art created by 60 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, numerous pieces by Featured Artist Lindsay Sandbothe, demonstrations by artists in a variety of media, raffles (tickets cash or check only), and more.

The exhibit will be open to all visitors to The Morton Arboretum between 10 and 4 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at no additional charge (Arboretum admission fees or membership will be required) and will be held in the Cudahy Room, located in the Administration Building, adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library (a short stroll from the Visitor Center).

In addition, there will be no admission fee or membership requirement to enter the Arboretum for the reception on Friday evening from 4:30 to 7 pm, and all are invited! Reception visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the event to be admitted and directed to parking.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2024 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum April 5th through 7th

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Poster artwork by Lindsay Sandbothe, poster design by Jane Kellenberger. Click on the image for more information. Click on these links for more about Featured Artist Lindsay Sandbothe, the schedule of demonstrators, and samples of exhibit artwork.

Following is a sample from the nearly 250 works of art by 60 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild that will be exhibited this weekend. Click here for the full versions, along with the artists’ names and artwork titles.

Aurora Public Art Exhibit Registration Ends This Friday

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Jewels of Spring, copyright Beth Berry

‘Jewels of Spring’ by Beth Berry is just one of the stunning pieces to be exhibited at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s special exhibit at the Aurora Public Art Commission Gallery from June 7 through July 13, 2024.

Members of the Guild who would like to participate in this exciting new opportunity to exhibit their art can register up to three pieces by this Friday, March 29.

The city of Aurora, IL has a thriving art community that includes a modern and spacious public gallery located in a historic building in the heart of their downtown. The opening of the Guild’s special exhibit will be part of Aurora’s lively First Fridays event in June, ‘a collective downtown open house with offerings of art, music, and more.’

Aurora Public Art Commission Gallery. Image credit APAC.

Participation in this exhibit is easy for Nature Artists’ Guild members –

  • There is no exhibit fee
  • Accepted artwork includes pieces either previously shown in a Guild exhibit or approved by emailing an image
  • Extended hours and a dedicated parking location make dropping off artwork convenient
  • Substitutions will be accepted for artwork that has been sold or is no longer available before the drop-off date
  • All the details and a link to register are right here!

Note – Exhibitors are encouraged to send images of their exhibit artwork to Exhibit Co-Chair Cheryl Holz by April 1 for possible use on exhibit postcards or social media. Proposals by participants interested in teaching a workshop for the Aurora Public Art Commission must be submitted to Cheryl by April 5.

Artists Creating Art at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2024 Spring Exhibit

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Visitors to the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2024 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum will have the opportunity to watch and speak with some of the wonderful artists at work during the three days of the exhibition, April 5, 6, and 7.

Visitors can also enjoy the nearly 250 works of nature art in a variety of media by more than 60 artists, numerous pieces by Featured Artist Lindsay Sandbothe, raffle items, artist-inspired cards, and more.

Images above are details from artwork by Vicki Liszewski, Janice Czerwinski, Terrie McComb, Sharon Malec and Ann Lamoureux.

A Preview of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2024 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum

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Sun Kissed Petals, copyright Shuli Wang. Click on the image for more.

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2024 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum is just a few weeks away, on April 5, 6, and 7.

While many of the 65 participating artists may still be putting finishing touches on their artwork, some artists have already finished their work and have kindly shared images here as a preview for all to enjoy.

The exhibit will be held at The Morton Arboretum’s Cudahy Room, located in the Administration Building, adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library. More than 200 works of art inspired by nature will be displayed, including many by Featured Artist Lindsay Sandbothe.

The exhibit is free to attend for all Arboretum visitors (gate fees will still apply for non-members of The Morton Arboretum). Friday evening’s reception is open to all, with no fee for admission to The Morton Arboretum.

Check back here soon for information about the exhibit’s artist demonstrations, raffles, artist-inspired cards, and more artwork images.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s Special Exhibit at Aurora Public Art this Summer

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Alpine Glacial Melt, mixed fiber, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker will be included in this summer’s Nature Artists’ Guild’s exhibit at the gallery of the Aurora Public Art Commission.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is excited to announce a special exhibit this summer at the gallery of the Aurora Public Art Commission in Aurora, IL.

Art Inspired by the Earth: Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will open on June 7, 2024 with a reception at the gallery during one of the city’s popular First Fridays celebrations, and continue through July 13.

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild can learn more about participating in the exhibit here. This one is easy – there is no fee, and artists can choose pieces that have already been included in a former Guild exhibit (framing, titling, pricing, and labeling are already done!) or new pieces that will just need to go through a simple email approval process.

Registration is required by March 29, 2024, and Special Exhibits Co-Chair Cheryl Holz is accepting images of artwork by April 1 for possible use on exhibit postcards or social media.

Rachel Davis with “Paintings, Prints, and Textiles” on March 7, 2024

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Rachel Davis natural dyed fabrics and sketchbook details. Click on image for more of Rachel’s work.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to sponsor a program featuring multi-talented artist Rachel Davis this Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

Rachel Davis will finish teaching her class, Natural Dyes on Silk at The Morton Arboretum just one day before the Nature Artists’ Guild welcomes her back to the Arboretum to share some of her knowledge, inspirations, and tools and techniques with the Guild and visitors at Thornhill from 7 until 9 pm.

This program will be open to the public, completely free of charge. There is no requirement to be a member of the Arboretum or the Guild to attend, and there will be no fee for entering the Arboretum or for parking. Visitors can let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the program to be admitted and directed to Thornhill.

Dyed and printed silk scarf, Rachel Davis

More for Nature Artists’ Guild members –

  • Posters and postcards for the 2024 Spring Nature Art Exhibit will be available at the March 7 program for members and visitors to take and share with their friends and local businesses or groups.
  • Any Guild member who has not already registered can drop off their completed prospectus and fee (cash or check) for the 2024 Spring Art Exhibit in person at the March 7 program. The final day to register (postmarked by, online, or in person) is March 8, 2024.
  • Members who would like to contribute items for the fund-raising raffle baskets can drop them off at the March 7 program. (A list of suggestions was recently emailed to members.)

Spring Nature Art Exhibit Opens April 5, 2024 at The Morton Arboretum

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Poster artwork, Gray Crowned Crane, by Lindsay Sandbothe, design by Jane Kellenberger

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will exhibit more than 200 works of nature art on April 5, 6, and 7, 2024 at the Cudahy Room at The Morton Arboretum.

The exhibit will be open to Arboretum visitors on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 am until 4 pm. In addition, friends, family, and all those who appreciate nature art are invited to a reception on Friday evening between 4:30 and 7 to enjoy light refreshments, art demonstrations, and opportunities to meet many of the artists.

The Guild is pleased to announce that the Featured Artist for the Spring 2024 Nature Art Exhibit is Lindsay Sandbothe, whose stunning paintings of birds and other animals are filled with joy and beauty.

Artists who join or renew membership in the Nature Artists’ Guild before March 8, 2024 will be eligible to receive a prospectus for the opportunity to exhibit. Basic guidelines for exhibiting can be found here. The final day for all members to register for the exhibit (online or postmarked by) is March 8. Registrations and fees (cash or check) will also be accepted in person at the Guild-sponsored March 7 program at the Thornhill Education Center.