We have been receiving images of some of the holiday cards created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild for 2021 and can hardly wait to share. The actual cards have also been mailed to their “secret” recipients, so we will wait for them all to be received and opened before posting any of the images – no spoilers here!
(There is still time for participating members to email an image of the card they created if they haven’t already done so.)
The colors of winter may not seem as varied or vibrant as those of the other seasons, but they can be found, and are just as captivating in their slightly more subtle way.
Renowned artist Dan Danielson will be offering a class this winter at The Morton Arboretum featuring techniques for capturing the colors and wonders of nature using the “fresh, transparent, and fluid qualities of watercolor.”
Loose Watercolor Techniques will include four online sessions in February, 2022. The class is open to all artists with basic watercolor experience and is filling fast, so early enrollment is encouraged!
In the 35 years since the Nature Artists’ Guild was established, many of its traditions are still going strong, a few have fallen away, and some have just begun.
For most years in more than a decade, the Nature Artists’ Guild has secured the first exhibit of the year at the Downers Grove Public Library’s wonderful gallery. The tradition continues in 2022 and members can participate by returning their completed registration forms by Friday, December 10, 2021. Artwork must be dropped off by December 18, 2021.
Last year a new tradition began within the Nature Artists’ Guild when each of the participants created a hand-made holiday card to share with another member. This popular project continues in 2021, and those who would like to join in can contact Terrie McComb by Friday, December 3, 2021. Completed cards must be mailed by December 14, 2021.
Details for these events were emailed to 2021 Nature Artists’ Guild members on November 15, 2021. Members can check those emails for forms, names, dates, addresses, and more information.
Become a new member or renew your membership to the Nature Artists’ Guild before the busy holiday season and start the new year enjoying all that membership offers.
Selection of member and presenter artwork and paint-out settings. Each piece of artwork is copyrighted by the artist and may not be used without written permission.
Congratulations and thank you to the artists, volunteers, and arboretum staff who helped make the 2021 Nature Artists’ Guild Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum a success!
These images were shared by some of the participating artists. Individual images and information about contacting the artists can be found on the 2021 Autumn Art Exhibit page in the Member Artwork section of this website.
The trees and the members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are putting on their wonderful displays at the same time this year and timed-entry passes and tickets to The Morton Arboretum are disappearing quickly. Guest tickets are already sold-out for today (although some member tickets are still available.) Scheduled volunteers and reception guests will not require passes or tickets, and members will find all the details in a recent email.
This year’s Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit will be open to visitors for a full week to better accommodate the artists and volunteers as well as the guests. Even weekday passes and tickets may sell-out, so early ordering is recommended. The exhibit is free-of-charge with admission to The Morton Arboretum.
There will be leaves and landscapes, birds and bugs, maples and mushrooms, and much more in the 2021 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum. Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be displaying nearly 150 works of art beginning Saturday, November 6, 2021 in the Cudahy Room of the Administration and Research/Sterling Morton Library building at The Morton Arboretum.
A small sample of the artwork to be exhibited next week in a variety of media, sizes, shapes, styles, and subject matter –
If the slideshow does not display correctly on your device, please click here to visit the website.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild who are participating in the 2021 Autumn Art Exhibit may want to finish up those details and get their piece to the framer. The exhibit is only two weeks away!
Artists should also remember to photograph their work. These photos will be useful for numerous reasons – for entering future competitions or exhibits, for sharing with friends and family, and for sharing on this website or in the Nature Artists’ Quarterly (a members-only publication of the Nature Artists’ Guild.)
Most phones take excellent photographs, but it would be worth it to take a peek at the instructions online if unfamiliar with the settings. Some phones have a default setting that will make colors more vivid, blur the background, or incorrectly adjust the lighting. Learning to avoid some of these issues by choosing appropriate settings before taking the photos can save a lot of time trying to correct them later. Professional photographers will often remind beginners to take many photos (changing settings or lighting in between.) This increases the odds that at least one of the photos will accurately represent the artwork (or require less editing.)
We will post a few photos of the exhibit artwork as a preview on this website in the coming weeks and the rest after the exhibit closes. Guild members will receive an email soon with instructions for submitting images.
Many art-fair visitors in Chicagoland will recognize Marge Hall and her wonderful large-scale close-up portraits of flowers. Marge can be seen throughout the summer in front of her booth painting and talking with visitors, engaging with and inspiring collectors and artists alike.
Marge Hall is also a popular instructor at the Dupage Art League where she teaches painting to artists at all levels. Many of Marge’s tips and techniques for painting flower portraits in oil can be adapted for use in acrylic, pastel, or even watercolor.
The Wheaton Public Library and the Dupage Art League have announced a joint presentation of Oils Start to Finish, an online program with Marge Hall, on Monday, October 18, 2021 from 6:30 until 8:30 pm. There will be a chance to ask questions, follow along at home, or just sit back and enjoy. Please click on one of the highlighted links to register for this free program, open to all.
Please click on photos for titles. All rights reserved by Marge Hall. Photos used with permission (previously posted.)
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild who participate in the event are encouraged to create their own floral portrait (in any medium) and submit an image to Denise Fisk by for display on this website.
On Thursday evening, October 7, 2021, the Nature Artists’ Guild will be sponsoring an in-person presentation by award-winning sculptor Josh Guge. The program begins at 7 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
This program is open to all free-of-charge. For more information about attending, please click on this link.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will also have opportunities to pick up posters or postcards for the 2021 Autumn Art Exhibit, obtain a mini-canvas to be used for creating fund-raising artwork for the exhibit, or choose their volunteer time and position for the exhibit.
Nature Artists' Guild 