Denise

Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Opens at Kavanagh Gallery July 8, 2016

Published on June 27, 2016July 8, 2016 by Denise3 Comments

Nature Artists' Guild at Kavanaugh Gallery 2016 Front

The Nature Artists’ Guild special exhibit of fine art will open at the Kavanagh Gallery, Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, IL on July 8, 2016, and will run through August 12, 2016. An artists’ reception will be held at the gallery on the evening of Friday, July 15, 2016 from 5:30 until 7:30 pm. All are invited to attend this reception where they can meet and speak with many of the participating artists and enjoy a few light refreshments. The gallery is open every Monday through Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm.

Please click on the highlighted links above for more about the Kavanagh Gallery and the Fine Line Creative Arts Center, or on the following highlighted link to view the front and back of the Kavanagh Gallery Invitation (which also includes information about and images from their current gallery exhibit).

The Annual Garden Art Festival is All of the Above

Published on June 5, 2016June 5, 2016 by DeniseLeave a comment

Is it a paint-out in a wonderful location? Is it an artwork exhibit? Is it a membership drive? Yes, yes, and yes!

Suzanne Wegener and Karen Johnson at the Nature Artists' Guild Information Table at The Growing Place — Suzanne Wegener and Karen Johnson at the Nature Artists’ Guild Information Table at The Growing Place

The annual Garden Art Festival, Saturday, June 25, 2016 at The Growing Place, 25w471 Plank Rd, Naperville, IL will feature “local artists, live music, talks and treats in our gardens” from 9 am until 5 pm. Each year, the Nature Artists’ Guild is invited to host a table where guests can ask questions, pick up a membership brochure, or just talk with one of our members about the benefits of Nature Artists’ Guild memberships.

Meanwhile, Nature Artists’ Guild members are busy in the gardens sketching, drawing and painting. Members bring their own chairs or standing easels, and set up throughout the vast display area. While the Nature Artists’ Guild will not have a booth for selling artwork at this event, it is permissible for participants to bring business cards and a few small examples of previous work or a small portfolio for interested visitors to view.

Any members who would like to participate are asked to contact Mary Ann Jimenez as soon as possible. Mary Ann’s contact information can be found in the Yearbook. Please click on the highlighted links above to learn more about The Growing Place and the Garden Art Festival.

Get Ready for The Great Sketchbook Encounter!

Published on May 28, 2016June 5, 2016 by Denise4 Comments

The Great Sketchbook Encounter, a fun new challenge for Nature Artists’ Guild members, begins next week. Members who wish to participate should bring an empty sketchbook to the June 2, 2016 meeting, where they will receive an official participation stamp on the first page.

The very next day, the fun begins! As detailed in the e-mail sent to members earlier this week, the Great Sketchbook Encounter is a challenge to Nature Artists’ Guild members to fill two pages in their sketchbook every day from June 3 until September 4, 2016. That’s 90 days of skill-improving sketching!

Redbellied Woodpecker Sketch, © 2016 Karen A. Johnson. Used with permission. — Red-bellied Woodpecker Sketch,© 2016 Karen A. Johnson. Used with permission.

Before purchasing a new sketchbook, participants might like to take a few minutes to think about when and where they are most likely to find the time and opportunity to sketch, and which media they would like to try. Pencil sketches just require a regular sketchbook, a few pencils, a sharpener and an eraser. Adding color, whether with colored pencil, watercolor, inks or pastels may require a thicker or textured paper. Pen and ink may work better on something smooth. If you are planning a lot of traveling, a small sketchbook and simple supplies can go anywhere, but if you plan to sketch in your garden each morning, a larger sketchbook may result in some lovely frame-able drawings.

Great Sketchbook Encounter tote bags will be awarded at the October 2016 meeting to those who meet the challenge, and any members who wish to may display their sketchbooks at the meeting. Thank you to Evelyn Grala for planning this exciting challenge! Those who wish to participate or have questions but cannot attend the June meeting, should check their recent e-mail for contact information.

No Hoeing, Mulching or Weeding Required

Published on May 22, 2016June 5, 2016 by DeniseLeave a comment

How nice would it be to enjoy a beautiful garden on a May morning without thinking about all of the hoeing, mulching and weeding that lies ahead? At the Gardens at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL, the work has been done and the only thing left to do is enjoy the results.

The Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out at the Gardens of Cantigny Park is this Tuesday, May 24, 2016, between 9 am and noon. Please click on this link to a previous post for more details, and on this link to Cantigny’s “In Bloom” report. There is no need for Nature Artists’ Guild members to RSVP for this event. Admission to the gardens is free, but there is a $5 fee for parking.

Visiting Artist Series – Drawing Trees in Pastel

Published on May 17, 2016January 20, 2018 by DeniseLeave a comment

The upcoming workshops in The Morton Arboretum’s Visiting Artist Series – Drawing Trees in Pastel, on June 17 and 18, 2016 will be taught by none other than longtime Nature Artists’ Guild member and Arboretum instructor Laverne Bohlin, and she will be visiting from the sunny city of Albuquerque, NM. Perhaps she will bring some of that sunshine with her!

From the class description on the Arboretum’s website –

Apply pastel techniques to the challenging subject of trees in the landscape. Join returning artist Laverne Bohlin and learn to recognize three major design characteristics of trees and how to express them in pastel. Depict a tree’s three-dimensional form under changing light conditions. Friday’s subject will be deciduous trees, and Saturday’s subject will be evergreens. Sign up for both days and receive a $20 discount.

Please register soon, as workshops fill quickly. You can read more about Laverne and view her beautiful artwork at lavernebohlinart.com. To register for or read more about the workshop, please click on one of the highlighted links above. The workshop is not limited to members of The Morton Arboretum or the Nature Artists’ Guild, although Arboretum members will receive a discount.

Scenes in Pen and Ink by Marianne Lisson Kuhn, June 2, 2016

Published on May 17, 2016January 23, 2020 by DeniseLeave a comment

Marianne Lisson Kuhn grew up in the “then small farming community of Naperville, Illinois”, and “spent most Sundays visiting her grandparents at their local farms and grew to love the country and the beauty of nature unfolding with each passing season”.

Marianne Lisson Kuhn, Photo Credit mariannelissonkuhn.com/

Marianne’s artwork includes small rural scenes and landscapes in pen and ink, pastel and watercolor, as well as large murals depicting historical and contemporary life in the area.

On Thursday, June 2, 2016, Marianne will share some of her thoughts, inspirations and techniques with the Nature Artists’ Guild at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL from 7 until 9 pm. Her focus will be on scenes in pen and ink for this presentation.

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend this program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild. There is no charge for attendance, parking, or admission to the Arboretum for this event. Visitors can just let the gate attendant know that they are there for the program, and they will be directed to Thornhill.

Please click on the following links to learn more about Marianne, and to view examples of her artwork –

Marianne’s website, Naperville’s Century Walk Art website

Set Aside a Morning In May

Published on April 25, 2016May 27, 2016 by Denise1 Comment

This is one of the busiest times of the year for many of our Nature Artists’ Guild members. There are so many things to see and do as Spring bursts in with all its colors, sounds and scents!

The Nature Artists’ Guild is asking its members to consider setting aside a few hours on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, between 9 am and noon, to join their fellow artists at the Gardens at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL, for a morning of painting, drawing, sketching and photographing.

The Gardens at Cantigny beckon you. They tug at your senses, drawing you closer. If you listen carefully, each garden will tell you a story, unfolding with every step. You will feel your body relax as you absorb the landscape and the landscape devours your stress. The hustle of life melts away just a few steps into our 29 acres of flourishing, blooming tranquility. Come enjoy the pace of nature here in The Gardens at Cantigny. – Cantigny.org

Cantigny.org header 2 — Photo Credit Cantigny.org

After a morning of creating art and enjoying nature, members may be interested in visiting Cantigny’s Le Jardin for lunch. We have heard only wonderful things about the food from members who have been there! There is a $5 fee for parking at Cantigny, but there is no charge for admission to the gardens. Attendees are encouraged, but not required to RSVP to Jane Kellenberger, whose contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook.

Please click on any of the highlighted links above to read more about Cantigny’s history, to see a map of the garden or a list of the plants, to view a bloom report, or for driving directions.

A Few Reminders

Published on April 12, 2016May 17, 2016 by DeniseLeave a comment

The Morton Arboretum will be blooming spectacularly this weekend (please click here for the latest Bloom Report) and the weather is expected to be sunny and in the 70’s! Could this mean record attendance at the 2016 Spring Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild?

For all participating artists, it’s time to tie up those loose ends, and get ready for drop-off tomorrow (Wednesday, April 13, 2016 between 6 and 8 pm) at the Thornhill Education Center.

Square Dance, fiber art, ©Patty Koenigsaecker

Is your artwork ready for drop off tomorrow evening?
Do you have a wrap, towel or case to protect your artwork and frame during transport?
If participating in the Mini-Canvas project, is your canvas complete, including finishing the edges?
If you have written an Artist’s Statement, have you made four copies to submit?
If you have artist’s business cards, are they ready to drop off?

All Nature Artists’ Guild members, exhibiting or not, are encouraged to invite friends and family to join us for the Opening Reception on Friday evening, April 15, 2016, between 5 and 9 pm at Thornhill.

Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum’s Spring 2016 Exhibit

Published on March 31, 2016April 25, 2016 by DeniseLeave a comment

In just over two weeks, from Friday, April 15, through Sunday, April 17, 2016, the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, IL, will be presenting its Spring 2016 Exhibition, featuring nearly 200 works of nature art in a wide variety of media, by approximately 50 nature artists. Featured Artist for the exhibit, Patty Koenigsaecker, will be also be exhibiting a number of her beautiful works in fiber, pastel and other media.

Artwork by Patty Koenigsaecker, poster design by Evelyn Grala

In addition –

Visitors will have the opportunity to watch and interact with artists in the process of creating artwork in various media.
Raffle tickets for gift baskets will be available for purchase. Two baskets include art supplies and a voucher for a private class by a talented art instructor, another includes various craft beers, another is geared towards birding enthusiasts, and one is an art basket for the entire family.
By popular demand, the mini-canvas fundraising project, introduced last autumn, will be repeated. Nature Artists’ Guild members have the option of creating one or more small artworks, which will be displayed in a group mosaic, and sold for just $20 each at the exhibit. (Members who still wish to participate, but have not yet obtained their canvas are encouraged to contact Jill Adzia, whose contact information can be found in their Yearbook).

There is no charge for admission to the exhibit or for parking, but admission fees for entry into The Morton Arboretum will apply for those who are not Arboretum members. Friends, family and guests of Nature Artists’ Guild members, as well as members of the Morton Arboretum are invited to attend a special opening celebration and preview on the evening of Friday, April 15, 2016 at the Thornhill Education Center between 5 and 9 pm. There will be no charge for admission to the Arboretum for the Friday evening event.

It’s All Up To You at the Nature Artists’ Guild Paint-Out This Tuesday

Published on March 20, 2016March 20, 2016 by DeniseLeave a comment

Drop in for an hour, or stay all morning. Sketch, paint, draw, sculpt, or snap a few photos. Sit with other artists, or find a quiet corner. Choose a giant mammal or a tiny bird.

Nature Artists' Guild at Jurica-Suchy 2015 — Nature Artists’ Guild at Jurica-Suchy 2015

It’s all up to you at the Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out this Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 9 until around noon at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, located in the Birck Hall of Science at Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL.

For photos and a link to the campus map, please click here or on the highlighted link above. RSVP’s are not necessary for this paint-out. Participants may wish to bring a portable chair along with their art supplies.