Denise

Nature Artists’ Guild Holiday Party, Thursday, December 3, 2015

Published on November 25, 2015 by Denise1 Comment

Thanksgiving isn’t the only important gathering that always takes place on a Thursday! Each year, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum meet on the first Thursday of December for a holiday celebration with friends and fellow artists.

The Morton Arboretum Thornhill Education Center. Photo credit www.mortonarb.org — The Morton Arboretum Thornhill Education Center. Photo credit http://www.mortonarb.org

On Thursday, December 3, 2015, members and their guests will meet between 6 and 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center for appetizers and live music in the historic and elegant Founder’s Room, and entrees, desserts and a raffle in the Arbor Room.

Organizers Gail Diedrichsen and Susan Bartlett always do such a fantastic job of decorating for and organizing this fun and festive event that it is definitely worth setting aside the evening to attend, even during the already busy holiday season!

Members are asked to bring food to share (details were sent via e-mail), and contributions for the raffle are always welcome, but certainly not required. Gail or Susan would be glad to answer any questions about the event, and their contact information can be found in the Yearbook.

Nature Artists’ Guild 2015 Holiday Exhibit Artists’ Reception Tonight

Published on November 6, 2015 by Denise

All members of The Morton Arboretum, as well as friends, family and guests of Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to attend the artists’ reception of the 2015 Annual Holiday Exhibit of Natural History Art tonight, November 6, 2015, between 5 and 9 pm at the historic Thornhill Education Center. Light refreshments will be served in the Founders Room, former library of the Morton family mansion. There is no charge for parking, admission, or admission to the Arboretum for this special event. Visitors can let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit and they will be directed to Thornhill.

The exhibit will be open to all visitors of The Morton Arboretum on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, 2015 from 10 am until 4 pm. While there is no charge to attend the exhibit, the gate fee will apply to non-members of the Arboretum.

2015 Holiday Exhibit Postcard — Artwork by Featured Artist Mary Ann Jimenez. Postcard design by Evelyn Grala.

Coming this Thursday, October 15, 2015, “Painting Oaks”

Published on October 14, 2015January 23, 2020 by DeniseLeave a comment

Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa, ©Wendy Brockman. Used with permission.

Just a reminder that this Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm, a special presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will feature visiting artist Wendy Brockman.

Please click on this link to the previous post for more details. Guests and visitors are welcome!

Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum Presents the 2015 Holiday Exhibit of Natural History Art

Published on October 9, 2015December 4, 2015 by Denise2 Comments

Artwork by Mary Ann Jimenez. Poster design by Evelyn Grala.

Birds in Jeopardy Exhibit Features Some of Our Favorite Artists!

Published on October 5, 2015October 5, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

Birds in Jeopardy, an exhibit of fine art showcasing images of birds that are either extinct or endangered, opens Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Noyes Cultural Center, First Floor Art Gallery, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud and excited to announce that two of our favorite artists, member Lindsay Sandbothe, and Artist in Residence at the Field Museum of Natural History, frequent instructor for The Morton Arboretum art program, and presenter for our guild, Peggy Macnamara, will be featured in this exhibit. Curated by Sarah Kaiser-Amaral, the exhibition will also include artwork by Kristina Knowski, Maggie Weiss, and others. All participating artists in the exhibit will donate a portion of sales to a local bird conservation organization.

The opening reception will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 2 until 5 pm at the gallery. Refreshments will be served and entertainment will be provided by singer Josefien Stopplenburg. It will be a wonderful opportunity to show support for some great artists as well as for endangered birds. Birds in Jeopardy will be exhibited until December 1, 2015.

Please click on the highlighted links above for exhibit hours, directions, or more information about the artists.

Special Presentation by Wendy Brockman, Thursday, October 15, 2015

Published on September 29, 2015January 23, 2020 by DeniseLeave a comment

The Morton Arboretum will be hosting the 8th International Oak Society Conference from October 18 until October 21, 2015. In conjunction with this event and as part of the arboretum’s 2015 Visiting Artist Series, artist Wendy Brockman will be teaching a workshop entitled Painting Oaks. (A few openings for this workshop may still be available – please click on the link to visit the registration page.)

The Nature Artists’ Guild is thrilled to announce that Wendy has also agreed to present a discussion of her art, inspirations and techniques for our members, guests and visitors on the evening of Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

White Oak, Quercus alba, ©Wendy Brockman. Used with permission.

From her website, wendybrockman.com, we find that –

Wendy Brockman lives and works in Minnesota, where northern forests and rocky shorelines provide inspiration for her imagery. She explores her interests in art and environmental issues using a variety of media. An avid observer, her work examines bits and pieces of nature and the responses they evoke.

Widely exhibited, Brockman’s paintings have been included in group and solo exhibitions. Her work has received national and international exhibition awards and is held in public and private collections throughout the United States.

What a wonderful opportunity to view the stunning work of this fine artist and hear more about her inspirations! This special presentation will be open, as are all Nature Artists’ Guild programs, to members, guests and visitors. There is no fee for attendance, parking, or admission to The Morton Arboretum for this event, and visitors just need to let the gate attendant know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.

For more information about Wendy or to view more of her beautiful artwork, please visit www.wendybrockman.com by clicking on the link or any of the images.

Red Oak, Quercus rubra, ©Wendy Brockman. Used with permission.

Guess Whoooooo?

Published on September 13, 2015January 23, 2020 by DeniseLeave a comment

Yes, you may feel like screeching at all of these corny references, but if you give a hoot about art or wildlife, you might find it wise to attend the upcoming Nature Artists’ Guild program on Thursday, October 1, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

The guest presenter at the upcoming meeting will be Marla Jedlicka, director of The Wise Old Owls Sanctuary, along with a few of her feathered friends. Marla began her career of rehabilitating owls by volunteering and interning at a small raptor center, which later closed. That is when Marla began the Wise Old Owls Sanctuary, which houses “owls that were once wild, injured, nursed back to health, but sadly cannot be released back to their natural habitat”. Marla also teaches and volunteers at SOAR Illinois – Save Our American Raptors, Inc., dedicated to “the welfare of our native birds-of-prey”.

There will be no Great Horned Owls there, (as in Evelyn Grala’s lovely painting, below), but Marla will be bringing some of her rescued Eastern Screech Owls and a Short-eared Owl for program attendees to sketch, photograph, or just learn more about.

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend the Nature Artists’ Guild presentations. This presentation would be of interest to artists, photographers, birders or anyone who enjoys nature! Parking. attendance and admission to the arboretum are free for this event, and visitors just need to let The Morton Arboretum gate attendant know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.

Do you speak owl?, copyright Evelyn Grala

More Opportunities to Support Fellow Nature Artists This Month

Published on September 8, 2015September 8, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

Nature Artists’ Guild former president Susan Bartlett, and treasurer Nancy Wu will be exhibiting their work at the Woodridge Public Library, Woodridge, IL for the entire month of September, 2015. An artists reception is coming up this Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 2 until 4 pm.

Karen Johnson's Artwork, Oak Park Conservatory — Karen Johnson’s Artwork, Oak Park Conservatory

Karen Johnson, Nature Artists’ Guild member and instructor for the Botanical Art program at The Morton Arboretum is honored to share her solo exhibition of artwork in a variety of media, titled Inspirational Insects, An Artists’ Journey, at the Oak Park Conservatory, Oak Park, IL. An artist reception will be held Sunday, September 13, 2015 from 1:30 until 3:30 pm at the conservatory.

Laurie Alvear’s work will be featured in a solo show at Gallery II of the DuPage Art League, in Wheaton, IL for the month of September, 2015.

If you are in the mood for a road trip, it would be worthwhile to head to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY (near Niagara Falls), where The Society of Animal Artists is presenting their annual exhibit. Charter member and former president of the Nature Artists’ Guild, instructor for the Botanical Art program at The Morton Arboretum, and last spring’s featured artist, Nancy Halliday is a member of this world renowned group of animal artists, and her Moonlight Snack has been juried into their Art and the Animal exhibition. The exhibit will run through October 25, 2015. You can spot Nancy attending a lecture by Robert Bateman at about 5:19 on the video of the opening weekend!

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, photo credit The Society of Animal Artists

Please click on any of the highlighted links or photos for more information on the artists and exhibits.

Gallery of Nature Exhibit Opens September 16, 2015

Published on September 6, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

An exhibit of over thirty lovely works of art created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will take place from September 16 through October 26, 2015 at the Gallery of Nature, Wasco Nursery, 41W781 Route 64, St Charles, IL. Please click on this link to the Wasco Nursery website for directions and hours.

The Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit will open during the annual St. Charles Arts Fest, September 11 through 20, 2015, and is listed on their calendar of events (thanks for the tip, Marilyn Peretti)! The exhibit will be also open throughout the St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, October 9 through 11, 2015. What a wonderful way to spend an early autumn day – viewing nature art and attending one of these fun festivals in beautiful St. Charles!

An Artists’ Reception will take place from 4 until 6 pm on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the gallery. Appetizers and pastries will be served and the event is open to the public.

Please click on any of the highlighted links above to learn more.

The Next Few Months for the Nature Artists’ Guild

Published on August 26, 2015August 26, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

A preview of some of the exciting events coming up this autumn for the Nature Artists’ Guild –

The first Nature Artists’ Guild Painting-in-the-Round is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm at Thornhill. Please check the previous post for more about this event, which promises to be a lively one!
Wasco Nursery, St. Charles, Il, will be featuring the artwork of the Nature Artists’ Guild in their Gallery of Nature from September 16th through October 26th, 2015. An artists’ reception (complete with appetizers and pastries) will be held on Saturday, October 3, from 4 to 6 pm. Please click on this link to the Wasco Nursery website for hours and directions. (Nature Artists’ Guild members who are interested in participating can still return their prospectus until the end of this week.)
Whooooo do you suppose will be the surprise guests at the October 1, 2015 Nature Artists Guild program at Thornhill from 7 until 9 pm? If you give a hoot about finding out, please check back later for more details!
Renowned nature artist Wendy Brockman will be teaching the workshop Painting Oaks as part of The Morton Arboretum’s 2015 Visiting Artists’ Series this October. The Nature Artists’ Guild is pleased to announce that Wendy has agreed to do a special presentation for our members featuring her art and techniques on Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm at Thornhill.
The annual Holiday Exhibition of Nature Art, featuring over 100 pieces of artwork by Nature Artists’ Guild members is scheduled for the weekend of November 7 and 8, 2015, with an artists’ reception on the evening of Friday, November 6, 2015. The featured artist for this exhibit will be Mary Ann Jimenez. New this year will be a “mosaic” display of small paintings by members. The prospectus will be sent to members next month.
Nature Artists’ Guild members and their guests are invited to gather at Thornhill on the evening of Thursday, December 3, 2015, for the annual holiday celebration.

More details about all of these events will be announced as the dates approach. Please click on any of the highlighted links for more information.