Classes and Workshops – Page 2 – Nature Artists' Guild

Summer Nature Art Classes at The Morton Arboretum

Published on June 17, 2023July 17, 2023 by DeniseLeave a comment

Peace on the Prairie, copyright Margaret Navolio. Exhibited at last autumn’s Schulenberg Prairie 60th Anniversary Exhibit.

The Morton Arboretum is offering a number of nature art classes to members of the Nature Artists’ Guild (and all interested artists) this summer.

Some highlights –

Art in Plein Air: The Prairie Large and Small with John Fleck will take place on six mornings in July and August at the Arboretum’s historic Schulenberg Prairie, a “sea of color in the summer months, with native grasses and flowers in full bloom.”

For botanical artists (or artists at any skill level) who would like to try a very different approach, the Art Workshop: Andy Warhol’s Flowers on the evening of July 26 could be a fun adventure. Rachel Davis will lead artists in using “a hot summer palette of pinks, yellows, and lime greens to create a Warhol-inspired graphical painting of flowers.”

Many Nature Artists’ Guild members will remember last summer’s wonderful workshop and program on painting landscapes in pastel with Laverne Bohlin. Laverne will be returning this August 4 and 5 to teach a Visiting Artist Workshop: Painting Expressive Flowers in Pastel.

To learn more or register for one of the above classes or workshops, open to all, please click on the highlighted link. Click here to see the full list of summer and early autumn classes at The Morton Arboretum.

Coming Soon for the Nature Artists’ Guild

Published on March 18, 2023March 18, 2023 by Denise2 Comments

Poster art by Patricia Mroczka, poster design by Jane Kellenberger, daffodil sketch at Coffee and Art by Celia Rodee, “Daffodils” in colored pencil by Alice Wych, frame display by Colbert Custom Framing

Some reminders for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild –

Monday, March 20, 2023 is the final day to mail completed prospectuses or register online for this April’s Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum. Links for the prospectus and online registration form were emailed to members on February 20.
There are still spots available for the talk and tour at Colbert Custom Framing on Tuesday evening, March 21, 2023. Interested members can register here.
A paint-out at the Daffodil Glade at The Morton Arboretum is scheduled for the morning of Thursday, April 13, 2023. This would be a great opportunity to complete sketches or gather reference material for the Joy’s Vision exhibit of 8 x 8 inch works scheduled this autumn. Members who would like to be put on the email list for updates about the paint-out can click here.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and their guests are always welcome to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum for Coffee and Art any Wednesday morning after 9 am to sketch, sip, or chat. No registration is required.

Preserving and Presenting Artwork Workshop on March 21, 2023

Published on February 25, 2023 by DeniseLeave a comment

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 6:30 until 8 pm, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will have the opportunity to learn about preserving their artwork and presenting it in ways that will enhance, and never detract from, the viewer’s experience.

Colbert Custom Framing & Art Printing has more than thirty years of experience in matting, framing, and preserving fine art. Third generation owner Stephanie Colbert Randall has offered to share professional knowledge about preparing and presenting artwork and a tour of their production and warehouse areas at their facility (click here for a short video) in Naperville, Illinois.

Interested members should contact Terrie McComb by email or by clicking here to complete a registration form before March 19 to reserve a seat. Space is limited and recent Nature Artists’ Guild events have been filling quickly!

Reminders –

Registrations are being accepted by for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2023 Spring Art Exhibit through March 20, 2023. Links to the prospectus and an online registration form were emailed to members on February 20.
The Nature Artists’ Guild will be sponsoring a presentation by watercolorist Thomas Trausch next Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 7 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. This event will be open to the public, free of charge.
All spots have been filled for the paint-out at Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum on March 9, 2023 but a wait-list is available.
Coffee and Art gatherings take place each Wednesday morning between 9 and 12 at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. Guild members and guests are welcome to stop by to sketch, chat, or sip!

A Gift for the Nature Artist on your List

Published on December 19, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Fringed Gentian, Gentianopsis crinita, copyright Heeyoung Kim

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to co-sponsor an upcoming workshop with The Morton Arboretum by renowned botanical artist Heeyoung Kim. The workshop is open to all, but members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will receive a 10 percent discount by enrolling by phone and confirming their membership. (If enrollment in the workshop is being given as a gift, the discount is available if the attendee is a current member of the Nature Artists’ Guild.)

Botanical Watercolor: A Strategic Approach and Fundamental Techniques is for intermediate and advanced artists with some experience using watercolor and will take place in person at The Morton Arboretum in March 2023.

The Subtle Beauty of Winter Returns

Published on December 11, 2022December 11, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Great Solomon’s Seal, copyright Lynne Railsback

The subtle tones of winter return as the Nature Artists’ Guild prepares for 2023. After celebrating the many moods of the prairie last autumn, members of the guild can now look forward to studying the nuances of local and exotic plants in various phases during the upcoming months.

January 2023 will include a paint-in at The Morton Arboretum’s Herbarium, which contains within its more than 200,000 specimens the world’s most complete collection of dried plants from the Chicago region.

Wednesday morning Art and Coffee gatherings will return in January with various plants or greenhouse flowers for sketching while sipping.

In early February, Lynne Railsback will return with an online program, sharing her stunningly intricate artwork and thoughts about spontaneity and the use of a limited palette.

The palette will become more colorful in February at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual “trip to the tropics” at Orchids by Hausermann, one of the Midwest’s largest orchid growers.

The Guild is honored to co-sponsor a workshop by renowned botanical artist Heeyoung Kim at The Morton Arboretum in March. Guild members will have the opportunity to enroll in the workshop at a discounted fee.

Dates, times, and other details for these and other upcoming events will be shared with members by email and on this website as they become available.

Click here to join or renew for 2023

Celebrating the Season on December 1, 2022

Published on November 20, 2022November 26, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Invitation artwork copyright Mary Ann Jimenez

On Thursday evening, December 1, 2022, at 6 pm, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and a guest are invited to the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum to celebrate the season and a year full of art, nature, and friendship.

Members can check their invitation, emailed on November 6, for all the details.

Also coming up –

The popular holiday card exchange tradition returns for 2022. Blank cards will be available to pick up at the holiday party on December 1, but members can contact Celia Rodee any time to sign up for the exchange. An email with the details was sent on November 15.

For those needing a little guidance with their cards, Carrie Carlson is teaching an online workshop on creating holiday cards in watercolor on December 8 at The Morton Arboretum.

The annual Downers Grove Library exhibit of work by the Nature Artists’ Guild will be held throughout January, 2023. Guild members were emailed the details and a link to the prospectus on November 19 (updated November 21.)

New memberships and renewals are being accepted for 2023.

Nature Artists’ Guild Welcomes Autumn

Published on September 23, 2022September 23, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

The weather is already a bit brisker, there is just a hint of brilliant color in the leaves, and members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are looking forward to celebrating the wonderful displays of the season through their art.

Coming soon –

Tomorrow, September 24, 2022, the guild has a workshop scheduled for members interested in creating subtle pieces of art using color pencil on slate tiles.

Color pencil on slate, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez

On Thursday, October 6, 2022, artist and illustrator Kelley Cappell will be sharing some of her thoughts about creating artwork for a variety of viewers using pen and ink and acrylic, as well as digitally. This program, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild is open to the public, free of charge.

Snow Leopard, pen and ink, copyright Kelley Cappell

October 10, 2022 is the last day for members to mail completed prospectuses for participating in the 2022 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum in November. More to come soon about the exhibit and Featured Artist Alice Wych.

Poster artwork by Alice Wych. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

Every Wednesday morning, a group of guild members meet at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum to chat, sketch, or enjoy the morning quiet at the Coffee and Art gathering. All guild members are invited to stop by.

Previous October pages in nature journal, copyright Linn Eldred

Members who would like to participate in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie will be able to pick up an 8 x 8 canvas, board, or paper for the project at the Thornhill Education Center on September 24 during the Color Pencil on Slate Tile workshop or on the evening of October 6 at the Kelley Cappell presentation. Some types of supplies may be limited, so interested members may wish to contact Carol Balabanow for more information.

8 x 8 pieces from the Schulenberg Prairie, copyright Marlene Vitek (first two) and Maggie Mardis.

As always, click on the highlighted links for more information.

Color Pencil on Slate Workshop Next Week

Published on September 16, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Color pencil on slate tile, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez

At a free workshop for Nature Artists’ Guild members, Mary Ann Jimenez will share techniques for creating stunning but subtle works of art on slate tiles using color pencils. The workshop will be held at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10 am until 2 pm.

Blank slate tiles will be provided free of charge to members to complete at the workshop or take with them for further work. The completed pieces will be for sale at the 2022 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum in November with all proceeds benefitting the Nature Artists’ Guild.

Interested members can contact Mary Ann Jimenez to register for the workshop. Her contact information and a supply list were emailed to members on August 3.

Note: 8 x 8 canvases, boards, or papers for the Schulenberg Prairie anniversary project will also be available at the workshop for members to pick up. Supplies of certain surfaces may be limited, so members are encouraged to contact Carol Balabanow for further information.

Coming Soon for the Nature Artists’ Guild

Published on September 5, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Garden at Cantigny Park. Photo credit Jane Kellenberger.

This Wednesday, September 7, 2022, the Nature Artists’ Guild’s paint-out at the gardens of Cantigny Park will take place from 9 am until noon. While members are encouraged to let Linn Eldred know they are attending, drop-ins are also welcome. The gardens and grounds at Cantigny Park are always wonderful and this year there is the added bonus of an exhibit of colorful large-scale sculptures by artists from Mexico City. Parking and admission will be free.

(Boards, canvases, or papers for the Schulenberg Praire anniversary project will be available at this paint-out if a request is made in advance to Carol Balabanow.)

Note – The weekly Art and Coffee gathering will not take place on this date.

Also coming soon –

On September 24, 2022 from 10 to 2, members can attend a volunteer workshop at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum to learn how to create artwork using color pencils on slate tiles. The tiles will be sold at the upcoming Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum with proceeds benefitting the guild. Tiles will be provided, but participants are asked to bring a few other supplies (details are in the August 3rd email sent to members.)

On October 6, 2022 at 7 pm, Artist and Illustrator Kelley Cappell will share some of her experiences, inspirations, and techniques with the audience at the Thornhill Education Center. This program will be open to the public, free of charge. More about Kelley and her art coming soon.

October 10, 2022 will be the final date for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to mail their completed prospectuses for participating in the Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum in November. The link to the prospectus was emailed to all members on August 31. Much more about the exhibit and the Featured Artist, Alice Wych, to come.

Nature Artists’ Guild members who would like to participate in the Schulenberg Prairie anniversary project can still pick up an 8 x 8 canvas, board, or paper at any of the in-person guild events (including by request at the Cantigny paint-out and excluding the Wednesday Coffee and Art gatherings.) Members can also use their own surface, but the final artwork must be exactly 8 x 8 inches (and less than approximately a half inch deep) to fit into the display. Questions about the project can be emailed to Carol Balabanow.

Gallery 200 Exhibit Continues Throughout August

Published on August 19, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

A sample of some of the stunning artwork by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at Gallery 200 in West Chicago throughout August 2022 –

Waldport, Oregon, copyright Ann Lamoureux

Also coming soon –

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will demonstrating and talking with visitors about the guild at a table inside the Visitor Center during the Wine and Art Walk at The Morton Arboretum this weekend, August 20 and 21, 2022.

The Wednesday morning Art and Coffee gatherings continue each week at 9 am. All Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to drop by to share ideas, inspirations, or supplies, or simply relax and enjoy the morning.

The Schulenberg Prairie Anniversary project kicks off with a paint-out at the prairie on Thursday morning, August 25, 2022.

More to come soon about a paint-out at the gardens of Cantigny Park on September 7, 2022 and a Color Pencil on Slate workshop for members on September 24, 2022.