Category: Events

Is It Now a Tradition? 2024 Celebrates Trees

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Detail of Three Trees on a Trail, copyright Beth Berry. Cropped to illustrate square format. Original version here.

A few years ago, the Nature Artists’ Guild announced a new project for its members. In the first year, the project consisted of a special display of members’ artwork, all in a 8 by 8 inch format, celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Morton Arboretum’s Schulenberg Prairie. Last year, using the same format, participating artists depicted scenes from Joy Morton’s original visions for his “museum of trees.”

In 2024, the third year of these projects honoring The Morton Arboretum, the theme is simply and fittingly,“Trees”. Entire forests, individual specimens, leaves, branches, roots, berries, buds, bark, birds, or bugs are all suitable subjects.

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to create up to three works of art in almost any medium to be exhibited in the lobby of the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum during the same hours of the Guild’s 2024 Autumn Exhibit in November.

  • Artwork must not be framed in order to fit into the display. The final size of each piece must be exactly 8 by 8 inches and less than one half inch deep.
  • There will be no fee or volunteering requirement to participate. A simple registration will be requested before the exhibit, and drop-off and pick-up hours will be the same as those for the Autumn Exhibit.
  • This project is otherwise separate from and will not affect or depend on participation in the Autumn exhibit. (Details about the 2024 Autumn Exhibit will be shared in upcoming months.)

A Garden Party Paint-Out on June 23, 2024

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Garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard, Glen Ellyn, IL. Photo credit Anne and Charles Bouchard.

Update: Paint-out has been canceled due to cicada activity.

The Bouchards of Glen Ellyn have invited members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to attend a paint-out and enjoy a buffet at their home on Sunday, June 23, 2024 from noon until 3 in conjunction with a garden party reception for volunteers of the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center.

This plein-air opportunity is available to the first 12 Guild members who register, and the Bouchard’s spacious and lovely gardens, originally designed by landscape architect and artist Anthony Tyznik, will be in full bloom.

Just added – An opportunity for members to create and exhibit up to three 8 x 8 inch works of art in a special display during the Guild’s annual Autumn exhibit in November. These two-dimensional works must be inspired by or created at The Morton Arboretum, and the 2024 theme will be, fittingly, “Trees”. This display of art celebrating trees or their parts or inhabitants will be in addition to the regular autumn exhibit and no entry fee or framing will be required for participating artists. More about this opportunity coming soon!

This Week at the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Background artwork by Nicki Metz, Beth Berry, Laurie Peters, Patty Koenigsaecker, Vicki Liszewski. Click on image for original postcard.

A special exhibit featuring works by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum opens this Friday at the Aurora Public Art Commission gallery in Aurora, IL.

The opening of Art Inspired by Earth on the evening of Friday, June 7, 2024 at the Aurora Public Art Commission gallery will include a reception with refreshments and live music, and coincides with the city’s popular First Friday event. All are welcome to drop by!

Everyone is also invited to the Nature Artists’ Guild’s June presentation on Thursday, June 6 from 7 to 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. Three members of the Guild will demonstrate the creation of art inspired by nature using media and techniques both old and new. Light refreshments and plenty of seating will be available for this free event.

A Trio of Talented Artists on June 6, 2024 at The Morton Arboretum

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All are invited to a program featuring demonstrations by three talented Nature Artists’ Guild members at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum from 7 to 9 pm on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

Examples of stippling in black and white ink, Sawtooth Oak, Orchid, copyright Nancy Wu

Nancy Wu will demonstrate the use of stippling with black and white ink to create intricate drawings of nature.

Pearl Onions and Lacy Leaf, silverpoint, copyright Sandra K. Wilcoxon

Sandra Wilcoxon will share materials and methods for using silverpoint in both old and new ways.

Monochromatic and glazed stages of painting, copyright Dale Olsen

Dale Olsen will add glazes in oil or acrylic to bring glowing color to a black and white base.

Presentations sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild are always free and open to all. There is no requirement to be a member of The Morton Arboretum or the Guild to attend, and there is no charge for attendance, parking, or entry into the Arboretum for these events. Visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the program to be admitted and directed to the Thornhill Education Center. There will be plenty of seating, and light refreshments will be available.

Coming this June!

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Cicada, copyright Jean Black

More than just cicadas are coming to Chicagoland over the next few weeks. For members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, June also marks the arrival of –

  • One of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s most popular annual programs, featuring short demonstrations and discussions by three talented members, at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on the evening of Thursday, June 6, 2024 (open to all, free of charge). This year’s artists will share tools, tips, and techniques for creating botanical art using pen and ink, drawing with silverpoint, and using glazes when painting in oil or acrylic. Details to come soon.
  • An exciting new special exhibit at the Aurora Public Art Commission gallery. Participating Guild artists are dropping off their work this weekend, and in less than two weeks, the exhibit opens. Aurora’s First Friday event on June 7, 2024 will include a reception at the gallery for the Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit (open to all) with light refreshments and live music.
  • A paint-out, tentatively planned for late June at the lovely private garden of one of the Guild’s members. The date of the paint-out will be determined in June, and will depend on weather and possible cicada activity.

Looking Ahead to Late Spring and Summer

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Here Fishy, Fishy, copyright Dan Danielson

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be welcoming the arrival of late spring and summer in a number of enjoyable ways –

  • Nature Artists’ Guild members are encouraged to share images of their summer-inspired artwork for the upcoming issue of the Nature Artists’ Quarterly. This members-only publication includes essays, book reviews, images, and news by and about Guild members. Submissions for possible inclusion in the Summer Quarterly can be emailed to Jane Kellenberger at the NatureArtNews gmail address by May 1, 2024 (Guild members only).
  • There is still time for members to register for the paint-out at Lilacia Park scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 9:30 am. Paint-Out Chair Celia Rodee will share details and updates by email with those registered, and share coffee and her delicious homemade muffins at the paint-out.
  • Artwork drop-off dates for this June and July’s Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at the gallery of the Aurora Public Art Commission are approaching quickly. Registered exhibitors can park in the designated lot next to the building on May 24 between 2 and 4 or May 25 between 11 and 1, and take the elevator to the third floor to sign in their artwork. The exhibit opens on June 7, 2024 with a reception at the gallery (and a gathering at the studio of Exhibit Co-Chair Cheryl Holz) and continues through July 13.
  • Three members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be discussing and demonstrating their inspirations, materials, and techniques at the June 6, 2024 program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum at 7 pm. This program will be open to all, free-of-charge. Details will be coming soon.

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.