Category: Events

All the Colors of Summer at the Gardens at Ball

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Gardens at Ball photo credit Hoerr Schaudt. Click on image for more about the design of the gardens.

Pinks and purples, reds and yellows, greens and blues – all the colors of summer will be on display for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at the August paint-out at the Gardens of Ball. Artists will want to bring their full palettes!

Each year, Ball Horticultural Company, one of the world’s leaders in “all facets of horticulture,” welcomes the Nature Artists’ Guild to its display gardens, the Gardens at Ball, to draw, paint, and photograph some of the thousands of plants showcased across its nine acres.

Participants will meet on August 8, 2025, at 9:30 am before spreading out to explore the beautifully landscaped gardens in their attempt to “capture the colors.”

Members of the Guild can register here or email Celia Rodee to receive more information about this event and be added to the list for email updates.

Gardens at Ball, photo credits Hoerr Schaudt

Summer Flora

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Wild Bergamot, copyright Lisa Kanellos

Summer is the perfect time for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to gather reference material for or sketch or paint their contribution to “Flora,” this autumn’s small works exhibit.

Each year, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild create 8 x 8-inch works of art for a special display honoring The Morton Arboretum. The theme for 2025 is “Flora,” and virtually anything growing at the Arboretum can be considered for artistic interpretation.

From the prairie and lakes to the formal gardens and displays, summer at the Arboretum will be full of inspiration!

Instructions for participating can be found here, and this sample of artwork from last year’s display, “Trees,” may help provide motivation to begin.

‘Into the Wild’ Exhibit Opens at Hidden Oaks this Saturday, July 5, 2025

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Summer Shades, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker, is one of more than 30 works of nature art included in ‘Into the Wild’ at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

It’s time for a cool break! The Nature Artists’ Guild’s summer special exhibit, ‘Into the Wild,’ opens this Saturday, July 5, at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center of the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

Visitors will enjoy plenty of cool and quiet while surrounded by artwork celebrating the wonders of the natural world in the upstairs gallery space of the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, IL. More than 30 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are participating in this special exhibit, which will be open daily between 10 and 4 (except Mondays and Tuesdays) from July 5 until August 30, 2025.

Kids will love exploring the newly renovated center and be welcome to accompany their parents or grandparents into the gallery room to choose their favorite pieces! They can even sign up to win a poster or tote bag featuring Lindsay Sandbothe’s fabulous Scratch That artwork.

Images of exhibit artwork will be shared here and on the Forest Preserve District’s website and social media throughout the summer.

Artistic Inspiration Paint-Out on July 8, 2025

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Woods Garden and Peter’s Pond, copyright Ann Lamoureux

The Nature Artists’ Guild has been invited to share the garden that has been the inspiration for many of the joyous works of artist Ann Lamoureux.

On the morning of Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 9:30, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will gather at the home of fellow artist Ann Lamoureux in Wheaton, IL, to paint, sketch, and photograph her garden.

Ann’s exuberant garden has just about everything a nature artist could ask for! There are shady nooks with cool colors, sunny spots featuring bright perennials, water features, towering trees, and a porch that provides a comfortable spot to enjoy it all.

Hosta, copyright Ann Lamoureux

Paint-Outs Coordinator Celia Rodee will join Ann in welcoming participants with her homemade baked goods and hot or iced coffee. Advance registration for this paint-out is required, and Celia will contact attendees with details and updates by email.

Hidden Oaks Exhibit Registration Ends this Friday

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Scratch That, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe

Only a few days left for members to register for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s exhibit at Hidden Oaks Nature Center!

It’s time for Guild artists to take a few minutes away from relaxing in our long-awaited sunshine to look through their artwork, find their favorites, and register for the summer’s special exhibit, Into the Wild.

Into the Wild is a special exhibit by Nature Artists’ Guild members being held at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center of the Forest Preserve District of Will County from July 5 through August 30, 2025. The newly renovated facility has a dedicated area for displaying artwork, away from the busy main floor attractions.

Hidden Oaks has confirmed that the “wild” in “Into the Wild” definitely includes the flora and fauna found in the yards, gardens, and planters of our members. Artwork should follow the general guidelines for Guild exhibits, as well as the specific guidelines outlined in the prospectus. Guild artists can register online here or by mail, as outlined in previously emailed instructions.

Artists’ Garden Paint-Out and Studio Tour on June 13, 2025

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View of garden of Cynthia Hellyer Heinz and Earl Heinz

Update – An encore paint-out has been planned for August 22, 2025 at 10 am. Members can register here!

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will visit the garden of Cynthia Hellyer Heinz and Earl Heinz in Warrenville, IL, next Friday, June 13, 2025, for a paint-out and studio tour.

Paint-Outs Coordinator (and accomplished baker) Celia Rodee will meet participants at 9:30 am with coffee (hot or iced) and homemade scones at the private garden of artists Cynthia Hellyer Heinz and Earl Heinz.

Cynthia is an artist and associate professor at the School of Art and Design at NIU, and Earl creates wonderful works in ceramics. Their colorful and whimsical garden near the DuPage River is a reflection of their creativity and artistic talents. To add to the experience, paint-out participants are invited to join Cynthia on an informal tour of her home studio!

Registration is required for this paint-out, and no rain date will be scheduled. Celia will email registered attendees with the paint-out address and other details.

A Trio of Nature Artists on June 5, 2025

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Prairie Drought, copyright Todd Serrano

A Nature Artists’ Guild presentation by three talented members will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at The Morton Arboretum and will be open to all, free of charge.

Todd Serrano, whose spectacular drawing is shown above, will be one of three Guild members sharing inspirations, recommendations for tools and supplies, and methods with visitors beginning at 7 pm in the Arbor Room of the Arboretum’s Thornhill Education Center.

Program attendees will have the opportunity to watch three short demonstrations in various mediums, ask questions, learn about the artists’ supplies and tools, and closely view a sample of their artwork. Plenty of seating and light refreshments will be provided.

The program is open to the public, free of charge, and there will be no charge for parking or admission to the Arboretum for the event. No registration or ticket is required, and visitors can let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be admitted and directed to parking for Thornhill.

Nature Artists’ Guild Returns to Hidden Oaks this Summer

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Mouse, copyright Vicki Liszewski

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is pleased to announce a return to the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in July and August, 2025, for a special exhibit, “Into the Wild.“

The Guild was there when Hidden Oaks celebrated their grand re-opening after the facility was purchased by the Forest Preserve District of Will County, and the Guild will be there again a few years later to help celebrate the recent extensive renovations to the award-winning building.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County has long been supportive of the visual arts, frequently hosting and promoting exhibits (just last year, one of their facilities was chosen to begin the traveling tour of internationally renowned Birds in Art). Hidden Oaks Nature Center includes a well-lit dedicated space on their second floor for exhibiting artwork.

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s exhibit will open on July 5 and continue through August 30, 2025 (artwork drop-off on June 29 and pick-up on August 31). Two pieces, either previously exhibited at The Morton Arboretum or juried by email, can be registered per member. Guild members will be emailed a copy of the prospectus and a registration form link by the end of this month, and the final day to register will be June 20, 2025.

Our Kind of Town . . . for Nature Art

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Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. Image credit West Town Chamber of Commerce.

Driehaus Museum. Image credit The Richard H. Driehaus Museum

Where would one expect to find two buildings of strikingly different architectural styles, within walking distance of each other, both offering exhibits of intricate artwork depicting the natural world? In our “kind of town,” Chicago, of course, one of the greatest cities in the world for architecture, art, and nature.

(Many thanks to trip coordinator Celia Rodee for suggesting the title and therefore having us humming that tune for days.)

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is planning a trip, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, to Chicago, to enjoy exhibits of nature art at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art and at the Driehaus Museum.

The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art is hosting Lichen & Coral: Algae Symbiosis on Land and Sea, a two-person exhibit featuring works by Guild member Sandra Wilcoxon.

Powdered ruffle lichen, 5x, copyright Sandra Wilcoxon. Photo credit UIMA.

The Driehaus Museum is one of only four worldwide invited to host Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature. The exhibit will feature more than 100 works by Rory McEwen, often considered a master of contemporary botanical art.

Tulip ‘Helen Josephine,’ 1975 (detail), by Rory McEwen. Copyright Estate of Rory McEwen.

A light lunch will be scheduled at a local cafe for participants, and carpooling is being arranged by the trip coordinator, Celia Rodee. Guild members and guests are welcome to register here. More details about the outing were recently emailed to members, and any questions can be directed to Celia by email or through the registration form.

Good Things in Store for May and June

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Hidden Prize, copyright Bernadette Hanacek

May and June bring all kinds of good things to Chicagoland! The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum has plans to celebrate with a field trip, preparations for an exhibit, a program featuring three members sharing their talents, a garden paint-out, and weekly Coffee and Art gatherings.

  • Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and guests will receive information this week about an outing to the great city of Chicago to visit two museums currently exhibiting nature art. Participants will visit the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art for Lichen and Coral, a two-person exhibit featuring work by Guild member Sandra Wilcoxon, and Driehaus Museum for an exhibit of work by Rory McEwen, a “20th century botanical master.” Plans for lunch at a nearby cafe will also be shared. Members are welcome to bring guests, and can register here.
  • In late May, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will receive an email with all the details about, and a link to register for, an exhibit at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, IL. The newly renovated center includes a well-lit area on the second floor of the award-winning building, ideal for exhibiting artwork. Guild members’ artwork will be displayed from July 5 to August 30, 2025.
  • On Thursday, June 5, 2025, beginning at 7 pm, three members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will share their inspirations, insights, tools, and techniques at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. The program will be open to all, free of charge, and admission fees to the Arboretum will be waived for the event. More details soon. Note – The Guild urgently needs a volunteer to supply snacks for this meeting (costs reimbursed by the Guild). Any member who can help should email Terrie McComb or use this contact form.
  • June’s paint-out will be at a private garden blooming with glorious color. Details for the paint-out are being worked out, and Guild members will be the first to know when they are available.
  • Coffee and Art gatherings continue to meet each Wednesday morning (weather permitting) after 9. Guild members, their guests, or any other interested artists are invited to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. No registration is required (regular gate fees will apply). The Arboretum will be filled with inspiration from which Guild members may choose to begin their “Flora” artwork!