Paint-Out January 14th, 2010 at Jurica Nature Museum

It’s Not Too Late to Join a Fun Paint-Out Tomorrow!

Our first paint-out of the year is tomorrow, and it’s at a place that many of us know and love! We will be meeting at the Jurica Nature Museum at Benedictine University tomorrow, January 14, from 9:30 to 12:30 (or later if you wish). If you haven’t been there before, you’re in for a treat!

This museum is filled with mounts and skeletons of creatures ranging from hedgehogs to lions . They are displayed in a few large rooms, and there are few or no spectators, so you’ll have room to spread out and get comfortable. Unfortunately for them, the animals stay extremely still, but that makes it much easier for us to get some good sketches, drawings or paintings! I stayed a while after everyone left last year, and though it was a tiny bit spooky in a “Night at the Museum” sort of way, I was able to do a sketch of a skunk that would have otherwise never been possible!

Please let LaVerne Bohlin know  if you plan on coming, as she will be meeting members there. Don’t stress about getting there right at 9:30 – it’s a casual gathering and we’d love to have you any time you can make it . If you have the time, maybe you could also go with some other NAG members to lunch afterwards, or stay later at the museum for some extra time with the animals (if you dare)!

Denise Fisk, Program Chair

2010 Calendar of Meetings & Exhibitions

2010 Nature Artists’ Guild Schedule

(Edited May 14, 2010 to reflect new dates for the 2010 Holiday Exhibition)

Following are meeting and exhibition dates for 2010. Please note that, once again, the Spring Exhibition will be in April. Board of Directors meetings are open to all Guild members.

January 7, 2010: Board Meeting, 7– 9 pm

February 4, 2010: Board Meeting, 6 – 7 pm

February 4, 2010: Formal Meeting, 7 – 9 pm

March 4, 2010:  Board Meeting, 6 – 7 pm

March 4, 2010: Formal Meeting, 7 – 9 pm

Spring Show

April 14, 2010 Referee Night

April 16, 2010 Artists’ Reception

April 17-18, 2010 Exhibit

May 6, 2010: Board Meeting, 7 ­­­– 9 pm

June 3, 2010: Board Meeting, 6 – 7 pm

June 3, 2010: Formal Meeting, 7 – 9 pm

NO BOARD MEETING IN JULY

August 5, 2010: Board Meeting, 6 – 7 pm

August 5, 2010: Formal Meeting, 7 – 9 pm

September 2, 2010: Board Meeting, 7 ­­­– 9 pm

October 7, 2010: Board Meeting, 6 – 7 pm

October 7, 2010: Formal Meeting, 7 – 9 pm

Holiday Show

November 10, 2010: Referee Night

November 12, 2010: Artists’ Reception

November 13 – 14, 2010: Exhibit

December 2, 2010: Elections & Holiday Party

Exhibition Opportunties

Guild members are invited to show their work at two special exhibitions early next year.  To be eligible for these shows, artwork must have been previously shown at one of our annual exhibits at The Arboretum. Prospectuses with details will be sent out closer to the exhibition dates.

Downers Grove Public Library Art Gallery. January 2010. This is a wonderful space. Drop off will be January 2nd from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Pick up will be January 30th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Fine Line Creative Arts Center, Kavanagh Gallery in St. Charles. Drop off will be February 16th. This is a new venue for the Guild and a wonderful opportunity. Information about the gallery is here:  http://www.finelineca.org/kavanagh/index.html

Artists in Action at Cosley Zoo

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to sketch or paint the animals at Cosely Zoo in Wheaton

Sunday, Sept. 13 from 11am-3pm
Set up at 10:30am

8ft tables will be provided. Business cards and brochures are ok, but any selling of artwork would require a vendor’s fee of $50.

Please rsvp to:

Molly Holman
Guest Services Supervisor
Cosley Zoo
1356 Gary Ave, Wheaton IL 60187\
630.665.5534 x5036 (Sunday-Thursday)
mholman@wheatonparks.org

General zoo information here: http://www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/pgs/parks/cosley/default.html

Holiday Fund-Raising Workshop: September 19, 2009

Transform you artwork into items for sale at our 2010 Holiday Exhibition!

Have fun, meet other Guild members and contribute to a worthy cause!

When: Saturday, September 19th, 2009,  10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Where: Thornhill Education Center

What to Bring:
Nancy Thyfault will again be showing us how to make her beautiful boxes. For the boxes please bring color laser copies (not inkjet) of your original artwork in various sizes, acrylic paint, fabric or decorative paper scraps and creative embellishments. Boxes, transfer paper, gel medium and some supplies will be provided. If you have your own boxes, trays, or items to decorate, bring them along.

Please note: some materials and projects will be provided. If you need more information or wish to share a project idea, please contact Laverne Bohlin or Nancy Thyfault.

Bring your lunch or dine at the Arboretum.

Please note: you do not have to stay the entire time – you can arrive late, leave early, etc.

August 6th is Demonstration Night

The Guild’s August formal meeting – August 6th at 7:00pm in the Arboretum’s Thornhill Auditorium – will feature 4 Guild members demonstrating techniques:

Denise Fisk: Painting animals
Maggie Mardis: Creating a colored paper background for colored pencil and graphite drawings
Connie Devendorf: Faux finishes and natural history subjects
Patty Koenigsaecher: Fiber arts

Also Suzanne Wegener, the Guild’s Arboretum Liaison, will be on hand to answer questions about the referee process for our Exhibitions. This is a great opportunity for members who have never exhibited in Guild shows and have questions about what’s involved/required.

Formal Programs June – October 2009

Formal programs start at 7:00 p.m. at the Thornhill Education Center.

June 4th
Michelle LeBlanc
, founder & CEO of Naperville Cultural Center, presents creative ways to promote and market your work and prepare for exhibits.

August 6th
Demonstrations by Guild members

October 1st
Marlene Hill Donnelly, scientific illustrator at The Field Museum. Scientific illustration and enhancing giclée prints with pastels.