Category: Outside Exhibitions

The Bloomingdale Museum will be Hopping this Sunday!

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Tree Frog, copyright Dan Danielson

Award-winning artist (and Nature Artist Guild member), Dan Danielson, will be demonstrating his fun and fluid style of watercolor painting at the reception for the Guild’s exhibit, open to all on August 16, 2026, from 2 to 4, at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum.

The free reception for Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World, at the museum on Sunday, August 16, will be open to the public from 2 to 4 pm. Refreshments and music provided by the museum, a demonstration by Dan Danielson, and the opportunity to view more than 75 works of art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, will all contribute to a wonderful afternoon!

The exhibit will continue until September 12, and visitors can visit the museum’s website for hours and directions.

Also —

  • Guild artists will also be demonstrating inside the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum during the Arboretum’s 2026 Wine and Art Walk. Everyone is invited to stop by and learn more about the Guild or simply chat with an artist and watch them create between 10 and 4 on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16. (Arboretum membership or a gate fee will be required for entrance to the Arboretum.)

“Rooted in Observation” Opens August 8, 2026, in Bloomingdale

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Yellowstone Tree Root detail, copyright Jeffrey Zawada

It’s that exciting pre-exhibit time for participating members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum! They will be dropping off their work today for volunteers to artfully arrange throughout the galleries for tomorrow’s opening.

Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World will be exhibited from August 8 through September 12, 2026 at the historic Bloomingdale Park District Museum. A reception will be held on Sunday, August 16, from 2 through 4, with music and light refreshments provided by the museum, and a demonstration by talented Guild artist Dan Danielson (details coming soon).

Exhibit attendees should check the museum’s website for directions, hours, and other information before planning their visit.

The Gardens at Ball, August 4, 2026

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The Gardens at Ball, photo credit Hoerr Schaudt

It’s time for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual trip to the display gardens of one of the world’s most renowned growers, Ball Horticultural!

Guild members are invited to attend one of the year’s most anticipated paint-outs at The Gardens at Ball on the morning of Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 9:30 until noon.

“What began as a row trial garden for seed varieties in 1933 has grown to encompass over 15 acres of display gardens for annuals, perennials, cut flowers and vegetables, including the newest plants from the industry’s leading breeders and marketers.”

The gardens are guaranteed to offer a glorious variety of color and form for Guild artists to capture in their sketches, paintings, or photographs. Space is limited for this opportunity, and registration is required. Coordinator Celia Rodee will contact participants with details, directions, and updates.

A few reminders —

  • The final day to register for the summer special exhibit at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum is tomorrow, July 27. Members were emailed the prospectus and registration link earlier this week.
  • The last day to submit announcements, images, and articles for the Autumn Quarterly is this Saturday, August 1. Instructions were recently emailed to Guild members.
  • The Nature Artists’ Guild will sponsor a program featuring Cynthia Hellyer Heinz on the evening of Thursday, August 6, at The Morton Arboretum. This presentation will be free and open to all, and no registration is required. Details coming soon.

Indoors and Out this July

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Clockwise: 2025 Quarterly covers, details of artwork by Ann Lamoureux, Linda Hilderbrant, Ann Lamoureux, and Jeffrey Zawada.

Nature Artists’ Guild members have lots to do this July, both indoors and out —

  • When the weather is a little less comfortable, members can spend a few cool hours indoors looking through their artwork or writing a poem or essay to contribute to the Guild’s Autumn 2026 Quarterly. Artwork images and articles can be submitted by August 1, as outlined in the July 18 email sent to members.
  • Also beginning indoors, cool and comfortable, are the casual weekly gatherings of Guild members and visitors, Coffee and Art, at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. All are welcome to stop by any Wednesday morning beginning about 9:30, and possibly move outdoors if the weather is nice. (An Arboretum membership or gate fee will be necessary to enter the Arboretum.)
  • And finally, it’s back outdoors, on another lovely day of the artists’ choosing, to find a subject to depict in their contribution to the Guild’s 8×8 small works display, Fauna, this autumn at The Morton Arboretum.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s Bloomingdale Exhibit Opens August 2026

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Detail of Yellowstone Tree Root, copyright Jeffrey Zawada

The prospectus and registration link were emailed to Guild members on June 25, 2026. Registration can only be completed through the emailed link, not through this website. (Guild members who did not receive the email or have questions about the exhibit should contact Irena Gintilas or Jeffrey Zawada. Their contact information is listed in the Guild’s 2026 Yearbook.)

Rooted in Observation: Art Inspired by the Living World will be exhibited from August 8 through September 12, 2026 at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum. A reception will be held on Sunday, August 16, from 2 through 4, with music and light refreshments provided by the museum, and a demonstration by a talented Guild artist.

Participants must be members of the Nature Artists’ Guild (half-year memberships are now available for first-time members), and the artwork must either have been included in a previous Guild exhibit or be juried by emailed photos to ensure it meets Guild exhibition guidelines.

The museum welcomes artist demonstrations during its open hours, and the Guild’s special exhibit coordinators, Irena Gintilas and Jeffrey Zawada, encourage members who may be interested in demonstrating to contact them by email. Museum hours are Wednesdays, from 3 to 7 pm, and Thursdays and Saturdays, from noon to 4.

There is no entry fee or volunteer requirement for this exhibit, and the artwork drop-off will be on August 7. Volunteers to help hang the artwork that day would be welcome and can contact Irena or Jeffrey to sign up. Artwork pick-up will be on September 13, and no artwork can be stored. All the details will be included in the prospectus and emailed to members.

Exhibits, Paint-Outs, and Programs Coming Soon!

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The Joy of Plants, copyright Patricia Joyce.

The next few months will be filled with opportunities for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to share, sketch, and learn, all while enjoying the company of fellow artists.

  • The Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum will be the location for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s trio of artist demonstrations on the evening of June 4, 2026, beginning at 7. Three talented Guild members will share their inspirations, methods, and materials at this popular annual event. The program will be open to all, free of charge, and registration is not required.
  • On June 11, 2026 (rain date June 12), Anne and Charles Bouchard will share their professionally designed and beautifully updated private garden in Glen Ellyn, IL, with members of the Guild from 9:30 until noon. Guild members can register here for this event, the first of four different private garden paint-outs scheduled for this summer.
  • Initial preparations for this summer’s Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum have begun, and prospectuses will be emailed to all members next month. The exhibit will run from August 8 until September 12, 2026, and will include member demonstrations and an opening reception. Guild members will have the opportunity to enter work previously exhibited at The Morton Arboretum or juried by email photos.
  • Guild members can use this busy time of wildlife activity to begin their contributions to this autumn’s special display of 8 x 8 works honoring the Arboretum, “Fauna.” Each member will be eligible to include up to three unframed works, which must be 8 x 8 inches, less than 1/2 inch deep, and inspired by the fauna of the Arboretum. (Examples of last year’s small works display, “Flora,” can be seen here.)
  • As always, Guild members (and guests) are invited to attend a casual Wednesday morning gathering at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum, Coffee and Art. This friendly and welcoming group of artists spends a few hours each week chatting, sketching, or just enjoying the morning sights and sounds of the Arboretum. No registration is required.

More details about these and more events coming soon!

Nature (and the Guild) are Preparing for Spring!

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Harbingers of Spring – Daffodils, copyright Cheryl Holz. Cheryl will be the Featured Artist of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2026 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.

Even though there are weeks to go before spring, nature and the Nature Artists’ Guild are eagerly preparing for the longer and warmer days ahead.

According to the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center, February in Chicagoland means that –

  • Red-winged blackbirds, grackles, killdeer, and great blue herons return
  • Chipmunks reappear at feeders
  • Bald eagles begin nesting behavior
  • Yellow-bellied sapsuckers work the maples as the sap begins to run
  • Hibernating butterflies emerge on warm days
  • Sandhill cranes can be seen migrating north
  • It is breeding season for racoons, woodchucks, rabbits, skunks, opossums, and beavers!

For the Nature Artists’ Guild, February also means that –

Members will receive (by email this week) their prospectus and registration instructions for the 2026 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum. The exhibit will be held April 17, 18, and 19, 2026, and the final date for registering (either online or by mail) will be March 21. Much more about the exhibit and Featured Artist Cheryl Holz coming soon.

In just a few weeks, the March program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild will be held at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. This event on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 7 until 9 will be free and open to all and will feature award-winning pastel artist Nancie King Mertz as the presenter. Much more about the program to come soon.

Guild members will be visiting the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum for a “paint-in” on Thursday, March 12, from 9:30 until noon. (Drop-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended in order to receive email updates and details.) More coming soon.

Guild members can begin thinking about their contributions to the Guild’s annual special exhibit showcasing 8 x 8-inch pieces. This year’s display, “Fauna,” will be inspired by the native mammals, fish, insects, birds, amphibians, and spiders that can be found at The Morton Arboretum. (Detailed instructions for members will be shared later in the year, and “Fauna” will be exhibited in November alongside the Guild’s annual autumn exhibit at the Arboretum.)

Many members are excited to participate each year in a popular local event for nature artists, the Danada Nature Art and Photo Show (not affiliated with the Nature Artists’ Guild.) This year’s exhibit will be held on March 14th and 15th, and the final day to apply will be March 1. Details and the registration form can be found on the Friends of Danada website.

Staying Busy (While Staying Warm)

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HEY… The Birdfeeder is Empty!, copyright Dan Danielson

The DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center reports that January, which might seem quiet in Chicagoland’s natural world, is actually quite busy! For instance –

  • Bald eagle migration peaks
  • Squirrels begin their mating season
  • Skunk cabbage begins to bloom
  • Great horned owls are on their nests
  • White-tailed deer bucks are shedding antlers
  • Tufted titmice and cardinals begin to sing

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild also have a busy winter planned, but unlike those of the titmice, most of their activities can be enjoyed indoors while staying warm.

Tomorrow, January 18, a free reception for the Guild’s special exhibit at the Downers Grove Public Library will be held from 2 to 4. Everyone is invited to stop by the exhibit and support the artists while enjoying some light refreshments.

On Wednesday, January 21, Guild members are invited to stop by an informal gathering at the Wheaton Public Library at 11:30 to enjoy even more nature art by their fellow artists. Those interested in having lunch at nearby Bien Trucha afterward at 12:30 can RSVP here or by contacting Celia Rodee.

Nature Artists’ Guild members are encouraged to spend a quiet hour at home this month, looking through and photographing their spring-inspired artwork for possible inclusion in the upcoming issue of the Quarterly. Images, articles, and announcements can be emailed to Jane Kellenberger by February 1.

The annual paint-out at Orchids by Hausermann is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, from 7:30 until 10 am. This tropical destination is a favorite of Guild artists, who are invited to spend the morning, before the showroom opens, surrounded by gorgeous orchids in bloom. Space is limited, and registration is required.

Later in the evening of February 5, members (and guests who request a link) will be able to log in to join a Guild-sponsored online presentation by textile artist Kristin Field. Links to the program will be emailed the preceding week. (Much more about Kristin and her fascinating work coming soon.)

As always, members and visitors are welcome to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum any Wednesday morning about 9:30 to spend time chatting, sipping, and sketching with fellow artists at Coffee and Art.

Staying busy and staying warm!

Two Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibits Open this Week

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Meandering Stream, copyright Cynthia Boudreau. This work wil be displayed at the Downers Grove Public Library throughout January.

Sure, the cold is crisp and the snow can be stunning, but one thing mostly missing in nature during Chicagoland’s winter months is color! Happily, the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be supplying lots of color from all four seasons in two special exhibits opening this week.

Nearly 75 works of nature art in a wide variety of media and styles, by approximately 50 talented members of the Guild, will be on display at the Downers Grove Public Library and the Wheaton Public Library throughout January, for all to enjoy.

Both of these vibrant libraries have a strong commitment to the visual arts and lovely dedicated gallery spaces in which Guild members can proudly share their work with the public.

Exhibits are open during regular library hours (click on highlighted links above for hours and directions.) A free open reception will be held at the Downers Grove Library on January 18 from 2 to 4 pm. Everyone is invited to stop by to support the artists and enjoy the exhibit!

A New Opportunity to Share and Delight

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Piping Plovers, watercolor, copyright Vicki Liszewski will be one of more than twenty works exhibited this winter at the Wheaton Public Library by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. (Read about Chicago’s beloved piping plovers here.)

A few spots are still available to members of the Nature Artists’ Guild for the January 2026 Wheaton Public Library exhibit, and registration closes this Friday, December 12.

The Guild’s popular annual exhibit at the Downers Grove Public Library is at capacity, and registration is now closed, but members still have the opportunity to share their art this winter by registering for the Wheaton Public Library exhibit. This exciting new opportunity fills the need for additional space for Guild members to delight even more of Chicago’s suburbs with their nature art!

The Wheaton Public Library has a long and fascinating history, and its current 124,000 square foot facility includes a lovely dedicated space (in a quiet corner near the main entrance) for art exhibits and special presentations, the Arts & Culture Center.

Any Nature Artists’ Guild member can register one piece in this exhibit, which must be dropped off during regular library hours between December 29 and January 2. A prospectus with all the details was emailed to members on November 15.