Category: Exhibitions

Traditions Old and New

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In the 35 years since the Nature Artists’ Guild was established, many of its traditions are still going strong, a few have fallen away, and some have just begun.

Detail of holiday card 2020, copyright Beata Nowak

For most years in more than a decade, the Nature Artists’ Guild has secured the first exhibit of the year at the Downers Grove Public Library’s wonderful gallery. The tradition continues in 2022 and members can participate by returning their completed registration forms by Friday, December 10, 2021. Artwork must be dropped off by December 18, 2021.

Last year a new tradition began within the Nature Artists’ Guild when each of the participants created a hand-made holiday card to share with another member. This popular project continues in 2021, and those who would like to join in can contact Terrie McComb by Friday, December 3, 2021. Completed cards must be mailed by December 14, 2021.

Details for these events were emailed to 2021 Nature Artists’ Guild members on November 15, 2021. Members can check those emails for forms, names, dates, addresses, and more information.

One More Thing Before the Holiday Season Begins

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Become a new member or renew your membership to the Nature Artists’ Guild before the busy holiday season and start the new year enjoying all that membership offers.

click here to Join or renew

Selection of member and presenter artwork and paint-out settings. Each piece of artwork is copyrighted by the artist and may not be used without written permission.

Images from the 2021 Nature Artists’ Guild’s Autumn Art Exhibit

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  • Blue Jay, copyright Jane Kellenberger
  • Fall, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Winter, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Spring, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Summer, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Not Forgotten, copyright Terrie McComb
  • Prairie Blues, copyright Karen A Johnson
  • Bluebird, copyright Vick Liszewski
  • White Iris, copyright Linn Eldred
  • Tangled Hickory, copyright Patricia Mroczka
  • September Sketchbook, copyright Terrie McComb
  • Owl, copyright Arlene Widrewitz
  • Magnolia, copyright Vick Liszewski
  • Local Heron, copyright Judy Leppert
  • White Trillium, copyright Linn Eldred
  • Hummingbird Jewel, copyright Karen Remkus
  • Golden Eagle at Nest, copyright Judy Leppert
  • Forest Fantasy, copyright Terrie McComb
  • Rabbits, silverpoint, copyright Arlene Widrewitz
  • Crocus Study, copyright Ann Lamoureux
  • Copyright, Marlene Vitek
  • Copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Copyright Carol Cooley
  • Celebrating the end of 2020, copyright Patti Koenigsaecker
  • Coming Through (owl), copyright Judy Leppert
  • Coleus, copyright Ann Lamoureux
  • Kestrel, copyright Jane Kellenberger
  • Blown Flower, copyright Joe Rizzo
  • Bumblebee Nest locket, copyright Karen A Johnson
  • Blue Heron, copyright Margaret Navolio
  • White Magnolia, copyright Linn Eldred
  • Great Horned Owl, scrachboard with ink, copyright Jill Adzia
  • Orange leaves/blue drops, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Twilight Visit, copyright Yvonne Buckley
  • Time Travelers, copyright Ann Lamoureux
  • Screech Owl Chick, copyright Jill Adzia
  • Tangled Acer, copyright Patricia Mroczka
  • Lincoln Marsh Mushrooms, copyright Betsy Edwards
  • Copyright Carol Cooley
  • Blue Jay on River Birch, copyright Karen Remkus
  • A Shady Copse at the Dunes, copyright Joe Rizzo
  • Cecropia Moth, scrachboard with ink, copyright Jill Adzia

Congratulations and thank you to the artists, volunteers, and arboretum staff who helped make the 2021 Nature Artists’ Guild Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum a success!

These images were shared by some of the participating artists. Individual images and information about contacting the artists can be found on the 2021 Autumn Art Exhibit page in the Member Artwork section of this website.

2021 Autumn Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum November 6 through November 13

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Details of just a few of the nearly 150 works of nature art in the 2021 Autumn Art Exhibit by members of the Nature Artists Guild of The Morton Arboretum. Left to right – Time Travelers, copyright Ann Lamoureux, Kestrel, copyright Jane Kellenberger, Tangled Acer, copyright Patricia Mroczka, Orange leaves/blue drops, copyright Vicki Liszewski, Celebrating the end of 2020, copyright Patti Koenigsaecker. The exhibit will also feature numerous works of art by Featured Artist Jill Adzia.

The trees and the members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are putting on their wonderful displays at the same time this year and timed-entry passes and tickets to The Morton Arboretum are disappearing quickly. Guest tickets are already sold-out for today (although some member tickets are still available.) Scheduled volunteers and reception guests will not require passes or tickets, and members will find all the details in a recent email.

This year’s Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit will be open to visitors for a full week to better accommodate the artists and volunteers as well as the guests. Even weekday passes and tickets may sell-out, so early ordering is recommended. The exhibit is free-of-charge with admission to The Morton Arboretum.

Autumn Art Exhibit by Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum Begins November 6, 2021

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There will be leaves and landscapes, birds and bugs, maples and mushrooms, and much more in the 2021 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum. Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be displaying nearly 150 works of art beginning Saturday, November 6, 2021 in the Cudahy Room of the Administration and Research/Sterling Morton Library building at The Morton Arboretum.

A small sample of the artwork to be exhibited next week in a variety of media, sizes, shapes, styles, and subject matter –

  • Orange leaves/blue drops, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Kestrel, copyright Jane Kellenberger
  • A Shady Copse at the Dunes, copyright Joe Rizzo
  • Blue Jay on River Birch, copyright Karen Remkus
  • Bumblebee Nest locket, copyright Karen A Johnson
  • Celebrating the end of 2020, copyright Patti Koenigsaecker
  • Rabbits, silverpoint, copyright Arlene Widrewitz
  • Lincoln Marsh Mushrooms, copyright Betsy Edwards
  • Pileated Woodpecker, copyright Jill Adzia
  • Fall, copyright Kathi Kuchler (one of a set of four seasons)
    Fall, copyright Kathi Kuchler (one of a set of four)
  • Copyright Marlene Vitek
    Copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Twilight Visit, copyright Yvonne Buckley
  • Tangled Acer, copyright Patricia Mroczka
  • White Magnolia, copyright Linn Eldred
  • Copyright Carol Cooley
  • Time Travelers, copyright Ann Lamoureux

If the slideshow does not display correctly on your device, please click here to visit the website.

Time to Take a Photo and Find a Framer!

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Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild who are participating in the 2021 Autumn Art Exhibit may want to finish up those details and get their piece to the framer. The exhibit is only two weeks away!

Screech Owl Chick, copyright Jill Adzia

Artists should also remember to photograph their work. These photos will be useful for numerous reasons – for entering future competitions or exhibits, for sharing with friends and family, and for sharing on this website or in the Nature Artists’ Quarterly (a members-only publication of the Nature Artists’ Guild.)

Most phones take excellent photographs, but it would be worth it to take a peek at the instructions online if unfamiliar with the settings. Some phones have a default setting that will make colors more vivid, blur the background, or incorrectly adjust the lighting. Learning to avoid some of these issues by choosing appropriate settings before taking the photos can save a lot of time trying to correct them later. Professional photographers will often remind beginners to take many photos (changing settings or lighting in between.) This increases the odds that at least one of the photos will accurately represent the artwork (or require less editing.)

We will post a few photos of the exhibit artwork as a preview on this website in the coming weeks and the rest after the exhibit closes. Guild members will receive an email soon with instructions for submitting images.

Before Autumn Begins

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Summer may be coming to an end soon, but nature artists still have time to enjoy the beautiful weather while beginning to prepare for the colder months. (As always, please click on the highlighted links for more information and important details.)

Links to the prospectus for the Autumn 2021 Exhibit have been emailed to all members. This long-awaited in-person exhibit at The Morton Arboretum in November 2021 will have extended hours to better accommodate artists and visitors. Much more about this exhibit and Featured Artist Jill Adzia will be coming soon.

2021 Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit poster. Artwork by Jill Adzia, poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

A paint-out at the Peck Farm Park is scheduled for Friday, September 10, 2021. The park’s Butterfly House closes soon, so it may be one of the last chances to capture an image of these beauties this year!

Jeanne’s Garden, copyright Linda C. Fairbanks

Tuesday Morning Coffee Club gatherings continue at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum every week beginning at 9 am. All members are welcome to stop by but will need a timed-entry ticket to enter the arboretum.

Exterior of Ginkgo Restaurant and Cafe facing Meadow Lake at The Morton Arboretum. Photo credit mortonarb.org.

Online workshops by Visiting Artist Betsy Rogers-Knox and one of the guild’s own talented members, Carrie Carlson, are open for registration at The Morton Arboretum. Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will receive an additional discount for the Visiting Artist class if they register by phone and mention their guild membership.

Holiday card in watercolor, copyright Carrie Carlson

Visions of Nature Exhibit Closes Soon

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Colorful Iris, copyright Linn Eldred

There is still time to enjoy Visions of Nature, an in-person exhibit at the McCord Gallery in Palos Park, IL. The exhibit features approximately thirty works of art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The gallery is open weekdays from 10 am until 4 pm and Saturdays from 11 am until 4 pm and the exhibit will be open until September 5, 2021. The gallery is closed on Sundays.