Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit at Hidden Oaks Opens July 6, 2022

Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Detail of photo by Suzy Lyttle, Forest Preserve District of Will County, reconnectwithnature.org.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is excited to announce the opening of an exhibit at a hidden gem of the suburbs, the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, IL, on July 6, 2022.

The Hidden Oaks Nature Center and surrounding 33 acres were recently acquired by the Forest Preserve District of Will County and they are looking forward to re-opening the building to the public in July. (Please click on this link to a video to learn more about the past, present, and future of the center and preserve.)

The Nature Artists’ Guild will be participating in the celebration with an exhibit of nearly fifty pieces of nature art created by its members. The exhibit will be held in one of the center’s light-filled rooms, which feature lovely panoramic views of the preserve’s wooded areas, until the end of July.

An open-house and reception will be held on the evening of July 8 from 4 to 7 pm. The reception will take place in a room adjacent to the exhibit space and on the balcony overlooking the preserve. Refreshments will be provided by the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

The Not-So-Lazy Days of Summer Begin

Summer Memories, pastel, copyright Laverne Bohlin. Click on image for link to Laverne’s website.

The Nature Artists’ Guild has a lot in store, from programs and paint-outs to special exhibits and projects, for the upcoming “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer (Nat King Cole, 1963.)

Members are invited to stop by Ginkgo Restaurant and Café in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum at 9 am for informal weekly gatherings beginning tomorrow, June 1, 2022. These will continue throughout the season. (Timed-entry passes will be required.) Note – time has been updated to 9 am from previously announced 11 am.

The following evening, Thursday, June 2, 2022, the Nature Artists’ Guild will be sponsoring a program (open to all, free of charge) at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum at 7 pm. This annual program will feature three talented members of the guild sharing some of their artistic inspirations, tools, and techniques. (Timed-entry passes are not required.)

Paint-outs will be scheduled as the summer progresses, and special projects and exhibits are being planned for July and August. Award-winning pastel artist (and guild member) Laverne Bohlin will be giving a presentation at the August 4th program and teaching a workshop for the arboretum the following weekend. Many more details coming soon!

Please click on any of the highlighted links for more information.

From the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2022 Spring Art Exhibit

Thank you to all the artists, volunteers, arboretum staff, supporters, and visitors for contributing to the success of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2022 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.

For those who missed the exhibit as well as those who would just enjoy another look, here is a sample of the wonderful nature art created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The images are also presented in a different format on the Member Artwork page of this website.

All artwork exhibited on this website is the sole property of the artist and should not be used or reproduced without their written consent.  If you would like to contact one of the artists, please use the contact form on the About page and you will receive an e-mail reply, normally within 48 hours. Your contact information will not be shared or used for any other purpose.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Art Exhibit Reception Tonight, April 8, 2022

My Half-Shell Sanctuary, acrylic, copyright Nancy Wu. One example of the nearly 200 works of art at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2022 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2022 Spring Art Exhibit reception for members and guests will take place tonight from 4:30 until 7 at The Morton Arboretum. Timed-entry passes are not necessary to attend the reception and the gate attendant will direct visitors to the exhibit location. (Timed-entry passes to The Morton Arboretum will be required on Saturday and Sunday.)

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s Annual Celebration of Spring

While we wait patiently for spring to burst into bloom, we can enjoy artwork inspired by the season (as well as the others) at the Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Art Exhibit beginning on the evening of Friday, April 8, 2022 (reception) and continuing throughout the weekend at The Morton Arboretum.

The exhibit will feature nearly 200 works of art by approximately 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and is open to all. Please click on the highlighted links for more information.

Nature Artists’ Guild 2022 Spring Art Exhibit April 8 – 10

Above is a sample of some of the wonderful art that will be included in the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum from April 8 (reception) through April 10.

Approximately 200 pieces of art by nearly 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild as well as artist demonstrations will be featured throughout the exhibit for the enjoyment of all visitors to The Morton Arboretum. There is no additional fee to attend the exhibit after admission to the arboretum.

Creating Art at the 2022 Spring Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit

In addition to viewing more than 200 works of nature art by nearly 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum, visitors will have the opportunity to observe some of the talented artists at work, learn about their materials, and ask questions.

From 5 until 7 pm on Friday, April 8, Sharon Malec will demonstrate techniques for depicting landscapes and clouds with soft texture using needle felting.

Copyright Sharon Malec

On Saturday, April 9 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm, Jill Adzia will share some of her tips on capturing the fascinating details of nature with scratchboard.

Copyright Jill Adzia

On Saturday, April 9 from 1 until 3 pm, Dan Danielson will be using watercolor to create wonderfully loose and vivid paintings.

Copyright Dan Danielson

On Sunday, April 10 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm, Terrie McComb will show visitors how she creates delicate botanical drawings in colored pencil.

Winter Whimsy, colored pencil on Mylar film, copyright Terrie McComb

On Sunday, April 10 from 1 to 3 pm, Lindsay Sandbothe will share her techniques for painting wonderful wildlife on wood using acrylics.

Red-winged Blackbird, acrylic on wood, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe

Please click here for more information about the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild

Featured Artist of the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild, Paulette McDermott

Magnolia, copyright Paulette McDermott

The Nature Artists’ Guild is pleased to announce the Featured Artist of the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum, Paulette McDermott. To learn more about Paulette and her inspirations and view images of some of her wonderful artwork, visit her Featured Artist page of this website.

In addition to numerous works by Paulette, the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit will include nearly 200 pieces by approximately 50 participating members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The exhibit will be free and open to all visitors to The Morton Arboretum on the weekend of April 9 and 10, 2022, and to friends and family members of the artists and members of the arboretum on the evening of April 8. Please click on the highlighted link for details.

2022 Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum

2022 Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Art Exhibit poster. Artwork by Paulette McDermott. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

Spring must be on its way! One of the earliest signs of spring each year is the poster for the Spring Art Exhibit of The Nature Artists’ Guild at The Morton Arboretum.

Much more about the 2022 Spring Featured Artist, Paulette McDermott, as well as samples of her artwork and that of some of the other participating artists will be coming soon.

The digital version of the exhibit postcard will be emailed to members to share with their friends and family and copies of the poster and postcards will be available to pick up at next week’s program at The Morton Arboretum.

  • There is still time to join the Nature Artists’ Guild or renew membership for 2022 and participate in the upcoming exhibit. New or returning members will be emailed a link to the prospectus when their membership is confirmed (current members were emailed a link on February 5.)
  • Completed prospectuses must be returned by Monday, March 7, 2022.
  • Click here for more information about membership. If joining by mail, please use this contact form to let us know.

George Bruce Presentation on March 3, 2022

Copyright George Bruce

George Bruce’s education and career in design and marketing well-prepared him for later following his passion of creating fine art. Initially creating lovely scenes in watercolor, George also developed an affinity and for using oil pastels and sometimes combining the two.

More of George’s work can be seen at the Proud Fox Gallery in Geneva, IL and he teaches at the Dupage Art League.

On Thursday evening, March 3, 2022 beginning at 7 pm, George will give an in-person presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. The presentation will be open to all and free-of-charge for admission to the program, admission to the arboretum, and parking. Visitors can let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be directed to Thornhill.

Please note – The board of the Nature Artists’ Guild has, in an effort to ensure that all members and guests feel safe and welcome, made a decision to require that masks be worn by all attendees at the March 3, 2022 meeting. The presenter may not wear a mask during the presentation, but has been asked to while in closer conversations with guests. Please note that The Morton Arboretum has, in alignment with the state of Illinois, lifted its indoor mask requirement and there is a slight possibility of encountering arboretum staff or members of the public within the building who may not be wearing masks.


Note for members – Posters and postcards for the upcoming 2022 Spring Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum will be available to pick up at the meeting.