Yay! Spring is finally here, and a great way to celebrate is to visit The Morton Arboretum on the weekend of April 6th and 7th, 2019. There will be plenty to enjoy outdoors, of course, but it is also the weekend of the 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art, featuring nearly 150 works of nature art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum. Please read more by clicking hereor on the above highlighted link.
Here is just a small sample of the artwork in the exhibit. Thank you to all of the artists who contributed to this preview.
During the Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring 2019 Exhibit of Natural History Art, visitors will have the opportunity to watch, speak with, and ask questions of talented artists working in a variety of media in addition to enjoying the nearly 150 works of art on display.
On Friday evening, April 5, 2019, during the Artists’ Reception for members of The Morton Arboretum and guests of the artists, Ku-mie Kim will be sharing watercolor techniques from 5 until 7:30 pm.
The 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art featuring approximately 150 works of art by nearly 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is only a few weeks away. The exhibit will be held in the Cudahy Room of the Administration (and Library) building at the Arboretum on the weekend of April 6 and 7, 2019. An Artists’ Reception for members of the Arboretum and guests of the artists will be held on the evening of April 5, 2019.
Coming soon – some of the artists will be sharing a preview of their work!
The poster and postcards for the 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art featuring the artwork of Karen Johnson and designed by Evelyn Grala are ready! Anyone who would like posters to display or postcards to share can pick some up at the Nature Artists’ Guild program on Thursday, March 7, 2019, or at Megan Dunning’s office in the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum during regular business hours.
Nature Artist’s Guild members will soon receive digital copies of the postcard in their e-mail, and are encouraged to share them with friends and family!
Nature Artists’ Guild 2019 Spring Exhibit poster. Poster artwork by Featured Artist Karen Johnson. Poster design by Evelyn Grala.
Please visit this website’s Featured Artist page to learn more about Karen Johnson and to view some of her lovely artwork. Also worth visiting is Karen’s personal blog, Karen’s Nature Art, a fascinating collection of her thoughts, sketches, and photographs of the time she spends in nature.
One of the earliest signs of the season is the announcement of the annual Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Exhibition of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum! The dates of the exhibition are April 6 and 7, 2019 (with a reception for guests of the artists as well as members of the Arboretum on the evening of Friday, April 5, 2019).
There will be much more information about this exhibit and its Featured Artist, Karen Johnson, to come in the next few weeks.
Brought to Life, Leadwort, Acrylic, Copyright Karen A. Johnson. Please click on the image to view Karen’s blog, Karen’s Nature Art.
For now, this is a reminder to participating artists that completed prospectuses should be mailed on or before Monday, March 4, 2019. The prospectus form and instructions were e-mailed to eligible Guild members on February 4, 2019. Members can contact Alice Wych (whose contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook) for any questions.
Also, the fundraising workshops are back! On Wednesday, February 27 at 1:30 pm, at the Thornhill Education Center of the Arboretum, Pat Mroczka will be hosting a member’s workshop for painting rocks or small canvases to be sold at the Spring Exhibition. This casual workshop is a fun way to get to know other artists and possibly learn a new skill or pick up some tips. Rocks and canvases will be provided, but participants are asked to bring their own paints and brushes (acrylic paint and synthetic brushes are recommended for painting the rocks). Those members who would prefer to just stop by and pick up a rock or canvas to work on at home are welcome to.
The 2019 Winter Encounter Gallery, featuring artwork by participating members of the Nature Artists’ Guild has been updated to include ink drawings from Week 3. Week 4, the final week of the project, requests that artists use collage techniques. Please click on the above highlighted link or on the Member Artwork tab to see the creative and lovely results from Week 3.
Project coordinator Evelyn Grala’s examples from the first three weeks –
The prospectus for the 2019 Spring Exhibition of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum has been sent to members of the Guild. We will be hearing much more about the upcoming exhibit in the weeks ahead!
The first paint-out of the year, taking place at Orchids by Hausermann is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, February 12, 2019. All spots have already been reserved for this popular tropical paint-“in”.
The Nature Artists’ Guild sponsored program at The Morton Arboretum tomorrow evening, Thursday, February 7, 2019 will feature Benjamin Calvert IIIand his striking block prints. All are welcome to attend this program, free-of-charge. Please click here to read more.
North Shore Repose, copyright 2017, Benjamin F. Calvert III. Used with permission.
Why not a few resolutions for 2019 that are enjoyable and easy to keep? Here are a few for artists at every skill level –
Learn new art techniques and methods from renowned artists from the local area as well as from across the country (and occasionally around the world)
Participate in wonderful and well-attended exhibitions at The Morton Arboretum and other venues
Attend paint-outs with fellow artists, often at locations only accessible as part of an artist’s group
Pick up tips and inspiration from artists who are also interested in nature, but whose work varies widely in style, specific subject matter, and technique
Nature Artists’ Guild at Orchids by Hausermann, an annual winter paint-out location.
2019 could be the year to increase artistic skills, learn a new technique, exhibit for the first (or 100th) time, or just have many opportunities to learn from and gain inspiration from fellow artists, all while having fun and enjoying the natural world. Becoming a member of (or renewing membership to) the Nature Artists’ Guild will make it much easier to keep those resolutions!
Please click on this link to the Membership Brochure to learn more. Membership in the Nature Artists’ Guild does not require membership at The Morton Arboretum. A preview of some of the planned events for 2019 will be coming soon.
The first exhibit of work by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum next year will take place at the Downers Grove Public Library from January 2 until February 2, 2019.
Current members of the Guild will need to return their completed prospectuses (e-mailed to members on November 17, 2018) by Monday, December 17, 2018 to be eligible to participate. This one is easy! Since the artwork must have been included in a Nature Artists’ Guild exhibition within the past five years, it is already completed, titled, framed, and ready to hang, and just needs to be dropped off at the library on Saturday, December 29, 2018 between 10 and 11 am. All details are in the prospectus.
The leaves may be at “peak color” just in time for the Nature Artists’ Guild exhibitnext weekend, November 3 and 4, 2018 at The Morton Arboretum (and the reception on Friday evening for guests of the artists and Arboretum members).
There will also be “peak color” of a slightly different nature indoors, at the annual Autumn exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild. Here are just a few examples from the more than one hundred pieces of nature art that will be on display.
Please click on this link or the tab under Member Artwork to view each piece individually.
Nature Artists' Guild 