An Added Bonus for Members and Guests

For members of The Morton Arboretum and guests of Nature Artists’ Guild members, the Artists’ Reception for the Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art on Friday evening, April 7, from 5 until 9 pm will include a bonus exhibition of the work of and an opportunity to meet Luciana Peters in the Sterling Morton Library, located next to the Cudahy Auditorium in the Administration & Research Center.

Painting of birds, copyright Luciana Peters

Luciana Peters has been an active and influential member of the Nature Artists’ Guild for 30 years, and an illustrator and artist for almost 80!  At the age of 97 1/2, Luciana has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of, and is still working on more.

Luciana began her career as a commercial illustrator at the age of 18 in the late 1930’s, and has contributed to Vogue, Parade and Harper’s Magazines. As comfortable in nature as in the big city, Luciana is also an award-winning children’s book illustrator, an accomplished botanical artist, portrait artist, and naturalist. Her art is widely loved and collected and the Nature Artists’ Guild is honored to have her as a member.

Portrait of Wason (naturalist and educator Richard R. Wason), copyright Luciana Peters

Nature Artists’ Guild members can read more about Luciana in an article by Gail Diedrichsen for the Spring edition of The Nature Artists’ Quarterly.

Preparations for Next Week’s 2017 Spring Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Are Almost Complete

The food is being ordered, the rooms are being prepared, the flowers are being planned, and the exhibiting artists of the Nature Artists’ Guild are busy finishing up details or picking up their work from the framer.

Copyright Nancy Wu, featured artist of the Spring 2017 Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibition

Artwork drop-off (more officially known as Referee Night) is next Wednesday, April 5, 2017 between 6 and 8 pm in the Cudahy Auditorium, located in the Administration & Research Center of The Morton Arboretum.  

The opening of the exhibit and Artists’ Reception takes place on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 5 until 9 pm in the historic Sterling Morton Library, also located in the Administration & Research Center.  Refreshments will be available and all members of The Morton Arboretum as well as guests of the artists are invited. Guests can let the gate attendant know they are there for the exhibit and they will admitted free-of-charge and directed to the location.

The exhibit will continue throughout the weekend of April 8 and April 9, 2017 between 10 am and 4 pm and is open to all Arboretum visitors.  The Cudahy Auditorium is just a short and scenic walk from the Visitor Center.

Artwork pickup will be on Sunday, April 9, 2017 between 4:15 and 4:45 pm.

The Nature Artists’ Guild Spring 2017 Exhibition

Congratulations to Nancy Wu, the featured artist for the Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art. Nancy and nearly 50 other members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL will be exhibiting more than 150 stunning works of nature art in a variety of media.  The exhibition is open to all and admission is free, although a fee will be required (except for members) for entry into The Morton Arboretum.

nature-artists-guild-spring-2017-exhibition-poster
Artwork copyright by Nancy Wu. Poster design by Evelyn Grala.

An artists’ reception is scheduled for the evening of Friday, April 7, 2017 for members of The Morton Arboretum as well as guests of the artists. Nature Artists’ Guild members will receive a copy of the postcard with all the details by e-mail, which they can forward to their friends and family.

Copies of exhibit posters and postcards are available at the Thornhill office, or by contacting Evelyn Grala or exhibit co-chairpersons Patty Koenigsaecker or Mary Sinclair. Members can find contact information in their Yearbook.

Please click on this website’s Featured Artist page for more artwork by Nancy Wu .

Surely It Was Too Early For Spring to Have Sprung!

The snowflakes outside remind us that yes, we were fooled once again this year by the recent gorgeous weather. We weren’t the only ones, though.  Birds, mammals, bugs and even reptiles have also been out soaking up the sunshine and warm temperatures in the last few days.

Spring will have sprung before we know it, though, and Nature Artists’ Guild members have plenty to keep them busy until it arrives-

  • Prospectuses for the Spring Exhibition of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum are due on Wednesday, March 1, 2017
  • Peggy Macnamara will be the featured speaker at the next Nature Artists’ Guild program from 7 until 9 pm on Thursday, March 2, 2017

    Goldfinch © 2013 Peggy Macnamara 2013
    Goldfinch © 2013 Peggy Macnamara
  • The Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum paint-out will be happening from 1 until 4 on Friday, March 10, 2017
  • The wonderful Winter Encounter has one more week to go

    magnolia-ink-colored-inks-copyright-nancy-thyfault
    Magnolia, Ink and Colored Inks, © 2017 Nancy Thyfault
  • Openings are available for upcoming art classes offered by The Morton Arboretum
  • The Spring Exhibition of Natural History Art will be held on the weekend of April 8th and April 9th, 2017 at The Morton Arboretum, with a special artists’ reception for Arboretum members and guests of the artists on Friday, April 7, 2017.  Check back soon for more about this event and the exhibition’s Featured Artist, Nancy Wu.

    2017 Spring Exhibition Featured Artist Nancy Wu at Nature Artists' Guild paint-out at Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, 2015
    2017 Spring Exhibition Featured Artist Nancy Wu at Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out at Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, 2015

Please click on any of the highlighted links to read more. Some events are open to the public, while others are reserved for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild.

First Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit of 2017 Opens Tomorrow

The first Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit of the new year opens tomorrow, January 4, 2017 at the Downers Grove Library,  1050 Curtiss Street, Downers Grove, IL. The exhibit will be open during normal library hours, 9 am to 9 pm on weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays, and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays.

The Downers Grove Library has a wonderful gallery space featuring rotating displays, and even has its own collection of art.  The exhibit of select works by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum runs through February 1, 2017.

The 2016 Autumn (Holiday) Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum

We are proud to present the official exhibit poster of the 2016 Holiday Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.  The poster artwork was created by our Featured Artist, Eva Holy (read more by clicking here), and as usual, member Evelyn Grala has done a wonderful job with the graphic design!

2016 Nature Artists' Guild Exhibit Poster. Artwork copyrighted by Evalyn Holy, poster design by Evelyn Grala.
2016 Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Poster. Artwork copyrighted by Evalyn Holy, poster design by Evelyn Grala.

Signs of Autumn

There’s a new header on our website, which can only mean that-

  • Autumn is here
  • The annual Holiday (Autumn) exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild, featuring approximately 150 works of art by 50 artists is coming soon
  • We have a new Featured Artist, Evalyn Holy, whose work will be highlighted at the upcoming exhibit (Congratulations Eva!)
Owl, copyright Evalyn Holy
Owl, copyright Evalyn Holy

Please read more about Evalyn, and see some of her wonderful drawings and paintings by clicking here or on the Featured Artist tab at the top of the Nature Artists’ Guild website.

Click here to read more about the upcoming exhibit in our new location, Cudahy Auditorium.

Annual Danada Nature Art and Photo Exhibit October 8 and 9, 2016

The Friends of Danada are proud to present their annual Nature Art and Photo exhibit on the weekend of October 8 and 9, 2016 between 11 am and 5 pm. Nature artists and photographers throughout the Chicagoland area are invited to participate in this juried exhibit located inside Danada House, the beautiful and historic former home of Dan and Ada Rice, at 3S507 Naperville Road in Wheaton, IL.

Danada House entrance. Photo credit danadahouse.com
Danada House entrance. Photo credit http://www.danadahouse.com

The Friends of Danada Nature Art and Photo Exhibit is held in conjunction with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s largest event of the year, the annual Danada Fall Festival. This popular festival is held on Sunday at the Danada Equestrian Center, on the grounds of Danada House, and attracts over 10,000 visitors each year.  Parking and admission to the event are free-of-charge.

An artists and photographers reception will be held at Danada House on Friday, October 7, 2016 from 7 to 9 pm. Winners in the various categories will be announced at that time.

For more information about participating in the Friends of Danada Nature Art and Photo Exhibit, please click here for Friends of Danada contact information.

Update:  Susan Bartlett’s Paper, pictured below, was awarded a first place ribbon at the Danada Nature Art and Photo Exhibit.  This stunning work is “colored pencil on five different papers and is titled Paper in reference to the paper birch, paper kite butterfly, paper wasp and paper whites”. Congratulations to Susan and all of the other Nature Artists’ Guild members who participated, some of whom were awarded “Honorable Mention” ribbons.

"Paper" copyright Susan Bartlett
“Paper” copyright Susan Bartlett

The Annual Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibition of Natural History Art in New Location this Autumn

Cudahy Auditorium, The Morton Arboretum
Cudahy Auditorium, The Morton Arboretum

The annual Nature Artists’ Guild Holiday Exhibit of natural history art has been scheduled for Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13, 2016. Friends, family and guests of Nature Artists’ Guild members, as well as members of The Morton Arboretum are also invited to attend the opening reception on the evening of Friday, November 11, 2016.

It’s important to note that this autumn’s exhibit will take place in the newly renovated Cudahy Auditorium at The Morton Arboretum. This wonderful, well-lit space is located in The Morton Arboretum Administration and Research Center, which also houses the distinctive Sterling Morton Library.  Just a short walk down a peaceful path will bring visitors from the busy Visitor Center and Ginkgo Restaurant and Cafe to the exhibit.

Check back soon for more details, including words and artwork from the exhibit’s featured artist, Eva Holy.