Grab your gear and go – no plane tickets or passports needed! On Tuesday, March 22, 2016, between 9 am and noon, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will once again have the chance to sketch, draw, paint, and photograph specimens from every corner of the earth by visiting the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum in the Birck Hall of Science at Benedictine University, 5700 College Road,in Lisle, IL. Please click on this link for a map of the campus.
For the first time, the museum has offered to bring specific specimens out of storage by request. Paint-out participants can request specimens by contacting Jane Kellenberger (whose contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook) before Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Jane will forward the requests to the museum staff. A searchable online specimen catalog of the museum’s collection is available by clicking here.
Members can RSVP to Jane,but there is plenty of room for everyone, so last minute drop-ins are absolutely welcome!
Some seating is available, but participants are encouraged to bring a folding chair along with their art supplies and camera.
God’s Will, colored pencil, copyright Rhonda Nass. Used with permission. Text not part of original image.
Rhonda Nassis an internationally acclaimed, award-winning artist, who also teaches workshops in both colored pencil and acrylic techniques at The Morton Arboretum as part of the Visiting Artists Series. The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is honored to sponsor a presentation on colored pencil and a book signing by Rhonda on Thursday, March 3, 2016, and to co-sponsor a workshop with the Arboretum the following Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 4th through 6th, 2016, in which Rhonda will share her techniques for painting in acrylic.
At Thursday evening’s presentation between 7 and 9 pm at Thornhill, Rhonda will discuss some of her colored-pencil artwork, including God’s Will, shown above (yes that is colored pencil, and a recent winner in the Colored Pencil Society of America’s 23rd Annual International Exhibit!), and sign copies of her new book, Scratchings of a Madwoman. This gorgeous book is filled with Rhonda’s colored pencil drawings, as well as her beautifully written inspirational stories, and an entire section is devoted to Rhonda’s techniques for working with colored pencils. Rhonda’s kind and generous nature certainly comes through in this book as she shares her thoughts and artwork with her readers.
Nature Artists’ Guild members, visitors and guests are welcome to attend this program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. There is no charge for admission or parking, either to the Arboretum or to this program. Visitors should let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the program and they will be directed to Thornhill.
Mimosa Fireworks, acrylic, copyright Rhonda Nass. Used with permission. Text not part of original image.
On the following Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the Nature Artists’ Guild and The Morton Arboretum are excited to co-sponsor an acrylic workshop by Rhonda. To enroll in this workshop, please visit the class listings at The Morton Arboretum’s website, or click on this direct link to the workshop. This workshop is limited to 15 participants, and is expected to fill quickly! Rhonda describes it as follows –
Acrylic Stroke-Free, A New Watercolor– If visions of harshly-colored gobs of paint come to mind when you hear the work acrylic, you are not alone. This class will blow that perspective out the window. Through a simple, step-by-step exercise, you’ll learn a unique acrylic technique that involves diluting paint from the tube and applying layers of translucent color with a feathering stroke that results in a stroke-free final appearance with unlimited potential for extremely tight detail and dramatic coloring and lighting. We’ll take a fresh (and brief) look at composition and proceed with each artist beginning a simple painting of a tomato and leaf to learn the technique enough to move on to a painting using the subject of her/his choice. There will be time to gain enough skills through demonstrations, one-on-one time, and practice in the workshop to leave the class confident to complete with with excellence the personalized acrylic artwork.
Please click on any of the highlighted links above to learn more. For more about Rhonda and her artwork, please click on this link to her website, www.rnass.com.
The images above are copyrighted by Rhonda Nass. As always, the use of any image on this website is prohibited without the written consent of the artist.
Don’t forget that the first Nature Artists’ Guild program of the year takes place this evening, Thursday, February 4, 2016. JoAnne Laudolff’s upcoming class at The Morton Arboretum may already be sold out, but Guild members, guests, and visitors will still have a chance to see how she creates her oil and cold wax collages.
JoAnne Laudolff with one of her Oil and Cold Wax works
The presentation is from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center. There is no charge for admission or parking for this event, and visitors can just let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.
Tomorrow evening, Friday, February 5, 2016 is the opening reception for the Nature Artists’ Guild at Gallery 200 in West Chicago, IL from 6 until 9 pm. It is a wonderful opportunity to view some beautiful nature art, enjoy a few refreshments, and support local artists.
Please scroll down to previous posts to read more about these upcoming events.
There are so many reasons to celebrate in February! Some of our greatest presidents had birthdays in February, and St. Valentines day is celebrated in February. Outdoors in February, high up in the trees, cute little balls of feathers that will grow up to be Great Horned Owls are hatching, and down on the ground, the first flowers of spring, skunk cabbage, (whose flowers give off enough heat to be able to melt the snow immediately around themselves) will be blooming.
One more reason to celebrate February is that it is the month of the annual Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out at Orchids by Hausermannin Villa Park, IL. This year, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will meet from 8 am until 11 am on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 to sketch, draw, paint and photograph some of the thousands of orchids that will be blooming in February in the vast greenhouse of Orchids by Hausermann, the oldest and largest orchid grower in the Midwest. Apart from booking a trip to some exotic location, it may be the best opportunity in the Chicagoland area this February to spend a relaxing morning in a warm, tropical environment, surrounded by gorgeous orchids.
Photo credit Orchids by Hausermann
Nature Artists’ Guild members should contact Jane Kellenberger (whose contact information can be found in their Yearbook) to reserve a spot at this popular event, since space is very limited. Please click on this link to Orchids by Hausermann’s website for directions, and to view an online catalog of stunning orchids.
Oil and Cold Wax work, copyright JoAnne Laudolff. Used with permission.
JoAnne Laudolff has been creating artwork inspired by nature throughout her adult life, and after graduating from Columbia College in Chicago, IL, began to specialize in and teach Papermaking and Botanical Printing. JoAnne’s most recent passion is for mixed media, specifically, the Oil and Cold Wax technique, and members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, as well as their guests and visitors, will have the chance to learn more about JoAnne’s work with this technique on Thursday, February 4, 2016 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
” I like the peaceful landscape qualities that the medium conveys. I always incorporate nature into my art work. It is a way to take a little of that simplicity with me.”
Learn more about JoAnne Laudolff and her work atwww.joannespaperbarn.com. While there, please be sure to click through all four of the galleries to view her beautiful work in various media!
As always, visitors and guests are welcome to attend this presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild. There is no charge for attendance or parking, and visitors can just let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the program.
JoAnne Laudolff with one of her Oil and Cold Wax works inspired by nature.
The Nature Artists’ Guild Executive Board members and Committee Chairs will be meeting this Thursday to discuss upcoming programs, paint-outs, presentations, exhibits, workshops, field trips and social gatherings, and we look forward to the schedule for 2016. Nature Artists’ Guild members are always welcome to forward their ideas to any board or committee members, as events are added throughout the year.
Our busy new Program Coordinator (and Vice President), Sharon Malec, has already scheduled February and March, 2016 programs featuring artists JoAnne Laudolff and Rhonda Nass, and our new Outside Exhibits Chair, Gary Chipman,will be coordinating a Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit for February, 2016 at Gallery 200 in West Chicago, IL (members should have received a prospectus in December 2015).
The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to present two talented musicians at our annual holiday celebration this Thursday, December 3, 2015 at Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
Event coordinators Gail Diedrichsen and Susan Bartlett announce that they will be –
Introducing Maria Requena and Marlyn Ayala, our Rockin’ Stars.They’ve been practicing holiday music and are ready to rock the house on December 3rd!
Maria Requena and Marlyn Ayala
Please scroll down to recent posts to read more about the celebration.
Thanksgiving isn’t the only important gathering that always takes place on a Thursday! Each year, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum meet on the first Thursday of December for a holiday celebration with friends and fellow artists.
On Thursday, December 3, 2015, members and their guests will meet between 6 and 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center for appetizers and live music in the historic and elegant Founder’s Room, and entrees, desserts and a raffle in the Arbor Room.
Organizers Gail Diedrichsen and Susan Bartlett always do such a fantastic job of decorating for and organizing this fun and festive event that it is definitely worth setting aside the evening to attend, even during the already busy holiday season!
Members are asked to bring food to share (details were sent via e-mail), and contributions for the raffle are always welcome, but certainly not required. Gail or Susan would be glad to answer any questions about the event, and their contact information can be found in the Yearbook.
Just a reminder that this Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm, a special presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will feature visiting artist Wendy Brockman.
The Morton Arboretum will be hosting the 8th International Oak Society Conference from October 18 until October 21, 2015. In conjunction with this event and as part of the arboretum’s 2015 Visiting Artist Series, artist Wendy Brockman will be teaching a workshop entitled Painting Oaks. (A few openings for this workshop may still be available – please click on the link to visit the registration page.)
The Nature Artists’ Guild is thrilled to announce that Wendy has also agreed to present a discussion of her art, inspirations and techniques for our members, guests and visitors on the evening of Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
Wendy Brockman lives and works in Minnesota, where northern forests and rocky shorelines provide inspiration for her imagery. She explores her interests in art and environmental issues using a variety of media. An avid observer, her work examines bits and pieces of nature and the responses they evoke.
Widely exhibited, Brockman’s paintings have been included in group and solo exhibitions. Her work has received national and international exhibition awards and is held in public and private collections throughout the United States.
What a wonderful opportunity to view the stunning work of this fine artist and hear more about her inspirations! This special presentation will be open, as are all Nature Artists’ Guild programs, to members, guests and visitors. There is no fee for attendance, parking, or admission to The Morton Arboretum for this event, and visitors just need to let the gate attendant know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.
For more information about Wendy or to view more of her beautiful artwork, please visit www.wendybrockman.com by clicking on the link or any of the images.
Nature Artists' Guild 