Click on image and right click to download and share.
So much to keep Nature Artists’ Guild members busy while awaiting the wonders of spring!
Joel Sheesley will share “conceptual and practical steps” in landscape painting on March 6, from 7 to 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. The program will be open to all, free of charge, with no registration required. (Posters and postcards for the Guild’s Spring 2025 Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum will also be available for attendees to take home and share with friends, family, and local businesses.)
A paint-out at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum will take place on the morning of March 6, beginning at 9:30. Coffee and Celia’s homemade muffins will prepare artists for a lovely morning of sketching and painting. Drop-ins are welcome, but registration ensures being contacted with updates.
The final day for Nature Artists’ Guild members to register for the 2025 Spring Exhibit is only one week from today. Members will need to register online or by mail by Saturday, March 8, 2025 to be eligible to participate. Last year’s Spring Exhibit attracted more than 1300 visitors!
Kline Creek Sunrise Moonset, oil on canvas, 16 x 20″, copyright 2019, Joel Sheesley. Click on image for more.
The Nature Artists’ Guild welcomes celebrated artist Joel Sheesley to The Morton Arboretum on the evening of Thursday, March 6, 2025 for a presentation on his “painting methods, conceptual understanding of, and sense of meaning in landscape painting.”
Learning the Land/Stewarding Beauty: Conceptual and Practical Steps with Joel Sheesley will begin at 7 pmon March 6 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
All are invited to attend this free program, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild. There will be no charge for admission, parking, or entrance intoThe Morton Arboretum for this event, and no registration is required. Visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the presentation to be directed to the Thornhill Education Center.
April Pool, Great Western Trail, oil on canvas, 12 x 24″, copyright 2020, Joel Sheesley
Poster artwork by Featured Artist Vicki Liszewski. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.
The 2025 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum, featuring artwork by approximately 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, is coming soon!More than 1000 visitors are expected to view the 200 or more works of nature art between April 4 and April 6, 2025.
All current Guild members were emailed a prospectus and a link for online registration on February 1, and the final day to register, either online or by mail, is March 8, 2025. New members who join the Nature Artists’ Guild by March 8 will also receive a prospectus and be eligible to register. Much more about the exhibition and Featured Artist Vicki Liszewski, as well as samples of exhibit artwork, will be coming soon.
In other news for the Nature Artists’ Guild –
A visit to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum for a paint-out is scheduled for the morning of Thursday, March 6, 2025. Participants can choose from thousands of specimens to sketch, paint, or photograph while enjoying hot coffee and homemade muffins by Paint-Out Coordinator Celia Rodee. Guild members can register for the paint-out here.
The Nature Artists’ Guild is excited to announce that the speaker for the March 6, 2025 evening presentation at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum will be Joel Sheesley. This program, sponsored by the Guild, will be open to all, free of charge, and no registration is required to attend. More about Joel and his work coming soon.
2025 Spring Exhibit posters and postcards will be available for attendees at the March 6 evening program. Everyone is also encouraged to share the online version of the poster with their friends and family! (Open and right-click on image for options.)
Copies of the Spring 2025 Nature Artists’ Quarterly(a members-only publication) will be arriving in mailboxes by the first week of March. The Quarterly includes news, artwork, and articles contributed by members of the Guild, all artfully presented by Publications Chair Jane Kellenberger.
The Nature Artists’ Guild still needs volunteers to assist with some of the duties of the Social Committee. Most involve a minimum time commitment and are a much-appreciated way to help the Guild. (A volunteer to help with refreshments at the March 6 meeting is needed as soon as possible.)
This year’s theme for the Guild’s annual display of small works honoring The Morton Arboretum in November (alongside the annual Autumn Exhibit) will be “Flora.” The special project involves members exhibiting up to three unframed 8 x 8-inch works of art created at or inspired by the Arboretum. More details and a registration form to come soon.
As always, Guild members and visitors are welcome to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum any Wednesday morning (weather permitting) to enjoy time with fellow artists at a Coffee and Art gathering.
Aphrodite Sweetshrub, copyright Arlene Widrevitz, will be one of many works of art celebrating nature at a special exhibit at the Downers Grove Library this January.
The year begins with a special exhibit and quickly jumps right into exciting paint-outs, programs, and other ways for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to celebrate and share the beauty of nature throughout winter.
The Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual exhibit at the Downers Grove Library opens in just three days, on Tuesday, January 7 during normal library hours. Guild members’ artwork will complement the library’s permanent collection throughout library exhibit spaces for all to enjoy through February 4, 2025.
A paint-out at the Field Museum has been scheduled for January 18. Guild members will join members of the Artists at the field group in sketching some of the wonders of the natural world. Much more about this event will be emailed to Guild members soon.
On February 6, the Guild welcomes talented artist and beloved instructor Rhonda Nass for an online presentation about her experiences with scratchboard and colored pencil. Guild members will be emailed a link for attending the presentation. More details will be coming soon, including instructions for non-members to attend.
Also on February 6, Guild artists can leave the winter behind for a few hours at Orchids by Hausermann. This paint-out starts in the early hours, but the thousands of orchids and balmy conditions in the greenhouse of Hausermann’s make it worth setting the alarm. More details and a form to register online will be available soon.
It’s time to begin thinking of Spring! Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild who have news, articles, or artwork for the Spring edition of the Quarterly must submit them no later than February 1, 2025. An email with instructions for submission will be sent to all members in coming weeks.
The theme for the Guild’s annual 8 x 8 project, in which members create small works of art honoring The Morton Arboretum, will be announced soon for those who want to get an early start! The artwork will be exhibited alongside the Guild’s annual Autumn Exhibit at the Arboretum in November.
Click on image for a sample of images and list of posts from 2024.
2024 was filled with programs and paint-outs, exhibits and demonstrations, gatherings and artwork, and friendship and fun for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.
The Guild is hoping to welcome back all of its current members, as well as new ones, for even more in 2025. (Memberships are for the calendar year, so joining or renewing by January 1 ensures receiving all the benefits for the year.)
Please enjoy this small sample of images from 2024 (or scroll through the website or visit the Member Artwork pages for many more).
Downers Grove Library exhibit 2024
Diamonds of Winter detail, Dale Olsen
Field Museum paint-out
Field Museum paint-out
Claudia Lane presentation
Orchids by Hausermann paint-out
Great Horned Owl, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe
Spring Exhibit poster 2024
Rachel Davis presentation
Jurica-Suchy Museum paint-out
Goldfinch, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe
Rachel Davis presentation
Spring exhibit demo
Spring exhibit demo
Spring exhibit demo
Spring exhibit demo
Spring exhibit demo
Jewels of Spring, copyright Beth Berry
Wild Bergamot, copyright Lisa Kanellos
Spring 2024 Artists’ Card Collection
Daffodil Glade, copyright Yvonne Buckley
Lilacia Park paint-out
Aurora Public Art exhibit postcard
Lilacia Park paint-out
Cicada pendant detail, copyright Karen A Johnson
Ink demonstration, Nancy Wu
Glazing demonstration by Dale Olsen
Aurora Public Art exhibit
Private Garden paint-out
Anderson Japanese Gardens paint-out
Nature Journal Pages class by Sandra Wilcoxon
Grand Garden paint-out
Wine and Art Walk
Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum poster
Cantigny paint-out
Presentation by Don Widmer
Presentation by Don Widmer
Autumn events montage
Morning Light 3, copyright Dale Olsen
Trees exhibit
Trees at Sunset, copyright Marlene Vitek
Three Fall Maples, copyright Maggie Capettini
Autumn Exhibit demonstration
Autumn Exhibit demonstration
Autumn Exhibit demonstration
Autumn Exhibit demonstration
Autumn Exhibit demonstration
Yellowstone Tree Root detail, copyright Jeffrey Zawada
All those interested in learning more about the Nature Artists’ Guild or current members who would just like to spend an enjoyable morning with fellow artists are invited to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum any Wednesday morning after 9.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild can spend time sketching, photographing, or just chatting at these informal friendly gatherings. (What a perfect time to work on their holiday card project!)
Visitors can also ask questions and learn more about the Guild from current members in a relaxed and casual setting (with absolutely no pressure to join).
Why not stop by?
Note: Gatherings may be canceled without notice due to inclement weather and are not scheduled on holidays. Membership in the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum is not required to attend, but regular Arboretum gate fees will apply.
Register for the Holiday Card Exchange by December 5. Just a few years ago, the Guild began coordinating informal exchanges of handmade holiday cards between members. This popular event is now an annual tradition! Members were emailed all the details in November, and for those participants who would like to use them, blank multi-media cards will be available at the December 5 party.
Attend the annual Holiday Party on the evening of December 5. The Holiday Party is a year-end celebration that gives Guild members an opportunity to enjoy a meal and spend time with fellow artists in the lovely Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. A fun raffle of donated nature and art-related items will be held (cash only for raffle tickets). Each member is invited to bring a guest, and there is no registration required. Nature Artists’ Guild members received an invitation by email in November with details.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, even those in warm and sunny climes, can look forward to a flurry (of activity) to close out 2024!
The Guild’s 2025 Downers Grove Library exhibit won’t open until January, but members must register by December 4, 2024, and drop off their work on December 14 to be included. This exhibit will feature work previously shown at The Morton Arboretum (titling, matting, framing, and labels are already done!) as well as some new pieces, bringing the beauty of nature art to a new audience.
By popular demand, the Guild’s Holiday Card Exchange has returned for 2024. Participating Guild members will be asked to create an original holiday card to mail to another member (whose name they will be given in secret). Participants can sign up for the exchange here by December 5 or contact coordinator Celia Rodee for more information. Details were also emailed to all members earlier this month.
Guild members are invited to attend the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual Holiday Party on the evening of December 5, 2024 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. Details about this fun and festive event were emailed to members earlier this month. No registration is required.
The Nature Artists’ Guild is now accepting renewals and new memberships for 2025. Memberships are for the calendar year, so renewing or joining before the beginning of the year will ensure members receive all the benefits for 2025.
Winter issues of the Nature Artists’ Quarterly will be mailed soon. Members can look forward to receiving their copy, full of news and artwork by and for fellow nature artists, on or around December 1.
All artists, even those not currently members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, are invited to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum to chat or sketch at a Coffee and Art gathering any Wednesday morning between 9 and 11, weather permitting and holidays excepted. (Arboretum membership or a gate fee will be required.)
The Nature Artists’ Guild is looking for committee volunteers for 2025. Members can check here for current volunteer openings.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild have so much to do this Autumn! Here is a quick reminder about some upcoming events and deadlines –
On Wednesday, October 2, members of the Guild will meet at the gardens of Cantigny Park for the last paint-out of the season from 9:30 until noon. Registration is recommended, but drop-ins are also welcome.
All are invited to the October 3, 2024 presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild at The Morton Arboretum from 7 until 9 pm. Artist Don Widmer will be sharing some of his techniques for creating textural art using paper pulp. There will be no charge to attend this presentation.
Guild members who would like to contribute to the gift baskets to be raffled at the upcoming 2024 Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum can drop off items at the October 3 meeting. An email was recently sent to members with all the details.
Posters and postcards for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2024 Autumn Exhibit will be available at the October 3rd meeting for members and guests to pick up to share with friends, family, and local businesses.
Nature Artists’ Guild members who are interested in learning more about next year’s open volunteer positions can speak with current volunteers at the October 3rd meeting after the presentation is over (the attendant at the welcome table can steer members to the appropriate person to answer their questions).
The final day for Guild members to register online or by mail for the special exhibit “Trees” will also be October 7, 2024.
Also coming soon – artwork by the 2024 Autumn Exhibit Featured Artist, Dale Olsen, as well as many more of the exhibitors. Details for contributing images will be emailed to all exhibiting artists soon.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild who would like to share articles or images of their autumn-inspired artwork in the members-only publication, the Quarterly, should forward them to Jane Kellenberger by August 1, 2024. Guild members recently received an email with details and an email address for submitting.
Nature Artists’ Guild members are reminded that the theme of theGuild’s annual tribute to The Morton Arboretum (8 x 8-inch works of art inspired by their collections) is “Trees” for 2024. This special display will be exhibited during the Guild’s annual Autumn Exhibit at the Arboretum in November. More information here.
Nature Artists' Guild 
