Category: Meetings

Schedules, programs, news.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is Thinking of Spring

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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 –

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Beginning 2025 with a Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit and Much More

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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 here for information about new memberships or renewals for 2025

Looking Back at 2024 with the Nature Artists’ Guild

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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
  • Card Exchange
  • 2024 Holiday Card, copyright Suzanne Wegener
  • 2024 Holiday Card, copyright Celia Rodee

Nature Artists’ Guild’s Invitation to Stop By

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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.

This Week for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Yellowstone Tree Root, copyright Jeffrey Zawada will be included in the Nature Artists’ Guild’s January 2025 Exhibit at the Downers Grove Library.

December sneaked in so quickly this year that it’s hard to believe the time is here for Nature Artists’ Guild members to –

Register for the exhibit at the Downers Grove Library by December 4. The library has a long history of featuring artwork and has an impressive permanent collection by local and internationally renowned artists. The Nature Artists’ Guild has been honored for decades to be featured in their annual January exhibit, and will continue the tradition in 2025.

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.

Year-End Flurry for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Ermine, copyright Nancy Thyfault

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.
  • 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.

The Latest for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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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.
  • 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).
  • 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.

Reminders for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Detail of Summer Daydream, fiber art, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker

Some reminders for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum as August 2024 begins –

  • 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.

Kristina Knowski’s Avifauna Watercolors August 1, 2024

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To Sleep, copyright Kristina Knowski. Click on image to learn more.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to sponsor a presentation featuring Kristina Knowski and her ‘Avifauna Watercolors’ at The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, August 1, 2024 from 7 to 9 pm.

Kristina is a watercolorist depicting primarily avifauna and is best known for her portfolio of extinct bird species. She enjoys using observation, anatomical references, and specimens to examine these species with an acute attention to detail.

As an avid birder, Kristina prefers to work from life and spends most of her time sketching and researching species in the field. In working with extinct species, she visits the Bird Collections of the Field Museum and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to study from skins. – KristinaKnowski.com

This presentation will be free and open to all. There will be no charge for attendance, parking, or admission to The Morton Arboretum for this event. Registration is not required, and attendees can let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the presentation to be admitted and directed to their Thornhill Education Center. Plenty of parking and seating will be available.

Coming this June!

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Cicada, copyright Jean Black

More than just cicadas are coming to Chicagoland over the next few weeks. For members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, June also marks the arrival of –

  • One of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s most popular annual programs, featuring short demonstrations and discussions by three talented members, at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on the evening of Thursday, June 6, 2024 (open to all, free of charge). This year’s artists will share tools, tips, and techniques for creating botanical art using pen and ink, drawing with silverpoint, and using glazes when painting in oil or acrylic. Details to come soon.
  • An exciting new special exhibit at the Aurora Public Art Commission gallery. Participating Guild artists are dropping off their work this weekend, and in less than two weeks, the exhibit opens. Aurora’s First Friday event on June 7, 2024 will include a reception at the gallery for the Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit (open to all) with light refreshments and live music.
  • A paint-out, tentatively planned for late June at the lovely private garden of one of the Guild’s members. The date of the paint-out will be determined in June, and will depend on weather and possible cicada activity.