Category: Meetings

Schedules, programs, news.

Nature Artists’ Guild Field Trip Next Week!

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Our fellow Nature Artist Guild member Diana Sunyog has arranged for Guild members to have a private tour of the Nettie McKinnon Gallery in LaGrange Park next Friday, April 1st from 11 am until about 1 pm. 

This gallery is a hidden gem featuring over 120 works of art by many major artists, including Hudson River School painters John Frederick and George Aldrich and major American Impressionist painters Edward Henry Potthast, John Henry Twatchman and John Singer Sargent. 

The history of the museum is fascinating, with early works of art being bought from profits of the sale of magazines by 7th and 8th graders in the late 1920’s, all under the direction of principal Nettie J. McKinnon.  Nettie’s determination to make art available to students as an everyday part of their lives resulted in this wonderful collection.  Most of the artists represented are also in leading museum collections across the country.  Please visit www.saltcreekart.org/ for more about the museum’s history and collection. 

Family members are welcome, and Diana mentions that there are a number of nice restaurants in the area from which we can choose for our post-tour refreshment (no PB &J sandwiches for this field trip)! Please contact Ku-mie Kim (her e-mail address is in your Yearbook) if you’d like to come, as the museum would like an accurate count. 

The address of the gallery is –   Nettie McKinnon Gallery, 333 North Park Road,  Entrance 4, La Grange Park, IL  60526 ,  Phone – (708) 482-2400 (ext. 2002).

Join Us At Our March Fundraising Fun Workshop

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Our Nature Artists’ Guild Fundraising Chair, Nancy Thyfault, asks,

Are you tired of hearing that your note cards are so lovely that people won’t use them? Are people telling you that they frame them instead? Are people buying your note cards but not your artwork? If you answered yes, head out to our Workshop on Saturday, March 26, 9:30 to 2:00 at Thornhill. 

 One of the available projects will be painting/reviving stand up picture frames that will display your art- in note card size! We will also learn to create felt flowers with Sharon Malec, paint and decorate papier mache eggs and other fun things.

Bring along your printed note card, acrylic paints, brushes, water container and lunch. We will have frames prepped to paint, but if you have one at home that you feel is ready to recycle, bring it along! Frames must be acrylic paint receptive, so no metal, please. See you there!

The Fiber Art of Sharon Malec, March 3, 2011

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Although we’ve all seen and admired her beautiful creations, soon we’ll also have the opportunity to see just how she does it!  We’re talking about, of course, Sharon Malec, one of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s own talented fiber artists.  At our formal meeting on Thursday, March 3, 2011, from 7 to 9 pm, Sharon will give us some background on various types of fiber art, including quilting and wool needle felting, bring some of her work, and even conduct a demonstration of some of her techniques! 

Sharon’s interest in nature helped to develop her distinctive style of art, and she is now most recognized for her unique and realistic depictions of nature and wildlife in fiber.   Her talents have led Sharon to serve on the faculty at national quilt shows, be published in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, and have quilts in the permanent collections of the Museum of the American Quilt’s Society in KY, the Lincoln Memorial library in CA, and the Norris Gallery in IL. 

An excellent instructor, Sharon also shares her knowledge and experience in three books, 64 patterns, and an instructional video.   Sharon’s website is www.malec-designs.com.

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Stencils from your own Artwork – Think of the Possibilities!

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Tomorrow, from 10 am to 2 pm, the Nature Artists’ Guild will be hosting one of our two scheduled spring workshops.  Tomorrow’s workshop will focus on creating stencils from your own artwork, which can then be used on almost anything – fabrics, furniture,  walls, you name it!  You should have received an e-mail earlier this week with the supply list.  At first glance, it may look like quite a few items, but if you read it carefully, you probably already have most or all of the supplies.  If you are just interested in making the stencils, and want to do your painting at a different time, you don’t even need to bring the last few items. 

 The workshop will be held in Room A at Thornhill, so please stop in!

Winnie Wowed Us!

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Last evening at our formal program, Winnie Godfrey captivated us with her artwork, her warmth and her humor.  Seeing slides of her artwork, hearing stories of her art adventures, asking her questions, and getting the chance to see many of her original paintings (including a favorite of hers and most of the audience – Peony, seen in the post below, as well as one part of the triptych also posted below), made it absolutely worthwhile to have braved the cold! 

Thank you, Winnie, for going the extra mile and bringing your gorgeous paintings.  What a wonderful treat!

“Bring a Book, Take a Book” returns this Thursday

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 After a successful trial run last autumn, “Bring a Book, Take a Book” returns this Thursday at our formal meeting featuring Winnie Godfrey!

Our membership chair, Sylvia Tester notes that “many of us have a host of books about art and natural history”, and “the idea is to bring a book you have read and probably will not read again, and to take home a book that is new to you”.  It is requested that the subject matter be limited to art, photography and natural history.

The Stunning Floral Art of Winnie Godfrey, February 10th

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At the first formal meeting in 2011 of  the Nature Artists’ Guild, on Thursday, February 10 from 7 to 9 pm, we will have the privilege of welcoming accomplished artist Winifred Godfrey. 

While best known for her stunning grand-scale floral paintings, Winnie also has a national following for her work in other subjects.  Winnie has been featured in numerous publications, is the recipient of many honors, and her artwork is included in private, corporate and museum collections and has been exhibited throughout North America.

Peony, ©Winnie Godfrey

A few of Winnie’s most recent accomplishments in the last few months have been a one-woman exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center and participation in the renowned Grand Rapids “ArtPrize” competition ( with a 72” x 112” floral triptych of gladioli!)   

Garden Flowers Triptych, 72 x 112, ©Winnie Godfrey

In Winnie’s words, “What primarily interests me in painting flowers is the delicate and temporary quality of the blossom.  Although they are painted realistically, the subject is just the starting point for an abstract study of luminosity, transparency and form.”

“The trick is to catch my live subjects at precisely the right moment when the sun illuminates their fragile components.”

Please visit Winnie’s website for a better appreciation of the delight in store for our February meeting.  What a way to brighten up a winter evening and turn our attention towards spring!

Nature Artists’ Guild Important Dates List Updated for 2011

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The Nature Artists’ Guild calendar is already full of exciting exhibits, programs, workshops and paint-outs for next year.  Please click on the “Important Dates” tab above to see the updated list.  As there are a number of dates “to be announced” and details to be added, remember to check back often for updates!