Category: Meetings

Schedules, programs, news.

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.

Weekly Nature Artists’ Guild Gatherings Return to Wednesday Mornings

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Click on image for more about Coffee and Art at The Morton Arboretum

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, guests, and interested artists are welcome to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum to “sip and sketch” any Wednesday morning at 9 am (weather permitting).

These small and friendly gatherings usually last until about 11 am, and there are plenty of spots for participants to sit, either inside or out, with views of beautiful flowers, shrubs, a lake, trees, and wildlife.

Wednesday mornings are a wonderful time to visit the Arboretum, before the crowds and the heat of the day arrive. There is no charge or registration necessary to attend these casual get-togethers, but non-members of The Morton Arboretum will be required to pay an entry fee at the gate.

Looking Ahead to Late Spring and Summer

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Here Fishy, Fishy, copyright Dan Danielson

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be welcoming the arrival of late spring and summer in a number of enjoyable ways –

  • Nature Artists’ Guild members are encouraged to share images of their summer-inspired artwork for the upcoming issue of the Nature Artists’ Quarterly. This members-only publication includes essays, book reviews, images, and news by and about Guild members. Submissions for possible inclusion in the Summer Quarterly can be emailed to Jane Kellenberger at the NatureArtNews gmail address by May 1, 2024 (Guild members only).
  • There is still time for members to register for the paint-out at Lilacia Park scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 9:30 am. Paint-Out Chair Celia Rodee will share details and updates by email with those registered, and share coffee and her delicious homemade muffins at the paint-out.
  • Artwork drop-off dates for this June and July’s Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at the gallery of the Aurora Public Art Commission are approaching quickly. Registered exhibitors can park in the designated lot next to the building on May 24 between 2 and 4 or May 25 between 11 and 1, and take the elevator to the third floor to sign in their artwork. The exhibit opens on June 7, 2024 with a reception at the gallery (and a gathering at the studio of Exhibit Co-Chair Cheryl Holz) and continues through July 13.
  • Three members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be discussing and demonstrating their inspirations, materials, and techniques at the June 6, 2024 program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum at 7 pm. This program will be open to all, free-of-charge. Details will be coming soon.

Rachel Davis with “Paintings, Prints, and Textiles” on March 7, 2024

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Rachel Davis natural dyed fabrics and sketchbook details. Click on image for more of Rachel’s work.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to sponsor a program featuring multi-talented artist Rachel Davis this Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

Rachel Davis will finish teaching her class, Natural Dyes on Silk at The Morton Arboretum just one day before the Nature Artists’ Guild welcomes her back to the Arboretum to share some of her knowledge, inspirations, and tools and techniques with the Guild and visitors at Thornhill from 7 until 9 pm.

This program will be open to the public, completely free of charge. There is no requirement to be a member of the Arboretum or the Guild to attend, and there will be no fee for entering the Arboretum or for parking. Visitors can let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the program to be admitted and directed to Thornhill.

Dyed and printed silk scarf, Rachel Davis

More for Nature Artists’ Guild members –

  • Posters and postcards for the 2024 Spring Nature Art Exhibit will be available at the March 7 program for members and visitors to take and share with their friends and local businesses or groups.
  • Any Guild member who has not already registered can drop off their completed prospectus and fee (cash or check) for the 2024 Spring Art Exhibit in person at the March 7 program. The final day to register (postmarked by, online, or in person) is March 8, 2024.
  • Members who would like to contribute items for the fund-raising raffle baskets can drop them off at the March 7 program. (A list of suggestions was recently emailed to members.)

Botanical Artist Claudia Lane Tomorrow, February 1, 2024

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Claudia Lane and ‘Ginkgo biloba, female’

Tomorrow at 7 pm, February 1, 2024, Claudia Lane will present ‘The Evolution of Botanical Art’ to members and guests of the Nature Artists’ Guild. 

Guild members and guests were emailed a link to this online live presentation on January 25. Please click here to read more.

In other Nature Artists’ Guild news –

  • The Guild is now accepting reservations for the limited spots available at the upcoming paint-out at Orchids by Hausermann on the morning of February 8, 2024 from 7:30 to 10. This paint-out starts early so that participating artists can enjoy the greenhouse before the display area opens to the public for the day. Interested members can register here or contact Celia Rodee to be added to the email list for updates and details. 
  • Guild members who would like to contribute artwork images for the Spring Quarterly can do so by February 3. An email sent to members on January 26 has all the details.
  • The Nature Artists’ Guild continues to welcome new and returning members for 2024. Interested artists can join online or by mail (more details here) and be eligible to receive a prospectus (to be emailed late next month) for the upcoming Spring Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.

Claudia Lane presents the ‘The Evolution of Botanical Art’ on February 1, 2024

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Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo biloba, female, copyright Claudia Lane. Used with permission. Click on the image to view more of Claudia’s work.

Botanical Art combines scientific observation and artistic expression. As a member of the Board of the American Society of Botanical Art, which has a membership of approximately 1850 botanical artists from all over the world, I do my best to promote this genre of art. – Claudia Lane

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is pleased to sponsor The Evolution of Botanical Art, an online presentation featuring Claudia Lane on February 1, 2024 at 7 pm.

Claudia Lane currently teaches classes in color pencil and pen and ink for the Botanical Art Certificate Program at the Chicago Botanic Garden, while also serving on the board of the American Society of Botanical Art. Her wonderful work has toured the country with various traveling exhibitions.

Claudia’s personal artistic experiences, along with her involvement in the world of Botanical Art, have given her unique insights into its history and evolution to share with viewers in what promises to be an interesting and enjoyable evening.

This event will available live online to all (no recordings will be made). All members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be emailed a link shortly before February 1, and non-members can request a link by clicking here.

Update – Links for the presentation were emailed to members and guests on January 25. Requests for a link will be accepted through January 30.

Farewell to 2023 from the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Deer Morning, copyright Marybeth Devine. Click on the image above for a quick look at 2023 or scroll through this website for all the posts and images.

The Nature Artists’ Guild bids farewell to 2023 with fond memories of programs, paint-outs, parties, exhibits, and the friendship and support of fellow artists. 

The Guild would like to welcome first-time and returning members to new opportunities to explore and share the appreciation of nature through art in 2024! 

Click here to join or renew
  • Copyright Heidi Jachna
  • Copyright Jane Kellenberger
  • 2023 Autumn Cards
  • Morning Revelation, copyright Beth Berry
  • 2023 Holiday Party Invitation by Margie Navolio
  • Red Oak Branch, copyright Joanne McKibben
  • Forest in Ireland, copyright Marybeth Devine
  • Red Saddlebags Dragonfly, copyright Karen A. Johnson
  • Naturalist Treasure Trove #1, copyright Cheryl Holz
  • Short Eared owl, copyright Michelle Buziak
  • Lakeside Birch, copyright Marlene Vitek
  • Sparrow, copyright Lisa Kanellos
  • Sneak Preview, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez
  • Snowy Enchantment, copyright Mary Roberts
  • Blown Flower, copyright Joe Rizzo
  • Near Lake Marmo. Photo credit The Morton Arboretum.
  • Colorful Ramirezi and Friends, copyright Joe Rizzo
  • Autumn 2023 Exhibit poster artwork by Joe Rizzo
  • Green Kingdom, copyright Bryce Lafferty, Visiting Artist
  • Joy Morton on Joy Path. Photo credit The Morton Arboretum.
  • Rock and Gravel Garden, Cantigny Gardens
  • Presenter John Fleck
  • Copyright Linda Hilderbrant
  • Landscape in charcoal, copyright John Fleck
  • The Morton Arboretum, photo credit mortonarb.org
  • Exhibit postcard, McCord Gallery. Artwork by Alice Wych.
  • Grand Garden at The Morton Arboretum
  • Garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard, Glen Ellyn, IL. Photo credit Anne and Charles Bouchard.
  • House Wren, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • McCord Gallery and Cultural Center
  • Woodridge Library exhibit postcard. Artwork by Cheryl Holz.
  • Lilacia Park, Lombard, IL
  • Common Redpoll, copyright Mary Voegeli
  • Myna in Maui, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe
  • Last Flowers of Winter, copyright Linda Fairbanks
  • Robin in her Nest, copyright Celia Rodee
  • Snow Glories Peek, copyright Patricia Mroczka
  • Watercolors by presenter Thomas Trausch
  • Lion specimen at Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum
  • Book by online presenter Amy Lindenberger
  • Examples of 8 x 8 artwork for Joy’s Vision project
  • Specimens at the Herbarium at The Morton Arboretum
  • Gardens at Ball, photo credit ballhort.com
  • Ball Horticultural
  • Great Blue Heron, copyright Jill Adzia
  • My Favorite Flower, in progress and complete, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez
  • Morning Meeting, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Jewels of Spring, copyright Beth Berry
  • Winter 2023 cards
  • Spring 2023 Exhibit poster. Artwork by Pat Mcrozka.
  • Summer Splendor, copyright Maggie Mardis
  • Various spring events
  • Frames at Colbert Custom Framing
  • Mauvelous Mallow, copyright Alice Wych
  • Artwork by member program presenters Joe Rizzo, Cindy Franks, Alice Wych

A Peek at December for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Hide and Seek, copyright Jeffrey Zawada

The Nature Artists’ Guild has a busy December ahead, with a party, handmade cards, and the beginning of an exhibit. Here is a quick look –

  • Guild members are invited to attend the annual Holiday Party at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on the evening of December 7, 2023. Members were recently emailed an invitation with all the details. (Reminder – tickets for the raffle will be available by cash or check only.) Volunteers are already hard at work making preparations for a lovely and enjoyable event!
  • December 7, 2023 will also be the last day for Nature Artists’ Guild members to register to participate in the fun and creative annual tradition of exchanging a handmade holiday card with a fellow artist. Details were emailed earlier this week, and members can complete this form to sign up. For those participants who would like to use them, blank white cards will be available, free of charge, at the Holiday Party. Here is a sample of the cards created for last year’s exchange.

Did you know? If you received this post by email, you can always click on Nature Artists’ Guild at the upper right corner of the email to visit the website, where you can scroll through former posts, use the menu to view member artwork, check the Important Dates page, or use the Search bar to look up a name or keyword.

This Autumn for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Zion II – Virgin River, copyright Joe Rizzo

For the Nature Artists’ Guild, the unofficial beginning of autumn will be this week, when the prospectus for November’s Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum is emailed to all members.

The Guild is pleased to announce that the Featured Artist for the 2023 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit will be Joe Rizzo (much more about Joe and his work to come soon). The exhibit will include more than 200 works of nature art by approximately 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The exhibit postcard and posters, as well as many more details, will be coming soon.

Also coming this autumn –

  • A paint-out at the gardens at Cantigny is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, beginning at 9:30 am. The gardens will still be blooming and beautiful for this event. All members are welcome to stop by any time that morning, but by registering here, they can be added to an email list for details and updates. There will be no charge for admission or parking for the paint-out.
  • A paint-out at Lake Marmo at The Morton Arboretum has been tentatively planned for October 4 at 9:30 am. Lake Marmo and its surroundings will be displaying the colors of fall and attendees might find inspiration to participate in the Joy’s Vision special display. A registration form for the paint-out and more details to come soon.
  • The Visiting Artist Workshop: Conceptual Landscapes in Watercolor with Bryce Lafferty on October 6, 7, and 8, 2023 at The Morton Arboretum is being co-sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild. (Guild members can receive an additional discount by registering by phone and confirming their membership.) Bryce will also be doing a presentation, free and open to all, on October 5, 2023 from 7 to 9 pm at the Arboretum’s Thornhill Education Center. More details to come soon.
  • Wednesday morning gatherings, Art and Coffee, will continue each week throughout autumn (except for the days with paint-outs scheduled). Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and their guests are welcome to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum between 9 and 11 am to chat, sketch, or enjoy a quiet morning in beautiful surroundings.