Glen Ellyn’s recent issue of their Stroll magazine features an article about the Nature Artists’ Guild! This lovely article highlights the upcoming exhibit this weekend, and includes insights and artwork by Guild president, Lisa Kanellos, and other members.
Thank you, Stroll! We hope your readers enjoy learning about the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.
The 2026 Spring Art Exhibit by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be held this weekend, Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, at The Morton Arboretum. More than 200 works of art by approximately 70 Guild members will be displayed.
Throughout exhibit hours, 10 to 4 daily, visitors can also enjoy interacting with members of the Nature Artists’ Guild demonstrating their work in various media (schedule listed here), and raffle tickets will be available for beautiful themed gift baskets. (Admission to the Arboretum will be required, but there is no additional charge to attend the exhibit.)
Friday evening’s reception, from 4:30 until 7, will be open to the public, completely free of charge. No registration is required, and there will be no charge for admission to the Arboretum or the exhibit for this reception. Complimentary light refreshments will be offered, and wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. Reception visitors can let the Arboretum’s gate attendant know they are there for the reception to be admitted and directed to free parking for the exhibit.
The following small sample of exhibit artwork gives a preview of the variety of media, subject matter, and artistic styles that visitors can expect to enjoy.Click here to see the full versions. (More images to come, soon after the exhibit closes.)
Magnolia #2, copyright Donna FalkTorrey Sunrise, copyright Nancy Roberts HimmesVerdant Rain, copyright Lia LiuBarn Owl, copyright Jill AdziaWalnut Monarch Mushroom Medley, copyright Cheryl HolzLate February Crocuses, copyright Kora BongenMist Rising over the Valley, copyright Shannon YehLighted Forest Revisited 1, copyright Ann LamoureuxCalifornia Dusk, copyright Joanne MaySpring Reflections, copyright Patty KoenigsaeckerFlamingo Embrace, copyright Cindy JiangIris Reflection, copyright Cynthia BoudreauKissed by the Setting Sun, copyright Lora Lee GellesMonarch Landing, copyright Alice WychNight Light, copyright Mark SchererSummer Transition, copyright Julia RiveraSea Turtle, copyright Eva HolyA Cloak of Clouds, copyright Mary Beth PurseBegonia rex ‘Black Mamba,’ copyright Linda HilderbrantLooking Back, copyrght Dianne BatzkallNest from Texas, copyright Maggie MardisSpring Greens, copyright Birgitte ChristenssonWhispers in the Forest, copyright Elizabeth BerrySaucer magnolia (Magnolia X Soulangeana), copyright Kumie KimHellebore, copyright Lisa Kanellos
In addition to enjoying over 200 works of art by more than 60 Guild artists, including Featured Artist, Cheryl Holz, Arboretum visitors will have the opportunity to watch and interact with the following members as they demonstrate and discuss their methods, materials, and inspirations.
Detail of Spring Reflections, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker
Detail of Sovereigns of the Sky, copyright Dan Danielson
Detail of Poppy, copyright Mark Scherer
Detail of Seabird, copyright Lia Liu
Detail of Water Lily, copyright Cynthia Boudreau
Detail of Two Scarlets, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe
A sample of artwork by many more participating artists and details about Friday evening’s reception (open to all) coming soon!
The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is pleased to present its 2026 Spring Exhibit’s Featured Artist, Cheryl Holz.
My goal is to inspire, in others, the same love of nature that I experience, to bring nature into their space, to motivate them to immerse themselves in it and experience the same peace and awe I do. – Cheryl Holz
Numerous examples of Cheryl’s artwork will be showcased in a designated area near the exhibit entrance, where visitors will have the opportunity to meet and talk with Cheryl before entering the main exhibit space. The Cudahy Room will contain nearly two hundred works of art in a variety of media by more than sixty members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. (Cudahy Room is located in the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum, adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library.)
Cheryl beautifully describes her inspirations and fascination with nature and shares a preview of her stunning artwork on her Featured Artist page of this website. (Much more of her work can be found on Cheryl’s website.)
The 2026 Spring Art Exhibit will be held from Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, with a reception on Friday evening. Much more to come soon, including more about the reception, a schedule of demonstrators, and samples of exhibit artwork by various Guild members.
Meandering Stream, copyright Cynthia Boudreau. This work wil be displayed at the Downers Grove Public Library throughout January.
Sure, the cold is crisp and the snow can be stunning, but one thing mostly missing in nature during Chicagoland’s winter months is color! Happily, the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be supplying lots of color from all four seasons in two special exhibits opening this week.
Nearly 75 works of nature art in a wide variety of media and styles, by approximately 50 talented members of the Guild, will be on display at the Downers Grove Public Library and the Wheaton Public Library throughout January, for all to enjoy.
Both of these vibrant libraries have a strong commitment to the visual arts and lovely dedicated gallery spaces in which Guild members can proudly share their work with the public.
Exhibits are open during regular library hours (click on highlighted links above for hours and directions.)A free open reception will be held at the Downers Grove Library on January 18 from 2 to 4 pm. Everyone is invited to stop by to support the artists and enjoy the exhibit!
2025 Holiday Card, copyright Vicki Liszewski. Click on the card to enjoy many more images.
The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum would like to wish all a wonderful holiday season!
Please click here for images of many of the handmade cards created and exchanged by Guild members in 2025. Many thanks to Margie Navolio for coordinating this year’s Holiday Card Exchange and to all the participating members for sharing their time and talents.
A glimpse at some of the Nature Artists’ Guild members’ 2025 holiday cards.
The cards have been created, and the stamps have been stuck. This week, handmade cards to and by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will complete their journeys through the mail to spread some warmth and cheerfor the holiday season.
After the cards have been received and opened by their recipients (no spoilers here!), we will share the artwork by posting images on this website for all to enjoy. Participating artists are encouraged to email an image of the card they sent and the card they received to Denise Fisk by December 20.
2024 Holiday Card, copyright Laurie Alvear. Click on image to see a sample of 2024 cards.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to share some warmth this winter by participating in the annual holiday card exchange.
Card recipients will need to supply their own hot beverages and afghans as the cold weather sets in, but opening a hand-created holiday greeting from one of their fellow Guild members will surely add a bit of warmth as well.
This year, Margie Navolio will be coordinating the popular holiday card exchange, gathering names and addresses of participants and later providing each of them with the name and address of their randomly chosen card recipient. All cards should be hand-decorated with original art or craftwork, and blank greeting cards will be available (at the holiday party) for artists to use as a starting point, if desired.
Interested members of the Nature Artists’ Guild can register for this year’s exchange by clicking here or by contacting Margie by December 5, 2025. A recipient name and address will be emailed to each participant on December 8, and all cards should be mailed by December 14. (Images of the cards can be emailed by the sender or recipient to Denise Fisk by December 20 for display on this website.)
Examples of cards from previous years can be enjoyed here – 2024, 2023, 2022. Making the time to slow down to create and share the joy and warmth of a holiday card is a wonderful way to celebrate the season!
Awake in Light, copyright Shuli Wang. Please click on image to view a sample of the 2025 Autumn Exhibit artwork.
The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to congratulate and thank all those involved in the success of the 2025 Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum!
Visitors to The Morton Arboretum were able to enjoy more than 200 lovely works of art created by 70 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild last weekend, thanks to Exhibit Co-Chairs Alice Wych and Lisa Kanellos, Featured Artist Kathy Steere, and all the artists, volunteers, demonstrators, and Arboretum staff who put their time, effort, and talents into making the 2025 Autumn Art Exhibit, and the accompanying special display, Flora 2025, so successful.
Forest Floor, copyright Cynthia Boudreau. Please click on image to view a sample of the Flora 2025 artwork.
(Exhibit artists who haven’t already done so are encouraged to send up to two images of their exhibited work to Denise Fisk this week to have them added to the online display.)