Blue Jay, copyright Jane Kellenberger. Blue Jay will be one of approximately fifty pieces of nature art in the Nature Artists’ Guild’s exhibit at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in July, 2022.
This Wednesday, June 15, 2022 is the last day for Nature Artists’ Guild members to mail completed prospectuses for the upcoming exhibit at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center. A link to the prospectus was emailed to all members in the past few weeks.
Ground Cover Garden, The Morton Arboretum. Image credit (detail) mortonarb.org.
The Wednesday Morning Coffee Club for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will meet at 9 am in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. While there is plenty to sketch through the windows, the Ground Cover Garden is just a short walk away and offers a cool, quiet oasis for participants who want to get outdoors to sketch, paint, or photograph.
More information is available by clicking on any of the highlighted links.
Summer Memories, pastel, copyright Laverne Bohlin. Click on image for link to Laverne’s website.
The Nature Artists’ Guild has a lot in store, from programs and paint-outs to special exhibits and projects, for the upcoming “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer“ (Nat King Cole, 1963.)
Members are invited to stop by Ginkgo Restaurant and Café in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum at 9 am for informal weekly gatheringsbeginning tomorrow, June 1, 2022. These will continue throughout the season. (Timed-entry passes will be required.) Note – time has been updated to 9 am from previously announced 11 am.
The following evening, Thursday, June 2, 2022, the Nature Artists’ Guild will be sponsoring a program (open to all, free of charge) at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum at 7 pm. This annual program will feature three talented members of the guild sharing some of their artistic inspirations, tools, and techniques. (Timed-entry passes are not required.)
Paint-outs will be scheduled as the summer progresses, and special projects and exhibits are being planned for July and August. Award-winning pastel artist (and guild member) Laverne Bohlinwill be giving a presentation at the August 4th program and teaching a workshop for the arboretum the following weekend. Many more details coming soon!
Please click on any of the highlighted links for more information.
It is true that it’s one of the busiest times of the year for those who appreciate nature. Nature artists are often also birders, hikers, amblers, gardeners, or travelers, and late spring is a wonderful time to enjoy (as well as sketch, paint, or photograph) those adventures. The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to add just a few more worthwhile activities to fit into those busy schedules in the next few weeks.
Next Wednesday,May 25, 2022, Nature Artists’ Guild members will meet for a paint-out at the Jurica-Suchy Museum from 10 am until noon. Attendance at this paint-out will be limited and not available for drop-ins. Members who have not yet signed up to attend can email Linn Eldred to check for openings.
From the Jurica-Suchy Museum. Photo credits Jane Kellenberger and Linn Eldred.
On Thursday June 2, 2022, beginning at 7 pm, visitors to the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum will have the opportunity to watch and interact with three members of the Nature Artists’ Guild as they demonstrate and discuss their artwork. This popular annual program is open to all, free-of-charge.
Details of artwork by 2022 presenters Maggie Mardis, Cheryl Holz, and Kathy Steere.
Please click on any of the highlighted links for more details.
An annual tradition of the Nature Artists’ Guild is to ask three talented members to share some of their art, inspirations, methods, and materials with fellow members and visitors. This year the popular “Nature Artists Trio” presentation will take place on Thursday, June 2 at 7 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
Guests are welcome to attend this program, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild, completely free-of-charge. There will be no charge for admission to the program, admission to the arboretum, or parking. The event will not require a timed-entry ticket to the arboretum. Visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the program to be directed to Thornhill.
The 2022 presenters –
Travel sketching supplies, Maggie Mardis
Sketchbook pages, copyright Maggie Mardis
Maggie Mardis will “discuss and show my Travel Sketchbooks and Travel Art Kits. I will have watercolor, colored pencil and ballpoint pen art kits set up and sketchbooks to match in those mediums.”
Soft Magnolia Spring Assemblage, copyright Cheryl Holz
Cheryl Holz will be “doing an introduction to the Gelli plate, a type of printing that does not involve a press. I’ll focus on natural patterns and textures using manmade and natural masks or resists.”
Detail of Whispers of Summer, copyright Kathy Steere
Detail of Chantilly Nights, copyright Kathy Steere
Kathy Steere will “be presenting ‘Wholecloth – drawing with thread and a power tool.’ I will talk through the process and then demonstrate how to use water-soluble crayons (NeoColor II) and watercolor pencils on fabric. Thread on fabric is just another medium, like pencil on paper, or paint on canvas. I am not planning on bringing my sewing machine (the power tool).”
The June 2, 2022 meeting of the Nature Artists’ Guild (open to all, free-of-charge) at 7 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum will feature three guild members sharing their techniques, materials, and talents. This popular annual “Artist Trio” presentation usually takes place in August, but has been moved to June this year so that we can welcome a special guest in August. Much more about the 2022 presenters coming soon!
From former years –
Laverne Bohlin, an award-winning pastel artist (and Nature Artists’ Guild member) who recently moved to New Mexico from the Chicago area will be back in August to teach a workshop at The Morton Arboretum focusing on painting water with pastels. Laverne has generously agreed to share some of her techniques and inspirations at the guild’s August 4, 2022 meeting at 7 pm at the Thornhill Education Center. The August 4 program will be open to all, free-of-charge.
Wetland Sunset II, Pastel, Copyright Laverne Bohlin
There were reports of balmy and beautiful weather at the recent daffodil paint-out and the daffodils responded in a spectacular manner! Paint-outs will be offered throughout the summer, and members are encouraged to keep some of their most portable art supplies and a folding chair ready to go. (Paint-outs will normally be announced at least two weeks ahead of the date, but occasionally a last-minute opportunity comes along.)
The daffodils certainly don’t seem to mind the rain (or even snow), but that kind of weather can make things a little uncomfortable for the nature artist!
Because of the forecast for rain on Friday, the Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out has beenre-scheduled to this Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 10 am. Interested members should meet in front of the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum with their art supplies, camera, and a folding chair or stool. Members can contact Linn Eldred with any questions.
Members of the Nature Artists Guild are invited to gather at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum at 10 am on Saturday, April 23, 2022 for a paint-out celebrating ‘golden daffodils’ and other early blooms of spring. Interested members should contact Linn Eldred with any questions and to be put on the list to receive weather-related updates. Timed-entry passes will be required.
Note: This post has been updated with the new date.
For those who missed the exhibit as well as those who would just enjoy another look, here is a sample of the wonderful nature art created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The images are also presented in a different format on the Member Artwork page of this website.
All artwork exhibited on this website is the sole property of the artist and should not be used or reproduced without their written consent. If you would like to contact one of the artists, please use the contact form on the About page and you will receive an e-mail reply, normally within 48 hours. Your contact information will not be shared or used for any other purpose.
April Snow, copyright Ann LamoureuxAmerican Bellflower, copyright Lisa KanellosSecret Parrot Tulip, copyright Kathi KuchlerIndigo Bunting 2, copyright Carol CooleySpring flowers, copyright Linda FairbanksSpring Keeps her Promise, copyright Patty KoenigsaeckerIris, copyright Paulette McDermottHey…The Birdfeeder is Empty!, copyright Dan DanielsonClick on any image for the full version.
While we wait patiently for spring to burst into bloom, we can enjoy artwork inspired by the season (as well as the others) at the Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Art Exhibit beginning on the evening of Friday, April 8, 2022 (reception) and continuing throughout the weekend at The Morton Arboretum.
The exhibit will feature nearly 200 works of art by approximately 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and is open to all. Please click on the highlighted links for more information.
Nature Artists' Guild 