Category: Member Artwork

A Reminder for Nature Artists’ Guild Members

Published on by DeniseLeave a comment

It’s getting to be that time!  No, not for the holidays (yet), but for Nature Artists’ Guild members to put the finishing touches on their artwork, complete their framing, and find a way to safely transport their artwork, rain, snow, or moonlight, because “referee night” is just over a week away.  On Wednesday, November 6, 2019, between 6 and 8 pm, participating members of the Guild are asked to bring the artwork they have previously registered through their prospectus to the Administration Building at The Morton Arboretum.

The 2019 Holiday (Autumn) Exhibit of Natural History Art will take place at the Arboretum on the weekend of November 9 and 10, 2019, with a reception for artists, their guests, and members of The Morton Arboretum on Friday evening, November 8.

Milkweed pod, copyright Jane Kellenberger.  Click here to see more by Jane, the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2019 Autumn Featured Artist.

Artists at Work at the 2019 Holiday (Autumn) Exhibit of Natural History Art

Published on by DeniseLeave a comment

The annual Spring and Holiday (Autumn) Nature Artists’ Guild exhibits at The Morton Arboretum always feature a wide variety of media and styles.  The upcoming exhibit on the weekend of November 9 and 10, 2019 (and the reception for artists’ guests and members of the Arboretum on Friday evening, November 8) will continue in that tradition, and five Guild members will be sharing their unique ways of creating nature art with visitors.  Visitors to the exhibit will be able to watch the following artists up-close and at work, talk with them, see their tools and supplies, and sometimes even try the techniques themselves!

On Friday, November 8, from 5 until 7:30 pm, Nancy Halliday will be sharing her approach to creating lovely watercolors.

Masked Shrew, copyright Nancy Halliday

On Saturday, November 9, from 10:30 am until 1 pm, Carol Abramofsky will show visitors the tools, steps, and uses of mold-making in nature art.

Mold-making with Carolyn Abramofsky

On Saturday, November 9, from 1:15 until 3:45 pm, Cheryl Rausch will be engaging visitors in the fascinating world of digital art.

Mother’s Love, copyright 2019 Cheryl Rausch

On Sunday, November 10, from 10:30 am until 1 pm, Victoria Elizabeth will share some of her inspirations and techniques in creating watercolors.

Closed, copyright Victoria Elizabeth

On Sunday, November 10, from 1:15 until 3:45 pm, Kathy Steere will show visitors her way of using different media for coloring on fabric.

Kathy Steere, Coloring on Fabric

Please click on this link for more details about the exhibit.

Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2019 Holiday (Autumn) Exhibit of Natural History Art

Published on by DeniseLeave a comment

All are invited to the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2019 Holiday (Autumn) Exhibition of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum on Saturday, November 9, 2019, and Sunday, November 10, 2019.  There will also be a reception for artists, their guests, and members of The Morton Arboretum on the evening of Friday, November 8, 2019.  The exhibit will showcase nearly 200 wonderful pieces of nature art by Featured Artist Jane Kellenberger and approximately 50 other members of the Nature Artists’ Guild.

Poster art copyright Jane Kellenberger. Poster design by Evelyn Grala.

Autumn 2019 Exhibit’s Featured Artist, Jane Kellenberger

Published on by DeniseLeave a comment

The Nature Artists’ Guild is pleased to announce that its 2019 Holiday (Autumn) Exhibit’s Featured Artist is Jane Kellenberger.  Please read more about Jane and enjoy some of her artwork on the Featured Artist page of this website.

The 2019 Holiday (Autumn) Exhibit of Natural History Art will take place on the weekend of November 9 and 10, 2019 at The Morton Arboretum,with a reception on the evening of November 8, 2019 for guests of the artists and Arboretum members.  More than 50 Nature Artists’ Guild members will be participating in this exhibit of nearly 200 pieces of nature art.

More details (and the exhibit poster) coming soon!

More, copyright Jane Kellenberger

Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2019 Summer Encounter Artwork

Published on by Denise1 Comment

The 2019 Summer Encounter for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild has come to an end. This project required the artists to start their artwork at one point of their paper or canvas (usually the bottom) and add to it each week, without necessarily knowing exactly where it would lead.  The results were impressive and wonderful!

Some of the participants have kindly agreed to share their Encounter artwork with us here.  Perhaps we’ll be seeing some of these pieces again in the upcoming Fall (Holiday) Exhibition of Natural History Art in November at The Morton Arboretum.  Congratulations to all the participating artists for, once again, venturing outside their comfort zone.

Larger images of the artwork can be seen on the 2019 Summer Encounter Gallery page under the Member Artwork tab of this website.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A Trip to Australia with Nature Artists’ Guild’s Featured Artist, Karen Johnson

Published on by Denise1 Comment

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s Featured Artist for Spring and Summer of 2019, Karen Johnson, has just returned from a trip to Australia.  Karen has been journaling her adventures in nature for years with words, photos and artwork on her blog, Karen’s Nature Art.  Needless to say, the nature she encountered in Australia is a little different from what may be seen in Chicagoland.  Karen has captured her impressions of the trip wonderfully, and a visit to her blog to see all of her sketches is definitely worth the click!

Image from Australia trip sketchbook pages.  Copyright Karen A Johnson. Used with permission.

Nature Artists’ Guild Program Next Thursday, August 1, 2019

Published on by Denise1 Comment

The next program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild is only one week away, on Thursday evening, August 1, 2019 from 7 until 9 pm at The Morton Arboretum. This program will feature three stations with different types of artwork being done at each.  Please click on this link to read more.

All fans of nature and art are welcome to attend, free-of-charge.

Autumn Prairie, pen and ink, copyright Nancy Kolar.
Full Wolf Blood Moon, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
Thistle, copyright Jill Adzia

Please click on any of the images for larger versions and artist names.

Three Types of Nature Art at August 1, 2019 Program

Published on by DeniseLeave a comment

Each August, the Nature Artists’ Guild invites three of its members to share tips and techniques for creating artwork in “new” (or sometimes ancient) ways.  This annual program is open to all and free of charge for parking, admission, and entry to The Morton Arboretum.  Members, guests, and visitors are welcome to attend on Thursday, August 1, 2019 from 7 until 9 pm.  There will be light refreshments and door prizes. There is no membership requirement for either the Arboretum or the Nature Artists’ Guild for this event.  Visitors should let the gate attendant at the Arboretum’s main entrance know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be admitted and directed to the Thornhill Education Center.

The Arbor Room room in Thornhill will be set up into three different stations.  The audience will divide into three casual groups and visit each station for approximately 20 minutes to listen, watch, and ask questions (and occasionally participate) and then move to the next (or stay at the same place if so inspired).  It is a fun and informative event and a great opportunity to meet other artists and learn some new techniques.

 

At one of the stations, Jill Adzia will be sharing her tips and techniques for working with scratchboard, including the use of color to create stunning pieces.

Pileated Woodpecker, copyright Jill Adzia
Scratchboard artwork, copyright Jill Adzia
Thistle, copyright Jill Adzia

 

At another station, Arlene Widrevitz will discuss her adventures in the ancient art of Mokuhanga, Japanese woodblock printing.

Fritillaria, work in progress, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
Shingle Urchins, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
Full Wolf Blood Moon, copyright Arlene Widrevitz

 

At the third station, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild who participated in the 2019 Summer Encounter led by Evelyn Grala will be exhibiting their completed “progressive” artwork at the third station.  These examples by Nancy Kolar show the progression towards the finished piece.

Autumn Prairie Part 2, copyright Nancy Kolar
Autumn Prairie Part 4, copyright Nancy Kolar
Autumn Prairie Part 6, copyright Nancy Kolar
Autumn Prairie Part 7, copyright Nancy Kolar
Autumn Prairie, pen and ink, copyright Nancy Kolar.

2019 Summer Encounter Features Nature Art in Progress

Published on by Denise1 Comment

Watch the prairie grow with these images of the creation of Autumn Prairie by Nancy Kolar!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Participating members of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2019 Summer Encounter will each be creating their own large piece of nature art by adding to it each week.  Member Nancy Kolar’s finished progressive artwork is being used as an example, and shows that each week’s addition could be considered a completed piece of art.  Nancy used pen and ink in her piece, but participants can choose any one medium of their choice for the project.  Finished pieces will be on display at the August 1, 2019 Nature Artists’ Guild program.

Thank you to Evelyn Grala for leading this project and encouraging members with weekly updates, and to Nancy Kolar for sharing her beautiful artwork as inspiration.  It is fascinating to note that Nancy “simply put ink pen on the page without pencil outlines first” and then incorporated any “stray ink line into one of the objects” she was drawing!

Autumn Prairie, pen and ink, copyright Nancy Kolar.

Nature in Graphite with Suzanne Wegener begins July 10, 2019

Published on by DeniseLeave a comment

A former president of the GNSI, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, and current vice-president of the ASBA, American Society of Botanical Artists, Suzanne Wegener is a master at capturing the nuances of nature in graphite. She will be sharing her knowledge in Nature In Graphite, a four-evening class at The Morton Arboretum, beginning on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

This class is open to anyone interested in improving their drawing skills, but some previous drawing experience is beneficial. Participants do not need to be members of The Morton Arboretum or the Nature Artists’ Guild, but there is a discounted enrollment fee for Arboretum members.

Please click on the image or the above highlighted link for more information.  Prompt registration is encouraged as class size is limited.

Sunflower, graphite, copyright Suzanne Wegener.