Please click on this link to the Norris Cultural Arts Center for more information.
Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2019 Exhibit at the Norris Cultural Arts Center
Category: Member Artwork
Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Exhibit Opens this Weekend, April 6 and 7, 2019
Some of the warmest temperatures so far this year are predicted for the Chicagoland area this weekend, and visitors will be flocking to The Morton Arboretum to enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the season. One stop on any visitor’s tour of the Arboretum should be the Cudahy Room (located next to the historic Sterling Morton Library inside the Administration & Research Center) to view the Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art. The exhibit is free-of-charge with admission to the Arboretum.
In addition to the approximately 150 pieces of nature art created by nearly 50 members of the Guild, there will be raffle baskets, small original works of art for sale, opportunities to talk with artists and watch them work, and, for members of the Arboretum (and guests of the artists) at tonight’s reception, delicious refreshments. Please click on any of the highlighted links for more information.
Mayslake Poppy, copyright Carol C. Carls
Pink Orchids and Stick, copyright Kathi Kuchler
Peggy McGahan at work
Delicate Daffies, copyright 2019, Patricia Mroczka
Just Ducky, copyright Evelyn Grala
Featured Artist Karen Johnson (and guest)
Cecropia Courtship, acrylic, © 2013 Karen A Johnson
Celebrating Spring with Nature Art
Yay! Spring is finally here, and a great way to celebrate is to visit The Morton Arboretum on the weekend of April 6th and 7th, 2019. There will be plenty to enjoy outdoors, of course, but it is also the weekend of the 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art, featuring nearly 150 works of nature art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum. Please read more by clicking here or on the above highlighted link.
Here is just a small sample of the artwork in the exhibit. Thank you to all of the artists who contributed to this preview.
Artists at Work at the 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art
During the Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring 2019 Exhibit of Natural History Art, visitors will have the opportunity to watch, speak with, and ask questions of talented artists working in a variety of media in addition to enjoying the nearly 150 works of art on display.
On Friday evening, April 5, 2019, during the Artists’ Reception for members of The Morton Arboretum and guests of the artists, Ku-mie Kim will be sharing watercolor techniques from 5 until 7:30 pm.
On Saturday and Sunday, the exhibit is open free-of-charge to all visitors of The Morton Arboretum.
Peggy McGahan will be creating florals using watercolor pencils on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 10:30 am until 1 pm.
On Saturday afternoon, April 6, 2019, from 1:15 until 3:45 pm, Nancy Staszak will be sharing the tools and techniques of gelatin printing.
Susan Bartlett will be sharing the steps in her unique type of collage-making between 10:30 am and 1 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2019.
On Sunday afternoon, April 7, 2019, from 1:15 until 3:45 pm, Mary Ann Jimenez will be creating artwork with metalpoint and pastel dust.
Just a Few Weeks until the 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art
The 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art featuring approximately 150 works of art by nearly 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is only a few weeks away. The exhibit will be held in the Cudahy Room of the Administration (and Library) building at the Arboretum on the weekend of April 6 and 7, 2019. An Artists’ Reception for members of the Arboretum and guests of the artists will be held on the evening of April 5, 2019.
Coming soon – some of the artists will be sharing a preview of their work!
Nature Artists’ Guild 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art
The poster and postcards for the 2019 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art featuring the artwork of Karen Johnson and designed by Evelyn Grala are ready! Anyone who would like posters to display or postcards to share can pick some up at the Nature Artists’ Guild program on Thursday, March 7, 2019, or at Megan Dunning’s office in the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum during regular business hours.
Nature Artist’s Guild members will soon receive digital copies of the postcard in their e-mail, and are encouraged to share them with friends and family!
Please visit this website’s Featured Artist page to learn more about Karen Johnson and to view some of her lovely artwork. Also worth visiting is Karen’s personal blog, Karen’s Nature Art, a fascinating collection of her thoughts, sketches, and photographs of the time she spends in nature.
Spring Is On Its Way!
One of the earliest signs of the season is the announcement of the annual Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Exhibition of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum! The dates of the exhibition are April 6 and 7, 2019 (with a reception for guests of the artists as well as members of the Arboretum on the evening of Friday, April 5, 2019).
There will be much more information about this exhibit and its Featured Artist, Karen Johnson, to come in the next few weeks.
For now, this is a reminder to participating artists that completed prospectuses should be mailed on or before Monday, March 4, 2019. The prospectus form and instructions were e-mailed to eligible Guild members on February 4, 2019. Members can contact Alice Wych (whose contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook) for any questions.
Also, the fundraising workshops are back! On Wednesday, February 27 at 1:30 pm, at the Thornhill Education Center of the Arboretum, Pat Mroczka will be hosting a member’s workshop for painting rocks or small canvases to be sold at the Spring Exhibition. This casual workshop is a fun way to get to know other artists and possibly learn a new skill or pick up some tips. Rocks and canvases will be provided, but participants are asked to bring their own paints and brushes (acrylic paint and synthetic brushes are recommended for painting the rocks). Those members who would prefer to just stop by and pick up a rock or canvas to work on at home are welcome to.
2019 Winter Encounter Wraps Up with Collage
The 2019 Winter Encounter for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild has reached its final week, and here are some of the submissions from Week 4 -Collage.
Thanks to Evelyn Grala for creating this project, as well as for her weekly updates and words of encouragement for the artists. Many artists commented that they were trying some of the media or techniques for the first time and learning so much in the process.
The artwork from all four weeks can be seen on the 2019 Winter Encounter Gallery page of this website, located under the Member News tab, and will continue to be updated as new participant artwork is received.
Nature Artists’ Guild Updates
The 2019 Winter Encounter Gallery, featuring artwork by participating members of the Nature Artists’ Guild has been updated to include ink drawings from Week 3. Week 4, the final week of the project, requests that artists use collage techniques. Please click on the above highlighted link or on the Member Artwork tab to see the creative and lovely results from Week 3.
Project coordinator Evelyn Grala’s examples from the first three weeks –
Tree, ink, copyright 2019, Evelyn Grala
Tree, negative Space, copyright 2019, Evelyn Grala
Graphite drawing, copyright 2019, Evelyn Grala
Line drawing, copyright 2019, Evelyn Grala
The prospectus for the 2019 Spring Exhibition of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum has been sent to members of the Guild. We will be hearing much more about the upcoming exhibit in the weeks ahead!
The first paint-out of the year, taking place at Orchids by Hausermann is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, February 12, 2019. All spots have already been reserved for this popular tropical paint-“in”.
The Nature Artists’ Guild sponsored program at The Morton Arboretum tomorrow evening, Thursday, February 7, 2019 will feature Benjamin Calvert III and his striking block prints. All are welcome to attend this program, free-of-charge. Please click here to read more.
2019 Winter Encounter in Week 2
Initial line drawings and graphite drawings from Week 1 of the 2019 Winter Encounter have been posted under this website’s Member Artwork tab, and they are an excellent start. Congratulations, participants!
Evelyn Grala, with her surprise instructions for Week 2, though, may have caused a bit of a stir! Rather than just asking the artists to use a different medium, as many were obviously expecting, Evelyn asked them to use a very different technique using negative space. Judging from some of the initial drawings, that may be very difficult to accomplish. Fortunately, nature artists are generally a resourceful bunch and will likely be able to rise to the occasion.
Please click on any of these drawings by Evelyn to see a larger version –
Nature Artists' Guild 