Thursday’s program will feature three Nature Artists’ Guild members sharing techniques and tips for creating art in some unique and beautiful ways.
Spring, At Last, copyright Catherine Stacy.
Polar Vortex Landscape, copyright Marilyn Peretti.
Retreating Glacier, copyright Joe Rizzo.
All are invited to attend this program and can read more about it and view complete versions of the above artwork by clicking here.
In addition to the program, Guild members will be able to pick up some blank canvases for a fundraiser for the 2018 Autumn (Holiday) Exhibition of Natural History Art. The 3 x 3 inch canvases can be painted, collaged, or drawn on, and the finished works of art will be sold at the upcoming exhibit in November.
Nature Artists’ Guild 2018 Fundraiser. Examples of finished canvases by Laurie Freeman, Carol Puotinen, and Catherine Stacy.
The small size and reasonable price ($5 each) will make it possible for almost any exhibit attendee to bring home an original work of art to display, use as an ornament, or give as a gift. Blank canvases will also be available to pick up at the October meeting, but must be completed and returned on or before the exhibit drop-off (referee) evening of October 31, 2018. Questions about this fundraiser can be answered by Catherine Stacy, whose contact information is in the Yearbook.
More information about the exhibit will be coming soon!
Red-winged Blackbird, copyright 2018 Lindsay Sandbothe. Please click on the image for more at lindsaysandbothe.com.
Lindsay Sandbothe and her incredible paintings of birds return to The Morton Arboretum on the weekend of July 28 and 29, 2018. In a two-day workshop for intermediate to advanced artists, Lindsay, in her friendly and fun teaching style, will share her techniques for painting on wood in acrylic.
Lindsay Sandbothe returns for a two-day, intermediate/advanced workshop. Explore intermediate techniques for painting on wood in acrylic, including staining, blocking, layering, and glazing while rendering detailed portraits of birds in their natural environment. Through demonstrations and time to work under the guidance of the instructor, students will create their own bird portraits.
To register or to read more about this workshop, please click on this link to The Morton Arboretum’s Learn and Experience page. All artists with some painting experience are invited to participate. There is no requirement to be a member of the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum, but Arboretum members will receive a discounted fee. Registration ends soon!
Nature Artists’ Guild members Joe Rizzo, Marilyn Peretti and Catherine Stacy will be sharing their artistic talents on the evening of Thursday, August 2, 2018 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. Each of these three artists will give audience members the opportunity to learn the basics of a unique and fascinating art form.
Retreating Glacier, copyright Joe Rizzo.
Joe Rizzo will be giving attendees a chance to experiment with creating landscapes using his marbleizing technique.
Spring, At Last, copyright Catherine Stacy.
Catherine Stacy will be sharing her method for creating nature prints in ink.
Polar Vortex Landscape, copyright Marilyn Peretti.
Marilyn Peretti will be sharing her cold wax painting technique.
Visitors and guests are welcome to attend this program, which is sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild. There is no fee for attendance or parking, nor is there a gate fee to enter the Arboretum for this special event. Visitors can let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be directed to Thornhill.
Who knew, when the Nature Artists’ Guild Summer Sketchbook Encounter began, that sketches would come from as near as the backyard garden and from as far away as Sweden? Florida also weighs in, as does Denmark (in the form of a troll at The Morton Arboretum). For this project, the subject matter is not strictly limited to nature. Participants are encouraged to continue to submit their sketch images and new ones will be posted soon.
Nature Artists’ Guild members participating in the Summer Encounter 2018have been busily sketching four pages per week for a month. Some of each artist’s sketches, like Karen Johnson’s Spiderwort, will turn out to be wonderful pieces of art. Many will not. All, though, will contribute in important ways to the artist’s journey. As project coordinator Evelyn Grala says “The journey awakens the imagination”.
Spiderwort, copyright 2018, Karen A Johnson. Please click on the image to go to Karen’s Nature Artfor more.
Art and nature lovers have been able to enjoy the Nature Artists’ Guild’s exhibit at Mayslake Hall of the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, IL since it opened on June 6, 2018. On the evening of Wednesday, June 27, 2018, from 6 to 8 pm, all are invited to attend a reception to meet and speak with some of the artists and enjoy some light refreshments. There is no charge to attend.
Please click on this link for additional information about the exhibit, which will be open through Friday, July 13, 2018. More than 25 nature artists have contributed to this lovely exhibition filling two rooms of the historical estate.
A sample of the artwork at the Nature Artists’ Guild 2018 Exhibit, Mayslake Peabody Estate.Colorful Iris, copyright Linn Eldred. One of many pieces by artists participating in the 2018 Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit at the Mayslake Peabody Estate.
Two classes coming up very soon are being taught by some of the best artists and best instructors that The Morton Arboretum has ever offered. Suzanne Wegener will be the instructor for Drawing Nature II on four Thursday evenings beginning on May 31, 2018. Suzanne will be teaching skills that are essential to any artist who wishes to draw nature realistically. Plein Air on the Prairie, on either Monday, June 4, or Monday, June 11, 2018 is a three-hour excursion onto the prairie with a sketchbook and two experts, naturalist Cindy Crosby, and artist Karen Johnson. It’s a unique opportunity to learn about and experience the prairie from a botanical as well as an artistic point of view. Please click on the above links to learn more or to enroll. Classes are open to all, not just members of the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum, but Arboretum members will receive a discount on registration fees.
Page from Karen Johnson’s sketchbook. Copyright 2017, Karen Johnson.
Evelyn Grala has done it again, and come up with a way to keep Nature Artists’ Guild members growing this summer. Evelyn has planned a new Summer Sketchbook Encounter, to begin on June 1 and continue until September 1, 2018. Participants will be asked to fill four pages of a sketchbook per week, using any media they would like (including crayons), and to have fun. It’s as simple as that. The improvement in drawing and composition skills will come automatically! Interested members who have not already signed up should contact Evelyn (whose contact information can be found in their Yearbook) to ensure they receive her periodic updates and encouragements.
The Nature Artists’ Guild will be exhibiting at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, IL from Wednesday, June 6 through Friday, July 13, 2018. The exhibit may be viewed any time during estate business hours, Monday through Friday, from 9 am until 3 pm, or Saturday between 9 am and 1 pm, but the best time to visit would be on Wednesday evening, June 27, 2018 between 6 and 8 pm. This artists’ reception is open to all, and is a great opportunity to meet and talk with the artists and enjoy light refreshments. Participating artists should check the prospectus for drop-off and pick-up dates and times.
There is so much excitement and anticipation around the upcoming program featuring biologist, author and artist Julie Zickefoose on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. All are welcome to attend this event free-of-charge. Please click on the highlighted link for more information.
Page from Baby Birds, An Artist Looks into the Nest, copyright Julie Zickefoose. Used with permission.
A new paint-out has been added for June, and it’s at one of the prettiest spots in the area, Meadow Lake at The Morton Arboretum. On Tuesday, June 26, at 9 am, Nature Artists’ Guild members will meet at the P-2 parking lot east of Meadow Lake. There will be water, flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees (naturally), and even some large mysterious creatures in the area. Guild members can contact Jane Kellenberger if they would like to attend, but last-minute drop-ins by members are also welcome.
Note: This post has been updated to include the new date for the rescheduled paint-out.
Artist in Residence Thomas Dambo at work on one of his creations for the Troll Hunt at The Morton Arboretum. Photo credit mortonarb.org. Please click on the photo for more information about the artist.
There is still time to sign up for one or more of both of the nature art classes beginning early next month at The Morton Arboretum.
Nature in Colored Pencil, with instructor Kimberly Mullarkey, begins on Tuesday evening, May 1, 2018 and continues each Tuesday for three more weeks. Colored pencil is a wonderful medium for capturing the subtle colors and details of nature, and Kimberly, a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, is an experienced, talented and fun instructor. Some drawing experience is required for this class.
Sacred Union, copyright Kimberly Mullarkey. Collection of The Morton Arboretum.
Drawing Mammals, with instructor Carrie Carlson, is offered on two different mornings, Saturday, May 5, 2018 or Saturday, May 12, 2018. Using a variety of drawing media and photos as well as specimens, participants will explore the shapes and textures of mammals. Carrie, probably most known for her block prints, is a popular and experienced art educator. Please click on each image for the title or a larger view.
The following is just a sample of the more than 150 pieces of nature artbeing exhibited the weekend of April 7 and 8, 2018 at The Morton Arboretum by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. Featured Artist Susan Bartlett and nearly 50 other artist members of the Guild are excited to share their creations in a wide variety of media, styles and subject matter. Please click on the highlighted links to learn more. Thanks to all of the artists who contributed images! This artwork will also be posted on a page under the Member Artwork tab, where any of the images can be clicked on for a larger view.
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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 leave a comment on this website and you will receive an e-mail reply, normally within 48 hours. Your e-mail address will not be shared or used for any other purpose and you do not need to include it in your message as it will be available to us (but not visible to the public) from your comment log-in.
One more reason to attend the 2018 Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is for the chance to watch talented artists at work, chat with them, ask questions, and perhaps even try their technique. The exhibit at the Cudahy Auditorium of The Morton Arboretum will include opportunities to see the following artists engaging in their creative processes.
Colored pencil drawing on slate tile, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez.
Yellow iris in oil, copyright Kathi Kuchler.
Nest in tree in colored pencil on colored paper, copyright Maggie Mardis.
House Sparrow, copright Lindsay Sandbothe
On Friday, April 6, 2018, between 5 and 7:30 pm, Carrie Carlson will be sharing her techniques for masterfully cutting linoleum blocks for creating prints, using traditional Swedish themes for her subject matter.
On Saturday, April 7, 2018, from 10:30 am until 1 pm, Kathi Kuchler will be painting a yellow iris, similar to the one above, but instead of using oil, she will be using the glowing colors of watercolor.
Later on Saturday, April 7, 2018, from 1:15 until 3:45 pm, Maggie Mardis will be using colored pencil on colored paper to draw a nest in a tree in her uniquely lovely and colorful way.
On Sunday, April 8, 2018, from 10:30 am until 1 pm, Mary Ann Jimenez will be using wax-based colored pencils on slate tiles to create subtle and beautiful drawings.
Finally, on Sunday, April 8, 2018, from 1:15 until 3:45 pm, Lindsay Sandbothe will be painting in her favorite medium, acrylic, and we assume, because it is Lindsay, and she does it so well, that she will be painting the beauty of birds.
Please note that the Friday evening artists’ reception is open to artists, their guests, and members of The Morton Arboretum. The exhibit is open to all Arboretum visitors on Saturday and Sunday.
Nature Artists' Guild 