Category: Member Artwork

Preparations for Next Week’s 2017 Spring Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Are Almost Complete

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The food is being ordered, the rooms are being prepared, the flowers are being planned, and the exhibiting artists of the Nature Artists’ Guild are busy finishing up details or picking up their work from the framer.

Copyright Nancy Wu, featured artist of the Spring 2017 Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibition

Artwork drop-off (more officially known as Referee Night) is next Wednesday, April 5, 2017 between 6 and 8 pm in the Cudahy Auditorium, located in the Administration & Research Center of The Morton Arboretum.  

The opening of the exhibit and Artists’ Reception takes place on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 5 until 9 pm in the historic Sterling Morton Library, also located in the Administration & Research Center.  Refreshments will be available and all members of The Morton Arboretum as well as guests of the artists are invited. Guests can let the gate attendant know they are there for the exhibit and they will admitted free-of-charge and directed to the location.

The exhibit will continue throughout the weekend of April 8 and April 9, 2017 between 10 am and 4 pm and is open to all Arboretum visitors.  The Cudahy Auditorium is just a short and scenic walk from the Visitor Center.

Artwork pickup will be on Sunday, April 9, 2017 between 4:15 and 4:45 pm.

The Nature Artists’ Guild Spring 2017 Exhibition

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Congratulations to Nancy Wu, the featured artist for the Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art. Nancy and nearly 50 other members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL will be exhibiting more than 150 stunning works of nature art in a variety of media.  The exhibition is open to all and admission is free, although a fee will be required (except for members) for entry into The Morton Arboretum.

nature-artists-guild-spring-2017-exhibition-poster
Artwork copyright by Nancy Wu. Poster design by Evelyn Grala.

An artists’ reception is scheduled for the evening of Friday, April 7, 2017 for members of The Morton Arboretum as well as guests of the artists. Nature Artists’ Guild members will receive a copy of the postcard with all the details by e-mail, which they can forward to their friends and family.

Copies of exhibit posters and postcards are available at the Thornhill office, or by contacting Evelyn Grala or exhibit co-chairpersons Patty Koenigsaecker or Mary Sinclair. Members can find contact information in their Yearbook.

Please click on this website’s Featured Artist page for more artwork by Nancy Wu .

Surely It Was Too Early For Spring to Have Sprung!

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The snowflakes outside remind us that yes, we were fooled once again this year by the recent gorgeous weather. We weren’t the only ones, though.  Birds, mammals, bugs and even reptiles have also been out soaking up the sunshine and warm temperatures in the last few days.

Spring will have sprung before we know it, though, and Nature Artists’ Guild members have plenty to keep them busy until it arrives-

  • Prospectuses for the Spring Exhibition of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum are due on Wednesday, March 1, 2017
  • Peggy Macnamara will be the featured speaker at the next Nature Artists’ Guild program from 7 until 9 pm on Thursday, March 2, 2017

    Goldfinch © 2013 Peggy Macnamara 2013
    Goldfinch © 2013 Peggy Macnamara
  • The Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum paint-out will be happening from 1 until 4 on Friday, March 10, 2017
  • The wonderful Winter Encounter has one more week to go

    magnolia-ink-colored-inks-copyright-nancy-thyfault
    Magnolia, Ink and Colored Inks, © 2017 Nancy Thyfault
  • Openings are available for upcoming art classes offered by The Morton Arboretum
  • The Spring Exhibition of Natural History Art will be held on the weekend of April 8th and April 9th, 2017 at The Morton Arboretum, with a special artists’ reception for Arboretum members and guests of the artists on Friday, April 7, 2017.  Check back soon for more about this event and the exhibition’s Featured Artist, Nancy Wu.

    2017 Spring Exhibition Featured Artist Nancy Wu at Nature Artists' Guild paint-out at Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, 2015
    2017 Spring Exhibition Featured Artist Nancy Wu at Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out at Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, 2015

Please click on any of the highlighted links to read more. Some events are open to the public, while others are reserved for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild.

The Winter Encounter is Underway

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The Winter Encounter has begun.  Member Evelyn Grala, who brought us the wildly popular Sketchbook Encounter last summer, has inspired us again with the Winter Encounter, a challenge to fellow bodacious (check out that list of synonyms) Nature Artists’ Guild members to create a new work of art per week, yes every week, until Spring!

The weekly results of this challenge can be seen on the Winter Encounter Gallery page of this website, and will also be included in the upcoming Quarterly.

Giraffe, copyright Alice Wych
Giraffe, copyright Alice Wych

Bravo, Winter Encounter participants!

First Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit of 2017 Opens Tomorrow

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The first Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit of the new year opens tomorrow, January 4, 2017 at the Downers Grove Library,  1050 Curtiss Street, Downers Grove, IL. The exhibit will be open during normal library hours, 9 am to 9 pm on weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays, and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays.

The Downers Grove Library has a wonderful gallery space featuring rotating displays, and even has its own collection of art.  The exhibit of select works by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum runs through February 1, 2017.

The 2016 Autumn (Holiday) Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum

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We are proud to present the official exhibit poster of the 2016 Holiday Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.  The poster artwork was created by our Featured Artist, Eva Holy (read more by clicking here), and as usual, member Evelyn Grala has done a wonderful job with the graphic design!

2016 Nature Artists' Guild Exhibit Poster. Artwork copyrighted by Evalyn Holy, poster design by Evelyn Grala.
2016 Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Poster. Artwork copyrighted by Evalyn Holy, poster design by Evelyn Grala.

Signs of Autumn

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There’s a new header on our website, which can only mean that-

  • Autumn is here
  • The annual Holiday (Autumn) exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild, featuring approximately 150 works of art by 50 artists is coming soon
  • We have a new Featured Artist, Evalyn Holy, whose work will be highlighted at the upcoming exhibit (Congratulations Eva!)
Owl, copyright Evalyn Holy
Owl, copyright Evalyn Holy

Please read more about Evalyn, and see some of her wonderful drawings and paintings by clicking here or on the Featured Artist tab at the top of the Nature Artists’ Guild website.

Click here to read more about the upcoming exhibit in our new location, Cudahy Auditorium.

Three Nature Artists at The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, August 4, 2016

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Nature Artists’ Guild members, non-member artists, those fascinated by the process of creating art, or those just curious or looking for an interesting and enjoyable way to spend an evening – all are invited to attend and none will leave disappointed!

On the evening of Thursday, August 4, 2016 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, the Nature Artists’ Guild will proudly present three talented members who will share their art, inspirations and techniques with attendees.

Carol Cooley’s print using “shinkolei” process
Susan Bartlett’s collage from hand-painted paper
Sharon Malec’s fiber art created with her hand-made silk paper

Please click on this link to a previous post to read more about artists Susan Bartlett, Carol Cooley and Sharon Malec, who will presenting this year’s edition of this popular annual program.  There is no charge for entry to The Morton Arboretum, the program, or parking, and light refreshments will be provided.  Visitors should let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild presentation, and they will be directed to Thornhill.

The Popular “Nature Artist Trio” is Back, Thursday, August 4, 2016

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No, it’s not a new musical group!  Even better, each year the Nature Artists’ Guild invites three artist members to share their tips, techniques, materials and inspirations in a fun, informal and informative presentation.  The program will be held at the Thornhill Education Center, The Morton Arboretum, on August 4, 2016 from 7 until 9 pm.  

This year, all three artists will be working on or with paper, but in interesting new ways.  

Carol Cooley will share her methods for using watercolor and the “shinkolei” process to add new elements to her wonderful block prints.

Carol Cooley’s block print with applied watercolor
Carol Cooley applying watercolor to block print
Carol Cooley’s print using “shinkolei” process

Sharon Malec uses her hand-made silk papers to create shimmering fabric art.

Silk fibers used by Sharon Malec to create silk paper
Detail of Sharon Malec’s art featuring her hand-made silk paper
Sharon Malec’s fiber art created with her hand-made silk paper

Susan Bartlett’s stunning collages are made with paper that she has hand-painted.

Susan Bartlett’s hand-painted paper drying in studio
Susan Bartlett’s hand-painted paper being prepared for collage
Susan Bartlett’s collage from hand-painted paper

Members, non-members, visitors, friends, family – all are welcome at this popular program!  Both the program and parking are free-of-charge.  Non-members of The Morton Arboretum should let the gate attendant know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program and they will be directed to Thornhill.

All artwork images above are copyrighted and may not be used without permission of the artist.