Category: Member Artwork

Speaking of Birds – Updates!

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(Originally posted May 2014)

The migrating birds are here (and The Morton Arboretum certainly has attracted its share), but very soon all the leaves will be on the trees and even though you may still hear the birds, you might not be able to find them.  Before you know it, they will be gone again, heading towards their breeding grounds.

The above artwork featuring birds, created by Nature Artists’ Guild members, just may inspire you to get out there and take a look.  All artwork is copyrighted by the artists and is the sole property of the artists.

All Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to submit images of their artwork (up to four images) featuring birds to be added to this slide show.  Please send your artwork  to Evelyn Grala (you can find her contact information in your Yearbook).  When submitting artwork to Evelyn, please indicate whether it may be used in the Quarterly, on this site, or both.  We look forward to seeing even more Nature Artists’ Guild birds!

Busy Betty Birdwatcher

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There are just a few more days left to visit “Betty Birdwatcher”on the Scarecrow Trail at the Morton Arboretum.  You can find Betty just outside the door of the Visitor’s Center, at the beginning of the one-mile path around Meadow Lake, and will recognize her by her Nature Artists’ Guild t-shirt.

Betty, created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild,  will be watching her birds until the end of October, and you can visit the trail between 7 am and sunset.

Betty Birdwatcher, photo credit Kathy Wagner
Betty Birdwatcher, photo credit Kathy Wagner

Sneak Preview – 2014 Nature Artists Guild Calendar

Published on by Mary3 Comments

The 2014 Nature Artists’ Guild desk calendars are hot off the press and will be available for sale at the Guild’s 2013 Holiday Exhibition, running November 8-10 at Thornhill at The Morton Arboretum.

The calendar is a showcase of our members’ work (and also an important fundraiser for the Guild). Guild member Carla Schmakel described the calendar as “an artifact of our collective appreciation for the natural world”, which I think sums it up perfectly.

Many thanks to everyone who submitted artwork for this year’s calendar.

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Our New Featured Artist, Sharon Malec

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Our wonderful new header shows a detail from a work of fiber art by our Featured Artist of the 2013 Holiday Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, Sharon Malec.  Please click on the “Our Current Featured Artist” tab at the top of this page to read about Sharon and view more examples of her beautiful artwork.

"The Hollow Tree", © Sharon Malec
“The Hollow Tree”, © Sharon Malec

Check back soon for more about the upcoming exhibit, which will take place from November 8 until November 10, 2013.

Call for Artwork from Nature Artists’ Guild Members

Published on by Denise2 Comments

2013 Calendar CoverGraphic Artist, former Nature Artists’ Guild President, and honorary lifetime member Mary Ingels has once again volunteered to design and coordinate our annual Nature Artists’ Guild Desk Calendar.  The calendar, which features members’ artwork, is our most popular fund-raising project as well as a wonderful way for members to see their artwork published.  Even nice sketches can become lovely calendar pages in Mary’s talented hands. Artwork for this 2014 calendar must be submitted by September 13, 2013.  

Nature Artists’ Guild members will soon be receiving full instructions for participating in the calendar project by e-mail or mail, but to get started, please click on this link to see instructions for creating a quality digital copy of your artwork.  All artwork must be in high-resolution digital format to be included in the calendar.  If you have any questions about the instructions, please do not hesitate to contact Mary.  She (now living near Seattle) says she would be happy to hear from you and help ensure that the quality of your digital copy does your artwork justice!  You can find Mary’s number and e-mail address in your Quarterly or in the instructions you will be receiving by e-mail or mail.

Some Nature Artists’ Guild Member Artwork

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Thanks to our Nature Artists’ Guild photographer Kathy Wagner, you may have already seen the gorgeous photos from our recent paint-out at Susan and Kenneth Beard’s garden.   We thought you might also enjoy a few wonderful sketches and drawings from some of the paint-out participants.  Included here are an ink drawing by Nancy Wu, two oil paintings by Linda Skisak, two watercolors by Connie Devendorf, a watercolor by Karen Johnson, a watercolor by Paulette McDermott, and a watercolor by Carol Jean Rogalski.  Please click on the thumbnails of the artwork to see larger versions.

Enjoy!

Remember to Make the Most of Your Nature Artists’ Guild Membership

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We are so excited to welcome  many new members to the Nature Artists’ Guild this year!  We just wanted to check in with all our members, the brand new ones, as well as those that have been around a while, to make sure everyone is making the most of their membership.

Remember, your membership entitles you to –

  • Attend formal meetings (the next one will be in August, and will feature three of your talented fellow members sharing some of their favorite techniques in various media)
  • Attend paint-outs at some great places (there is one coming up in July at Laverne Bohlin’s wonderful garden, and more are being added all the time)
  • Participate in Nature Artists’ Guild exhibitions (either at The Morton Arboretum, where up to a thousand visitors will view your artwork in one weekend, or at various outside venues)
  • Attend workshops (to help create items for fundraising and to learn new skills from fellow artists)
  • Contribute artwork or articles to our quarterly publication, The Nature Artists’ Quarterly
  • Contribute artwork to the annual Nature Artists’ Guild desk calendar

There are also many opportunities for just having fun with your fellow artists, whether by attending a “field trip” to somewhere interesting,  helping to create our annual Scarecrow for The Morton Arboretum,  volunteering on one of the committees or attending the Holiday Party!

Please check the Important Dates tab above to see our current schedule of events.

Calvin C. Wright

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In remembrance –

We received word from Evelyn Grala last week of the passing of a longtime and well-loved member of the Nature Artists’ Guild.  Calvin Wright was 92 years old, and will be missed by all those who knew him.  Carol Jean Rogalski has shared these photos of some of the beautifully carved birds that Cal was known for creating.