Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Opens this Friday, April 4, at The Morton Arboretum

Exhibit artwork by Spring 2025 Featured Artist Vicki Liszewski. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring 2025 Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum opens this Friday, April 4, 2025.

The exhibit will include more than 200 works of nature art in a wide variety of media, created by 65 members of the Guild, and will be free to attend for all Arboretum visitors (regular Arboretum gate fees will apply).

The reception on Friday evening from 4:30 until 7 pm will be open to the public, completely free of charge. Admission to The Morton Arboretum will be waived for the reception, and as always, there will be no charge for parking. No registration is required, and attendees can let the Arboretum gate attendant know they are there for the reception to be directed to parking for the event.

While enjoying wonderful works of art inspired by the natural world, attendees will also have opportunities to interact with talented artists demonstrating their processes, purchase raffle tickets (cash only) for popular themed gift baskets, and speak with Featured Artist, Vicki Liszewski. (Read more about Vicki and her art in a recent article on Art Beat Buzz.)

The exhibit will be held in the Cudahy Room and reception area adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library, in the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum, a short stroll from the Visitor Center.

Artists Creating Art, April 4 through 6, 2025, at The Morton Arboretum

Visitors to the Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring 2025 Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum will have the opportunity to interact with talented artists as they share thoughts about their inspirations and demonstrate their methods and materials.

The exhibit will showcase more than 200 works by 65 members of the Guild, including many by Featured Artist, Vicki Liszewski. Exhibit admission will be free of charge for all visitors to The Morton Arboretum (Arboretum admission fees will still be required, except for the Friday evening reception). No registration is required.

Detail of wool and silk fiber art, copyright Sharon Malec
Detail of African Elephant, copyright Carrie Carlson
Detail of Poppy Pods, charcoal, copyright Terrie McComb
Detail of Househunting, colored pencil, copyright Linda Hilderbrant
Detail of Scratch That, acrylic, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe
Detail of Prairie Drought, pen and ink, copyright Todd Serrano

2025 Spring Nature Art Exhibit Opening April 4 at The Morton Arboretum

Pretty in pink, copyright Lisa Kanellos. Click on the image for a sample of exhibit artwork images.

The 2025 Spring Exhibit by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild opens at The Morton Arboretum on Friday, April 4, and continues through Sunday, April 6. This exhibit of more than 200 works of art by 65 members of the Guild will be open to Arboretum visitors between 10 and 4 each day.

A reception is planned for Friday evening from 4:30 until 7, and is open to all. Reception attendees will have free admission to the Arboretum on that evening, and there will be no charge for parking or admission to the exhibit. Registration is not required.

Please click on poster for an exhibit artwork sample preview.

Poster artwork by Featured Artist, Vicki Liszewski. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

Beginning 2025 with a Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit and Much More

Aphrodite Sweetshrub, copyright Arlene Widrevitz, will be one of many works of art celebrating nature at a special exhibit at the Downers Grove Library this January.

The year begins with a special exhibit and quickly jumps right into exciting paint-outs, programs, and other ways for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to celebrate and share the beauty of nature throughout winter.

  • The Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual exhibit at the Downers Grove Library opens in just three days, on Tuesday, January 7 during normal library hours. Guild members’ artwork will complement the library’s permanent collection throughout library exhibit spaces for all to enjoy through February 4, 2025.
  • A paint-out at the Field Museum has been scheduled for January 18. Guild members will join members of the Artists at the field group in sketching some of the wonders of the natural world. Much more about this event will be emailed to Guild members soon.
  • On February 6, the Guild welcomes talented artist and beloved instructor Rhonda Nass for an online presentation about her experiences with scratchboard and colored pencil. Guild members will be emailed a link for attending the presentation. More details will be coming soon, including instructions for non-members to attend.
  • Also on February 6, Guild artists can leave the winter behind for a few hours at Orchids by Hausermann. This paint-out starts in the early hours, but the thousands of orchids and balmy conditions in the greenhouse of Hausermann’s make it worth setting the alarm. More details and a form to register online will be available soon.
  • It’s time to begin thinking of Spring! Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild who have news, articles, or artwork for the Spring edition of the Quarterly must submit them no later than February 1, 2025. An email with instructions for submission will be sent to all members in coming weeks.
  • The theme for the Guild’s annual 8 x 8 project, in which members create small works of art honoring The Morton Arboretum, will be announced soon for those who want to get an early start! The artwork will be exhibited alongside the Guild’s annual Autumn Exhibit at the Arboretum in November.

Looking Back at 2024 with the Nature Artists’ Guild

Click on image for a sample of images and list of posts from 2024.

2024 was filled with programs and paint-outs, exhibits and demonstrations, gatherings and artwork, and friendship and fun for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.

The Guild is hoping to welcome back all of its current members, as well as new ones, for even more in 2025. (Memberships are for the calendar year, so joining or renewing by January 1 ensures receiving all the benefits for the year.)

Please enjoy this small sample of images from 2024 (or scroll through the website or visit the Member Artwork pages for many more).

Happy Holidays from the Nature Artists’ Guild

2024 Holiday Card, copyright Joanne May. Please click on the image to open a gallery of 2024 Holiday Cards created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild.

The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!

Please click here to view the gallery of handmade cards. Many thanks to Celia Rodee for once again coordinating this year’s Holiday Card Exchange, and to all the participating members for sharing their time and talents!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! (clack, clack, clack)

Holiday Card 2023, copyright Bernadette Hanacek

This festive, furry friend is ringing (clacking, actually) his bells (acorns, actually) to remind members of the Nature Artists’ Guild that it’s time to –

Mail their holiday cards! Participants in the Guild’s 2024 Holiday Card Exchange are asked to make sure to mail their handmade cards by tomorrow, December 16. Images of the cards (both sent and received – we’ll work out eliminating duplicates) for the website should be emailed by December 21 if possible.

Renew their memberships for 2025! Current members can renew online or send a check to the Guild treasurer, and new members can join online or send a check to the address listed on the membership brochure. Nature Artists’ Guild memberships are for the calendar year, so joining or renewing early ensures receiving all the benefits for the entire year.

Time to Spread Some Cheer!

Sample of 2023 holiday cards by (l to r) Patty Koenigsaecker, Bernadette Hanacek, Christine Carroll, Celia Rodee, and Cheryl Holz

It doesn’t matter what the medium is (as long as it can be mailed), and it doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be handmade, and it will spread a bit of cheer to a fellow artist this holiday season.

Putting on some favorite tunes, pouring a hot beverage, gathering a few art supplies, and sharing some creativity – what a joyous and generous way to spend a little time this season! (Normal Guild exhibition guidelines are slightly loosened for this project, so artists can feel free to dress their critters or add some sparkle.)

Registration for the 2024 Nature Artists’ Guild’s Holiday Card Exchange ends tomorrow, December 5. The following day, coordinator Celia Rodee will email each participant the name and address of the recipient for their handmade card.

All cards must be mailed by December 16, 2024. Guild members received an email earlier this week with the details, and after all the cards are sent and received, images of them will also be shared on this website. (Blank multi-media cards and envelopes will be available at the Holiday Party for those who would like to begin with one.)

Year-End Flurry for the Nature Artists’ Guild

Ermine, copyright Nancy Thyfault

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, even those in warm and sunny climes, can look forward to a flurry (of activity) to close out 2024!

  • The Guild’s 2025 Downers Grove Library exhibit won’t open until January, but members must register by December 4, 2024, and drop off their work on December 14 to be included. This exhibit will feature work previously shown at The Morton Arboretum (titling, matting, framing, and labels are already done!) as well as some new pieces, bringing the beauty of nature art to a new audience.
  • By popular demand, the Guild’s Holiday Card Exchange has returned for 2024. Participating Guild members will be asked to create an original holiday card to mail to another member (whose name they will be given in secret). Participants can sign up for the exchange here by December 5 or contact coordinator Celia Rodee for more information. Details were also emailed to all members earlier this month.
  • Guild members are invited to attend the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual Holiday Party on the evening of December 5, 2024 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. Details about this fun and festive event were emailed to members earlier this month. No registration is required.
  • Winter issues of the Nature Artists’ Quarterly will be mailed soon. Members can look forward to receiving their copy, full of news and artwork by and for fellow nature artists, on or around December 1.
  • All artists, even those not currently members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, are invited to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum to chat or sketch at a Coffee and Art gathering any Wednesday morning between 9 and 11, weather permitting and holidays excepted. (Arboretum membership or a gate fee will be required.)
  • The Nature Artists’ Guild is looking for committee volunteers for 2025. Members can check here for current volunteer openings.

More Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Artwork

Swamp White Oak (II), copyright Catherine L. Fey. Click on the image above for the recent additions.

Everyone is encouraged to take a few minutes to enjoy the latest images of Nature Artists’ Guild members’ artwork included in the 2024 Autumn Exhibit and special exhibit, Trees, at The Morton Arboretum earlier this month. (Click on the above image for recent additions, or scroll down or click on one of the highlighted links above for all images shared by participating artists.)

The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to sincerely thank The Morton Arboretum, participating artists, visitors and guests, and all of the dedicated volunteers who contributed to the success of these exhibits. (Click on any image to see the full version or to open a gallery of images to scroll through.)