Category: Member Artwork

Meet the Leaf Fairy!

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Patty Konigsaecker has done it again!  The Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2012 Scarecrow that Patty has designed is really too sweet, though, to scare away any birds! In fact, with some of the changes we’ll be adding this Saturday (such as adding a bird’s nest to her bun), she’ll probably attract them!  After we substitute some of her flowers for leaves (hence the name change from Flower Fairy to Leaf Fairy), and change her quote to another more “leafy” one, our Leaf Fairy, with her skirt fluttering in the wind, will grace the shore of Meadow Lake at The Morton Arboretum all through October.

2012 Nature Artists’ Guild Scarecrow, “Leaf Fairy”, design by Patty Koenigsaecker

Please join us this Saturday at Thornhill at the workshop to help construct her! If you have suggestions or supplies that may be useful, please contact Patty Konigsaecker (you can find her contact information in your Yearbook).

Not So Scare(y)crow!

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We don’t know whether she kept any birds away from any crops, but last year’s Nature Artists’ Guild’s debut scarecrow, Patty Painter, was certainly the most stylish one at The Morton Arboretum’s annual Scarecrow Trail, displayed near Meadow Lake all through October!

2011 Nature Artists’ Guild Scarecrow, Drawing by Patty Koenigsaecker

This year, the Nature Artists’ Guild is doing it again, and the theme, contributed by member Connie Devendorf, will be “Flower Fairy”.  We’ve asked costume designer and member Patty Koenigsaecker to once again come up with a sketch, but we’ll need lots of help to pull it all together.

Assembly of the scarecrow will take place at our Holiday Exhibit Fundraising Workshop (more details coming soon), on Saturday, September 15, (drop in downstairs at Thornhill any time between 10 am and 3 pm), along with all of our other workshop activities.

Workshops are always a lot of laughs and a wonderful way to spend some time getting to know your fellow Nature Artists’ Guild members!  Please join us!

Patty Painter and friends, 2011 Nature Artists’ Guild

2013 Nature Artists’ Guild Desk Calendar Artwork due September 14, 2012

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It is so hard to believe that this will be the fifth edition of the Nature Artists’ Guild desk calendar!  These calendars, initiated and designed by our lifetime member Mary Ingels, are some of our most successful fundraising projects ever.  Sold at our Holiday Exhibition and various other venues, the calendars are an annual favorite, and a great way for you to have your artwork published!

You should have already received your e-mail with instructions for preparing and submitting your artwork (due by September 14, 2012), and Mary makes participating easier than ever by giving you some great hints for obtaining quality photographs or scans.

So dig out your favorite paintings or drawings, carefully follow the instructions for submission, and be part of this wonderful project.  We’re looking forward to seeing your work!

Previous Nature Artists’ Guild Calendar Pages, copyrighted by the artists

Nature Artists’ Guild Prepares for a Busy Autumn!

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This cooler weather (finally) reminds us that autumn is right around the corner, and it will be a busy season for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild!

In the next few weeks and months, there will be an exciting new paint-out opportunity (The Beard Garden),  instructions will be sent out for participating in the 2013 Nature Artists’ Guild calendar project, a workshop has been scheduled for our Holiday Exhibit fundraising, and not too far off, is our popular Holiday Exhibit itself!  Featured at this exhibit will be the wonderful artist and one of our hardest working guild members, Nancy Thyfault.

Check back soon for more about all of these upcoming events, and to read about Nancy and see some of her beautiful artwork!

The “Artist Trio” at the Next Nature Artists’ Guild Meeting, August 02, 2012

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The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to present one of our most popular meeting formats next Thursday,  August 2, 2012, from 7 to 9 pm at Thornhill.   This year, our “Artist Trio”  will include Fran Kelly, Carol Jean Rogalski, and Laverne Bohlin.  All three presenters are instructors in the Morton Arboretum’s Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate Program, as well as Nature Artists’ Guild members.

You will have a chance to learn the technique of painting dew drops and rain drops in watercolor when you stop by Fran Kelly’s demonstration.  Carol Jean Rogalski will offer insights into the history, techniques and materials, both historical and modern, of Illumination.  Laverne Bohlin will be presenting us with some techniques in developing gorgeous pastel landscapes.

This promises to be a fun, informative and somewhat informal meeting, where you will have the chance to try different materials, learn about different techniques, and interact with your fellow Nature Artists’ Guild members.  Please join us!

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum 2012 Spring Exhibit

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Please join the members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum at their annual Spring Exhibit.   All are welcome, and admission to the exhibit is free, although  there is a gate fee for entry into The Morton Arboretum.   The exhibit will consist of the work of more than fifty members of the Nature Artists’ Guild.

Two Important Arrivals – Our First Frost and The Morton Arboretum Education Program Winter Schedule!

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Waking up to our first frost last week has many of us thinking about the upcoming winter!    Instead of dreading the cold, the snow, the ice and the slush, why not think of winter as a wonderful time for learning something new?   After all, the gardening and yardwork are done, summer vacations are over, and the kids or grandkids are back in school – now it’s time for you!

Whether you prefer to spend the cold months all warm and toasty indoors, or outdoors exploring the magical beauty that only snow and ice can provide, the new winter schedule for The Morton Arboretum Education Program has something for you. 

After choosing your winter art classes, don’t forget to check out some of the other areas of interest –Natural History, Nature Photography, Ornithology, Horticulture and Gardening and Woodland Stewardship.   Learning something completely new and different is a great way to enrich those winter months!

 Click here for The Morton Arboretum Education Program schedules.

Georgeous Weather and Color Expected for Tomorrow’s Paint-Out

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If you’re still undecided about attending tomorrow’s Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out at The Morton Arboretum, please click here to see their latest “Autumn Color Report”!

With nice weather expected (mostly sunny, 65 degrees), it’s likely the Arboretum will be the place to be this weekend, so although we’ll meet at 9:30 in front of Thornhill, it probably wouldn’t hurt to come a little early to beat the crowd.  The gates will open at 7 am!

Sterling Pond, © Marilyn Peretti

Update – Enjoy this “start” of  a mixed media painting of Sterling Pond, created by Marilyn Peretti using cold wax and oil, painted with a palette knife!

Ku-mie Kim, Featured Artist for the 2011 Holiday Exhibit of The Nature Artists’ Guild

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Our new header features detail from Yellow Honeysuckle, Lonicera reticulata, by our 2011 Holiday Exhibit featured artist, Ku-mie Kim.  You can read more about Ku-mie and see some of her lovely images on our “Featured Artist” page by clicking the tab above or by clicking here.  Congratulations, Ku-mie, and we look forward to seeing many more examples of your wonderful talent at our exhibit in November!