Category: Member News

Year-End Flurry for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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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.

Already Thinking of Spring

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Covers from 2023 Quarterlies. Cover art (left to right) by Jackie Louis, Dan Danielson, Jeff Walter, Joanne McKibben.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is already thinking of spring with a call for art and articles from its members for The Nature Artists’ Quarterly.

Four times a year, members are invited to share artwork, news, and much more with their fellow artists. Personal stories about adventures in nature and art, members news and accomplishments, book reviews, and information about Guild events are all accompanied by beautiful seasonal member artwork. Skillfully designed and edited by Jane Kellenberger and other volunteers (listed inside the back cover), the Quarterly is a publication that Nature Artists’ Guild members look forward to receiving in the mail.

Current members were emailed details on January 26 about where to send their material for the Spring Quarterly. Materials should be sent by February 3 for possible inclusion in the spring issue.

2023 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit Featured Artist Joe Rizzo

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Colorful Ramirezi and Friends, copyright Joe Rizzo

The Nature Artists’ Guild is pleased to announce its Featured Artist for the 2023 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum, Joe Rizzo.

Numerous pieces of Joe’s joyous artwork will be exhibited along with up to 200 works by more than 50 fellow Guild members on November 10, 11, and 12, 2023 in the Cudahy Room, adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library.

Much more about the exhibit, including information about demonstrations and samples of member artwork, will be coming throughout the next few weeks.

Examples of Joe’s work, along with some of his artistic experiences and inspirations, can be found on his Featured Artist page of this website.

One More Thing Before the Holiday Season Begins

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Become a new member or renew your membership to the Nature Artists’ Guild before the busy holiday season and start the new year enjoying all that membership offers.

click here to Join or renew

Selection of member and presenter artwork and paint-out settings. Each piece of artwork is copyrighted by the artist and may not be used without written permission.

Join or Renew Today!

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The Nature Artists’ Guild welcomes renewals and new members at any time, of course.  Membership in the guild is for the calendar year, though, so by renewing (or joining) now, artists will ensure that they receive the full benefit of their membership.  Last year’s members can still renew today (if they haven’t already) for a reduced fee of $30.  After today, the renewal fee returns to $45.

Please visit the Membership page of this website to join or renew online, or mail your check to the address on the membership application or (for current members) to our treasurer, Catherine Stacy. Catherine’s address can be found in the Nature Artists’ Yearbook, or in the latest issue of the Nature Artists’ Quarterly.

Cardinal Couple, watercolor, copyright Laurie Alvear

 

Nature Artists’ Guild To Enter Its 35th Year!

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The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum enters its 35th year of art and nature in 2021!

As it has for more than 34 years, membership in the Nature Artists’ Guild in 2021 brings opportunities to participate in programs, paint-outs, exhibits, workshops, and social events (in person or online, as conditions require.)  In addition, the Nature Artists’ Quarterly, featuring news, articles, and artwork by, for, or about members is delivered to every member’s mailbox each season.

Now, before the season becomes too busy, might be a good time for Nature Artists’ Guild members to renew their membership for 2021 (or for new members to join.)  Current members of the guild can renew at a reduced fee (through the end of the month) by clicking here and scrolling down to the appropriate payment button.  New members can click here to join at the regular rate.  If preferred, new members can send a check to the address on the membership form and returning members can send a check to treasurer Catherine Stacy. Use of the membership form is not required as long as the member’s contact information is included with the check or online payment.

 

 

Nature Artists, It’s Time to Renew!

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It’s been a busy and exciting year for the Nature Artists’ Guild. There have been programs, workshops, encounters, paint-outs, exhibits, the Quarterly and more. While the Nature Artists’ Guild accepts new and returning members at any time, memberships are for the calendar year, so artists who pay 2020 membership dues by the end of this year can ensure that they have the opportunity to participate in all of next year’s activities.  An option for paying dues by Paypal or credit card is now available for new or returning members by clicking on the Membership tab of this website. 

Small sample of Nature Artists’ Guild members’ 2019 artwork and a photo from The Morton Arboretum.  Please scroll through the 2019 posts for more artwork and photos.

A Trip to Australia with Nature Artists’ Guild’s Featured Artist, Karen Johnson

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The Nature Artists’ Guild’s Featured Artist for Spring and Summer of 2019, Karen Johnson, has just returned from a trip to Australia.  Karen has been journaling her adventures in nature for years with words, photos and artwork on her blog, Karen’s Nature Art.  Needless to say, the nature she encountered in Australia is a little different from what may be seen in Chicagoland.  Karen has captured her impressions of the trip wonderfully, and a visit to her blog to see all of her sketches is definitely worth the click!

Image from Australia trip sketchbook pages.  Copyright Karen A Johnson. Used with permission.

An Opportunity to Meet the Artists on Sunday, June 9, 2019

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The Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at the Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles, IL is now open!  On Sunday, June 9, 2019, there will be a reception at the gallery from 1 until 3 pm.  Many of the exhibiting artists will be on hand to talk with visitors, answer questions, and share light refreshments.  This reception is open to all art and nature lovers, free-of-charge.  Please click on the above link to the Norris Arts Center for directions and additional information.

Tangled, Mixed Media, copyright Bobbie Brown.  One of numerous works of nature art by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.

A Gift of Nature and Art for 2019

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A unique and wonderful gift for a beginning or experienced artist and nature lover in your life might be a membership to the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.  Membership includes the opportunity to join like-minded artists at paint-outs, exhibitions, art and nature programs, and other interesting and enjoyable events.  Membership in The Morton Arboretum is not required to become a member of the Nature Artists’ Guild.  Gift memberships or new memberships to the Guild can be purchased by clicking on the Membership Brochure and mailing a check to the address provided.