Member News – Page 3 – Nature Artists' Guild

Birds in Jeopardy Exhibit Features Some of Our Favorite Artists!

Published on October 5, 2015October 5, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

Birds in Jeopardy, an exhibit of fine art showcasing images of birds that are either extinct or endangered, opens Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Noyes Cultural Center, First Floor Art Gallery, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud and excited to announce that two of our favorite artists, member Lindsay Sandbothe, and Artist in Residence at the Field Museum of Natural History, frequent instructor for The Morton Arboretum art program, and presenter for our guild, Peggy Macnamara, will be featured in this exhibit. Curated by Sarah Kaiser-Amaral, the exhibition will also include artwork by Kristina Knowski, Maggie Weiss, and others. All participating artists in the exhibit will donate a portion of sales to a local bird conservation organization.

The opening reception will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 2 until 5 pm at the gallery. Refreshments will be served and entertainment will be provided by singer Josefien Stopplenburg. It will be a wonderful opportunity to show support for some great artists as well as for endangered birds. Birds in Jeopardy will be exhibited until December 1, 2015.

Please click on the highlighted links above for exhibit hours, directions, or more information about the artists.

More Opportunities to Support Fellow Nature Artists This Month

Published on September 8, 2015September 8, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

Nature Artists’ Guild former president Susan Bartlett, and treasurer Nancy Wu will be exhibiting their work at the Woodridge Public Library, Woodridge, IL for the entire month of September, 2015. An artists reception is coming up this Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 2 until 4 pm.

Karen Johnson's Artwork, Oak Park Conservatory — Karen Johnson’s Artwork, Oak Park Conservatory

Karen Johnson, Nature Artists’ Guild member and instructor for the Botanical Art program at The Morton Arboretum is honored to share her solo exhibition of artwork in a variety of media, titled Inspirational Insects, An Artists’ Journey, at the Oak Park Conservatory, Oak Park, IL. An artist reception will be held Sunday, September 13, 2015 from 1:30 until 3:30 pm at the conservatory.

Laurie Alvear’s work will be featured in a solo show at Gallery II of the DuPage Art League, in Wheaton, IL for the month of September, 2015.

If you are in the mood for a road trip, it would be worthwhile to head to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY (near Niagara Falls), where The Society of Animal Artists is presenting their annual exhibit. Charter member and former president of the Nature Artists’ Guild, instructor for the Botanical Art program at The Morton Arboretum, and last spring’s featured artist, Nancy Halliday is a member of this world renowned group of animal artists, and her Moonlight Snack has been juried into their Art and the Animal exhibition. The exhibit will run through October 25, 2015. You can spot Nancy attending a lecture by Robert Bateman at about 5:19 on the video of the opening weekend!

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, photo credit The Society of Animal Artists

Please click on any of the highlighted links or photos for more information on the artists and exhibits.

She Will Be Missed

Published on June 11, 2015June 11, 2015 by Denise1 Comment

It was less than a year ago when long-time Nature Artists’ Guild member Charlotte Doyle Leavitt shared with us some of her inspirations and techniques for creating colorful watercolor collages featuring items from the seashore. We are saddened to learn of Charlotte’s recent passing at age 91.

Even into her 90’s, Charlotte continued to explore new and exciting ways to share her joie de vivre with all, including through her joyful artwork and through her wonderful smile. Charlotte will be missed.

Charlotte Doyle Leavitt, Nature Artists' Guild 2014 — Charlotte Doyle Leavitt, Nature Artists’ Guild 2014

“I See Something Green” Now Available at The Arboretum Store

Published on May 11, 2015 by Denise1 Comment

"I See Something Green", Marsha Bergstrom Georgiopoulos and Gail Diedrichsen — “I See Something Green”, Marsha Bergstrom Georgiopoulos and Gail Diedrichsen

Signed copies of I See Something Green, a children’s book written by local author, Marsha Bergstrom Georgiopoulos, and illustrated by our own Nature Artists’ Guild president, Gail Diedrichsen, are now available at the gift shop located in the Visitors’ Center of The Morton Arboretum, The Arboretum Store. Gail is so excited to see the book on the shelves next to some of her favorite books about nature!

I See Something Green, the first in a series of books based on color, stresses the importance of living green and saving our forests. “Yellow” is in the works and will focus on the importance of bees.

Marsha, a retired literature and Spanish teacher, and Gail, a retired literature and art teacher, are seasoned educators dedicated to their professions, both receiving Golden Apple nominations. Once retired, as Gail puts it, “they did not abandon their need to influence our next generation”. Marsha enjoys writing children’s poetry and Gail loves to “illustrate cute animals for children”. This book series will allow Marsha and Gail to combine their passions and talents to send an important environmental message.

Books purchased from another source, or even signed books from The Arboretum Store may be brought to one of our Nature Artists’ Guild meetings, where Gail will be happy to personally inscribe them.

Congratulations, Gail and Marsha. We are looking forward to “Yellow”!

Artwork for "Celebrating our Green Planet" from "I See Something Green", copyright Gail Diedrichsen — Artwork for “Celebrating our Green Planet” from “I See Something Green”, copyright Gail Diedrichsen

Nature Artists’ Guild Member Karen Johnson Shares Her Experiences

Published on February 15, 2015January 23, 2020 by DeniseLeave a comment

Once again, we can thank Karen Johnson for posting some wonderful photographs of recent Nature Artists’ Guild events on her blog! Please click on this link to Karen’s Nature Art to read about and view photos of Karen’s experiences at the Nature Artists’ Guild presentation featuring Carrie Carlson and the recent raptor photography event at the Stillman Nature Center.

Nature Artists’ Guild Member Featured in Solo Exhibition

Published on February 7, 2015 by Denise1 Comment

Nature Artists’ Guild member (and instructor for The Morton Arboretum’s nature art program), Laverne Bohlin is being featured in a solo exhibit of her landscape art from January 8 through March 26, 2015 at The Healing Gallery, Presence Saint Joseph’s Hospital, 77 N. Airlite Street, Elgin IL. A Meet the Artist Reception will take place on Thursday, February 19, 2015 from 5 until 7 pm. The gallery is located inside Presence Saint Joseph’s Hospital and is always open.

Laverne is hopeful that her work “brings some solace to someone in need.”

Lazy Days, copyright Laverne Bohlin. Used with permission.

The Loss of a Friend

Published on December 31, 2013 by Denise5 Comments

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of a friend and long-time Nature Artists’ Guild member, Barbara Papamarcos.

Barbara’s friendly face in the front row at our Nature Artists’ Guild programs, her kind words of encouragement for her fellow artists, and her passion for and curiosity about both nature and art will be greatly missed.

Lynne Railsback Solo Exhibition Through August 20, 2013

Published on August 2, 2013August 23, 2013 by DeniseLeave a comment

Lynne Railsback is being featured in a solo exhibition of her botanical art from July 16 through August 20, 2013, at the Gallery of Nature of the Wasco Nursery and Garden Center, 41 W 781 Route. 64, St. Charles IL. An Artists’ Reception will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2013 from 4 until 6 pm.

Lynne is a long-time and well-respected member of the Nature Artists’ Guild, not to mention an international award winning botanical artist, and this is a great opportunity to see a local exhibition of her stunning work. Please click here to visit Lynne’s website. You’ll be even more inspired to see her work in person!

For directions to the Wasco Nursery, click here. The gallery is open from 9 am until 5 pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 10 am until 5 pm on Sundays.

Big Foot Wild Things, © Lynne Railsback.

Join us in Celebrating! Bohlin Garden Paint-Out July 13, 2013

Published on June 10, 2013July 8, 2015 by Denise4 Comments

Talk about talent! Long-time Nature Artists’ Guild member, Laverne Bohlin, is an instructor in The Morton Arboretum’s Botanical Art program , teaches at the Peninsula School of Art in Door County, Wisconsin, and her paintings are widely exhibited and collected around the country. We are lucky enough to exhibit Laverne’s paintings in each of our Nature Artists’ Guild exhibits, and they are appreciated by all.

In addition to all of the above, Laverne also happens to be a skilled landscape designer and gardener. She teaches numerous classes on Landscape Design at The Morton Arboretum, and we have just learned that Laverne’s personal garden will be featured in the upcoming July/August 2013 issue of Chicagoland Gardening magazine! The issue should be on the newsstands in June, and we can’t wait to see it.

Let’s help celebrate Laverne’s wonderful news by joining her in her garden, which she has been kind enough to share with all the members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, for a paint-out on July 13, 2013. Feel free to drop in any time between 10 am and 4 pm. There is no need to RSVP, and light refreshments will be served.

It will be a great chance to not only paint or sketch a lovely garden, but to spend some time getting to know your fellow artists in a casual and fun setting. Member Carol Jean Rogalski has seen Laverne and Pete Bohlin’s garden and claims that they apparently know Jack (of the beanstalk fame) because the garden surely has its origins in some kind of magical seeds!

Calvin C. Wright

Published on June 7, 2013 by DeniseLeave a comment

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.