At one of our programs last fall, Patty Koenigsaecker’s date sticks were such a hit that we were asked to post the recipe on the blog! Click here for the recipe, just in time for holiday baking (you may also need to click on the recipe when it opens to increase the size).
Category: Member News
Good Food and Fun at Holiday Party
It appears that everyone had a good time at the holiday party! It was a special treat to have former president and newest honorary member Mary Ingels surprise us with a visit. President Jill Adzia thanked all who have worked so hard in the last year, new officers were sworn in, raffle prizes were given out, and lots of good food and laughs were shared!
Nature Artists’ Guild Honorary Member Mary Ingels
Our friend and former guild president Mary Ingels has been made an Honorary Member of the Nature Artists’ Guild in tribute to her many outstanding contributions over the last twelve years.
Before moving across the country to embark on her new adventures in the Seattle area earlier this year, Mary served as president of the guild for almost three years and vice- president for one.
A graphic artist as well as fine artist, Mary originated and continues to be instrumental in coordinating and designing our annual Nature Artists’ Guild desk calendar project, one of the guild’s most popular and successful fund-raising endeavors . In just the last few years, Mary took on the challenges of reviewing and updating exhibition requirements, designing and developing (with Sylvia Root Tester) a 20th Anniversary Nature Artists’ Guild publication, and designing, developing and acting as the main contributor to this blog (to which she continues to contribute, all the way from Washington)!
Mary joins a short but distinguished list of Honorary Members – Nature Artists’ Guild founder Nancy Hart (Stieber), Evelyn Grala, and Bob Sunyog.
Congratulations Mary, and we look forward to your continued friendship and inspiration– even across the miles!
Dues are Due!
It’s time again to pay our dues. We hope you’ll agree though, that all the exhibits, the paint-outs, the exceptional programs, the Quarterly, the workshops, the door prizes, the TREATS, the fun, the camaraderie, the shared knowledge, the advice, the help, the encouragement and most importantly, the opportunity to meet so many wonderful fellow artists, make them seem like a bargain!
Please mail your check payable to the Nature Artists’ Guild, to Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, c/o Suzanne Wegener, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532.
If you are considering becoming a new member, now is a great time to do it! We think you’ll find that the Nature Artists’ Guild is a friendly, supportive, non-competitive group that offers many opportunities to its members. Please download and mail in the membership form you can find by clicking here or on the tab above.
Member Artwork: Mark Willis
Starting this week, we will be posting member artwork on the blog. If would like to have your work featured, please contact Mary Ingels.
First up is Mark Willis. Mark writes from Georgia:
Attached, please see a recent colored pencil sketch I did of black-eyed peas which are a “good luck” tradition around New Year’s time in the South. (After leaving Naperville in 2007 to retire in Athens, GA, I have learned a few new traditions in the south.) While the local red clay soil is not as kind to northern plants, there are many local plants which are intriguing to cultivate in this area. I do miss the Arboretum’s botanical classes, but can vicariously enjoy the guild’s activities. Athens does have a State botanical gardens (connected to U of GA), which provides a great source of inspiration to do artwork!
Time to Renew Memberships
Membership dues for calendar year 2009 are now being accepted. Only members with dues received by December 31, 2008 will be included in the 2009 Yearbook.
Annual dues are $45. Please make checks payable to The Nature Artists’ Guild and mail them to:
Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum
c/o Suzanne Wegener
4100 Illinois Route 53
Lisle, IL 60532-1293
If any of your contact information (address, phone number, e-mail) has changed in the past year, please include that information with your check.
Guild Members Featured in New Book
Three Guild members – Karen Johnson, Bobbie Brown, and Lynne Railsback – and former member and Arboretum instructor Rhonda Nass are featured in Today’s Botanical Artists, a new book by Cora Marcus and Libby Kyer. The book showcases the work of 65 top American botanical artists.
Today’s Botanical Artists is available at the Arboretum gift shop and at the Sterling Morton Library.
Hosta named for Guild Member!
The American Hosta Society has named a new hosta The “Iris Frazier” in memorial of our guild member Iris Frazier, who passed away last year. The hosta is a sunny plant with yellow Quilted leaves surrounded by a rich green Border that darts in and out of the center. More information will be available in the fall Quarterly.
Nature Artists' Guild 
