A glimpse at some of the Nature Artists’ Guild members’ 2025 holiday cards.
The cards have been created, and the stamps have been stuck. This week, handmade cards to and by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will complete their journeys through the mail to spread some warmth and cheerfor the holiday season.
After the cards have been received and opened by their recipients (no spoilers here!), we will share the artwork by posting images on this website for all to enjoy. Participating artists are encouraged to email an image of the card they sent and the card they received to Denise Fisk by December 20.
Lake Marmo Larches, copyright Cheryl Holz. Acrylic, old arboretum papers and rusted silk on wood panel.
This relatively quiet time before the busy season of cooking, cleaning, and celebrating officially begins, would be a great time to take a minute to join or renew membership in the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.
In her collage inspired by The Morton Arboretum, Lake Marmo Larches, artist Cheryl Holz features “a silhouette from the European Larch tree overlooking Lake Marmo, set on a background of an old illustration of the arboretum, its sides wrapped with old arboretum annual guides.”
Potential new members are invited to scroll through previous posts or visit the Important Dates page of this website to learn more about the Guild’s activities and events, and current members can do the same, as a reminder of all that the Guild offers.
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. Image credit West Town Chamber of Commerce.
Driehaus Museum. Image credit The Richard H. Driehaus Museum
Where would one expect to find two buildings of strikingly different architectural styles, within walking distance of each other, both offering exhibits of intricate artwork depicting the natural world? In our “kind of town,” Chicago, of course, one of the greatest cities in the world for architecture, art, and nature.
(Many thanks to trip coordinator Celia Rodee for suggesting the title and therefore having us humming that tune for days.)
The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is planning a trip, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, to Chicago, to enjoy exhibits of nature art at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art and at the Driehaus Museum.
The Driehaus Museum is one of only four worldwide invited to host Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature. The exhibit will feature more than 100 works by Rory McEwen, often considered a master of contemporary botanical art.
Tulip ‘Helen Josephine,’ 1975 (detail), by Rory McEwen. Copyright Estate of Rory McEwen.
A light lunch will be scheduled at a local cafe for participants, and carpooling is being arranged by the trip coordinator, Celia Rodee. Guild members and guests are welcome to register here. More details about the outing were recently emailed to members, and any questions can be directed to Celia by email or through the registration form.
Quarterly cover art (left to right) by Karen Romani, Ann Lamoureux, Jean Black, and Mary Ann Jimenez.
The Nature Artists’ Quarterly is a publication consisting of artwork, articles, and announcements by and for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.
Guild members are invited to submit their artwork and articles for the 2025 summer edition of the Quarterlyby May 1 for possible inclusion (an email address and details for contributions were recently emailed to all members).
Nature Artists’ Guild members can look forward to receiving their copy of the summer Quarterly by mail in the beginning of June.
Poster artwork by Featured Artist Vicki Liszewski. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.
The 2025 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum, featuring artwork by approximately 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, is coming soon!More than 1000 visitors are expected to view the 200 or more works of nature art between April 4 and April 6, 2025.
All current Guild members were emailed a prospectus and a link for online registration on February 1, and the final day to register, either online or by mail, is March 8, 2025. New members who join the Nature Artists’ Guild by March 8 will also receive a prospectus and be eligible to register. Much more about the exhibition and Featured Artist Vicki Liszewski, as well as samples of exhibit artwork, will be coming soon.
In other news for the Nature Artists’ Guild –
A visit to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum for a paint-out is scheduled for the morning of Thursday, March 6, 2025. Participants can choose from thousands of specimens to sketch, paint, or photograph while enjoying hot coffee and homemade muffins by Paint-Out Coordinator Celia Rodee. Guild members can register for the paint-out here.
The Nature Artists’ Guild is excited to announce that the speaker for the March 6, 2025 evening presentation at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum will be Joel Sheesley. This program, sponsored by the Guild, will be open to all, free of charge, and no registration is required to attend. More about Joel and his work coming soon.
2025 Spring Exhibit posters and postcards will be available for attendees at the March 6 evening program. Everyone is also encouraged to share the online version of the poster with their friends and family! (Open and right-click on image for options.)
Copies of the Spring 2025 Nature Artists’ Quarterly(a members-only publication) will be arriving in mailboxes by the first week of March. The Quarterly includes news, artwork, and articles contributed by members of the Guild, all artfully presented by Publications Chair Jane Kellenberger.
The Nature Artists’ Guild still needs volunteers to assist with some of the duties of the Social Committee. Most involve a minimum time commitment and are a much-appreciated way to help the Guild. (A volunteer to help with refreshments at the March 6 meeting is needed as soon as possible.)
This year’s theme for the Guild’s annual display of small works honoring The Morton Arboretum in November (alongside the annual Autumn Exhibit) will be “Flora.” The special project involves members exhibiting up to three unframed 8 x 8-inch works of art created at or inspired by the Arboretum. More details and a registration form to come soon.
As always, Guild members and visitors are welcome to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum any Wednesday morning (weather permitting) to enjoy time with fellow artists at a Coffee and Art gathering.
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.
Image examples from late summer through early winter 2023
Artists who enjoy and appreciate the beauty of nature can now join the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum for the remainder of 2024 with a half-year membership option (first time members only).
New half-year members will be have the opportunity to participate in any paint-outs, exhibits (including the annualAutumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum), programs, projects, or other activities throughout the remainder of the year.
Interested artists are invited to visit the About or Membership pages and scroll through previous posts to learn more about the Nature Artists’ Guild.
As the Nature Artists’ Guild wraps up 2022, there is one more thing to do – remind everyone to join or renew!
Programs, paint-outs, exhibits, workshops, gatherings, and issues of the Quarterly are already being planned for the new year and it’s easy to join or renew for 2023 by mail or online.
The hour-long webinar features people, places, and processes throughout the long history of botanical art. The screen clippings here are just a glimpse into this fascinating presentation.
Nature Artists' Guild 