Just saying, it won’t be long! Is it time yet to start looking for Snowdrops?
Category: Other
The New Sylva
In memory of long-time and much-loved Nature Artists’ Guild member, Barbara Papamarcos, the Nature Artists’ Guild has donated a copy of the wonderful book, The New Sylva, to the Sterling Morton Library at The Morton Arboretum.
According to Nature Artists’ Guild member and Art Collection Assistant of the Sterling Morton Library, Arlene Widrevitz,
The New Sylva was written in part to commemorate the 350th Anniversary of the first Sylva published in 1664 by John Evelyn for the Royal Horticultural Society of London. Gabriel Hemery’s modern version describes trees of Britain and their care and maintenance while looking to a future that still values trees and forests.
Most exciting for members of the Nature Artists’s Guild are the magnificent illustrations of individual tree landscapes and botanical details of trees by Sarah Simblet . Simblet was also the author and illustrator of Botany for the Artist.
This new Sylva is beautifully bound and organized. It is a feast for the eyes and a wonderful argument for the protection and planting of trees. It is a perfect addition to the collections of the Sterling Morton Library.
Information about the book, including photos, information about the authors, reviews and a digital sampler is available by clicking on the following link to the website www.newsylva.com or on the photo below.
Gratitude
At the time of the year when so many are taking time to reflect on gratitude, we at the Nature Artists’ Guild are reminded that we have much to be grateful for–
- We are grateful to all the volunteers who work so hard to ensure that our exhibits, paint-outs, field-trips, programs and publications are enjoyable and successful.
- We are grateful to our artist members who contribute such wonderful artwork to our exhibits and offer so much inspiration and encouragement to their fellow artists.
- We are grateful to the artists’ friends and family members for their help with everything from delivering artwork to exhibits to giving up the spare bedroom for studio space.
- We are grateful to The Morton Arboretum for providing us with the most elegant exhibit and meeting space that we know of, for the inspiration of the gorgeous grounds, for the excellent instructors in the Education Program, and for the friendly staff who help with everything from holding doors and setting up our meeting space, to promoting our exhibits and programs.
- We are grateful to all of the art and nature lovers who take time out of their busy schedules to attend our exhibits and encourage our artists with their interest and their kind words.
It’s That Time of the Year!
It’s the time of the year for Nature Artists’ Guild members to renew their membership for 2015. Members can scroll back through previous posts on this blog to get a glimpse of all that membership brings you – programs, paint-outs, exhibit opportunities, publications, fun events, friendship, encouragement and inspiration! As an added bonus for renewing before December 31, 2014, returning previously-exhibiting members will be eligible to participate in the first exhibit of 2015 at the stately Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, IL.
Current members can send their dues to our Treasurer, Nancy Wu, whose address can be found in their Yearbook, or can give their dues to Nancy or one of the other Nature Artists’ Guild board members at our upcoming Holiday Exhibit.
New members are always welcome and can click on the tab at the top of the page to access a membership form for more information.
Presenting Crow-na Lisa
Here she is! The next time you visit The Morton Arboretum, please be sure to swing by Meadow Lake, near the Visitor’s Center, to check out the 2014 Nature Artists’ Guild’s contribution to the annual Scarecrow Trail.
The Crow-na Lisa is our slightly scary, slightly humorous take on a painting that you may recognize. Whether or not she fulfills her job of scaring away any crows, though, remains to be seen.
Thank you to all the artists who worked so hard to create Crow-na Lisa, especially Patty Koenigsaecker, who created the design and prepared the “canvas”, both structurally and artistically, and Sharon Malec who had the wonderfully creative idea of painting a scarecrow, rather than constructing an actual scarecrow. The short slide show below follows construction from start to finish.
Please click on this link to read more about Scarecrow Trail, which will be featured at The Morton Arboretum throughout the month of October.
Botanical Artist Heeyoung Kim Interviewed by Chicago Tonight
Nature Artists’ Guild members may remember Heeyoung Kim from the wonderful presentation she gave to our group last year. A few days ago, Heeyoung was interviewed by WTTW’s Chicago Tonight.
You can view the interview with Heeyoung, as well as read about her personal crusade to paint and preserve 200 native plants, and be treated to a slide show of her work, by clicking on this link to the WTTW website.
Busy Betty Birdwatcher
There are just a few more days left to visit “Betty Birdwatcher”on the Scarecrow Trail at the Morton Arboretum. You can find Betty just outside the door of the Visitor’s Center, at the beginning of the one-mile path around Meadow Lake, and will recognize her by her Nature Artists’ Guild t-shirt.
Betty, created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, will be watching her birds until the end of October, and you can visit the trail between 7 am and sunset.
From Across the Pond
Carol Jean Rogalski discovered this gem on London’s Kew Royal Botanic Gardens’ website. Please click here to see a short video about influential botanical artist Rory McEwen.
After viewing the video, you can scroll down the page to preview the book, Rory McEwen The Colours of Reality. “Developed in close collaboration with the McEwen family, this is the first major exposure of Rory McEwen’s work since 1989. The book includes stunning illustrations of McEwen’s floral subjects, and essays about his life and work from Martyn Rix, James Fox, Richard Demarco and Dr Shirley Sherwood.”
Peggy Macnamara Interviewed on Chicago Tonight
Did anyone else happen to catch Chicago Tonight last Monday, June 24, 2013? What a surprise when Phil Ponce announced that “coming up next” was artist Peggy Macnamara! In case you missed it, you can watch the interview by clicking on this link.
As soon as the date for Peggy’s promised book signing at The Morton Arboretum is confirmed, we will let you know.
A Break from the Summer Heat
Perhaps you, like many of us, enjoy taking an occasional break from the heat and humidity of summer. If so, you may wish to consider enrolling in one of the summer classes offered in The Morton Arboretum’s Botanical Art and Illustration program.
You can enjoy nature in a gorgeous setting while avoiding the heat and insects of the season by choosing from these (mostly) indoor classes offered by The Morton Arboretum –
- Begin to Draw Nature
- Botanical Art and Illustration: Pencil
- Plants in Watercolor I
- Underpainting Techniques in Pastel
- Botanical Art in Garden Catalogs
- Making Mosaics for the Garden
- Garden Journaling
- Summer Mandala
- Insects in Polymer Clay
- Master’s Studio – Summer Flowers in Colored Pencil
- Visiting Artist – Scott Harding, Landscapes in Watersoluble Oil
The classes are open to all (you do not need to be a member of the Nature Artists’ Guild nor The Morton Arboretum, nor be enrolled in the Art and Illustration Certificate Program to participate) and many are suitable for beginners. Some of the more advanced classes, though, have suggested prerequisites. Please click here for class descriptions and details!
Nature Artists' Guild 