Category: Paint-Outs

The last paint-out of the year for the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will take place at the gardens of Cantigny Park on October 1, 2025, from 9:30 until noon.

Attendees will be able to make the most of autumn’s brilliant blue skies and warm colors, while enjoying coffee and a tasty homemade pastry provided by coordinator Celia Rodee, at the lovely and vast gardens of Cantigny Park.

“Located in Wheaton, Illinois, Cantigny Park is the 500-acre former estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune.” Included in the park are the gardens, “created in 1967 by renowned landscape architect Franz Lipp. Nearly 30 acres of display gardens, theme plantings and statuary render exceptional beauty in all seasons.” – Cantigny.org

There will be no charge for entering Cantigny or for parking at this event. Drop-ins, guests, and visitors are welcome to join the paint-out, but registration is strongly recommended (to make sure there are enough delicious delectables to go around). It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the autumn air and time with fellow nature artists!

There is a very special show at The Grand Garden of The Morton Arboretum in late summer and early autumn. Vibrant annuals and perennials are still the stars, but the warmer colors of autumn are beginning to make their debut.

To celebrate this display, the Nature Artists’ Guild has planned a paint-out at The Grand Garden on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 9:30 am until noon. Coordinator Celia Rodee will greet attendees with hot and iced coffee and her famous homemade baked goods to prepare the artists for a morning of enjoying the garden in all its glory.

Drop-ins are welcome, but registration is highly recommended (to receive email updates and details, and ensure there are enough treats to go around).

The Grand Garden paint-out also offers a perfect opportunity for Guild members to create or gather references for their contribution to this year’s small works exhibit, “Flora”!

Encore! Encore! Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will once again visit the garden of Cynthia Hellyer Heinz and Earl Heinz in Warrenville, IL, next Friday, August 22, 2025, for a paint-out and studio tour.

Paint-Outs Coordinator (and accomplished baker) Celia Rodee will meet participants at 10 am with coffee (hot or iced) and homemade baked goods at the private garden of artists Cynthia Hellyer Heinz and Earl Heinz. Cynthia is excited to report that the garden is in full bloom and ready for its repeat performance!

Cynthia is an artist and associate professor at the School of Art and Design at NIU, and Earl creates wonderful works in ceramics. Their colorful and whimsical garden near the DuPage River is a reflection of their creativity and artistic talents. To add to the experience, paint-out participants are invited to join Cynthia on an informal tour of her home studio!

Registration is required for this paint-out, and no rain date will be scheduled. Celia will email registered attendees with the paint-out address and other details. Previous paint-out participants, as well as new ones, are welcome to attend.

Pinks and purples, reds and yellows, greens and blues – all the colors of summer will be on display for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at the August paint-out at the Gardens of Ball. Artists will want to bring their full palettes!

Each year, Ball Horticultural Company, one of the world’s leaders in “all facets of horticulture,” welcomes the Nature Artists’ Guild to its display gardens, the Gardens at Ball, to draw, paint, and photograph some of the thousands of plants showcased across its nine acres.

Participants will meet on August 8, 2025, at 9:30 am before spreading out to explore the beautifully landscaped gardens in their attempt to “capture the colors.”

Members of the Guild can register here or email Celia Rodee to receive more information about this event and be added to the list for email updates.

The Nature Artists’ Guild has been invited to share the garden that has been the inspiration for many of the joyous works of artist Ann Lamoureux.

On the morning of Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 9:30, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will gather at the home of fellow artist Ann Lamoureux in Wheaton, IL, to paint, sketch, and photograph her garden.

Ann’s exuberant garden has just about everything a nature artist could ask for! There are shady nooks with cool colors, sunny spots featuring bright perennials, water features, towering trees, and a porch that provides a comfortable spot to enjoy it all.

Paint-Outs Coordinator Celia Rodee will join Ann in welcoming participants with her homemade baked goods and hot or iced coffee. Advance registration for this paint-out is required, and Celia will contact attendees with details and updates by email.

Update – An encore paint-out has been planned for August 22, 2025 at 10 am. Members can register here!

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will visit the garden of Cynthia Hellyer Heinz and Earl Heinz in Warrenville, IL, next Friday, June 13, 2025, for a paint-out and studio tour.

Paint-Outs Coordinator (and accomplished baker) Celia Rodee will meet participants at 9:30 am with coffee (hot or iced) and homemade scones at the private garden of artists Cynthia Hellyer Heinz and Earl Heinz.

Cynthia is an artist and associate professor at the School of Art and Design at NIU, and Earl creates wonderful works in ceramics. Their colorful and whimsical garden near the DuPage River is a reflection of their creativity and artistic talents. To add to the experience, paint-out participants are invited to join Cynthia on an informal tour of her home studio!

Registration is required for this paint-out, and no rain date will be scheduled. Celia will email registered attendees with the paint-out address and other details.

The forecast is for a cool morning with plenty of warm sunshine for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s paint-out at Lilacia Park in Lombard, IL, this Thursday.

Artists will meet at Lilacia Park on May 8, 2025 at 9:30 am to grab a coffee and one (or two?) of Celia’s homemade muffins before finding their inspiration throughout the park’s more than 7 acres.

Originally designed by renowned landscape architect, Jens Jensen, the park features 700 lilacs, 35,000 tulips, water features, flowering trees, and towering oaks, all connected by winding paths. Lilacia Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.

Paint-out participants can register here to be sure to receive details and updates about the paint-out, but drop-ins are also welcome.