Category: Paint-Outs

Hausermann’s Orchids is another favorite of Nature Artists’ Guild artists.  On a cold wintry day, you can almost feel yourself relax when you step inside this greenhouse. Thousands of the orchids that Hausermann’s is famous for nationwide will be in bloom, just waiting for you to capture their beauty in your artwork.

An area of the greenhouse has been set aside as a showroom with hundreds of orchid specimens which is where we can set up to sketch or paint.  Even if you only take photographs for future inspiration, it is worth the effort to set aside some time to attend.  Of course the orchids are also for sale, so if you’d like your “inspiration” to come home with you, that can be arranged!  One lucky paint-out attendee will even receive a free orchid to take home.

Unfortunately, space is limited so we have to limit the group to 15 artists.   Please contact Ku-mie Kim if you’d like to come (you can find her contact information in the Yearbook or write a comment to this post and I’ll forward the information).   We’ll be meeting at Hausermann’s on Friday, 02/04/10 from 9:30 to 12:30.  They are located at 2N134 Addison Road, Villa Park, IL (see www.orchidsbyhausermann.com for directions and more information.).  

 Bring a chair, your art supplies, and leave your parka at home!

The rain kept the usual Autumn Arboretum crowds away, but a handful of dedicated artists braved the weather Saturday morning and for their effort were warmly welcomed by Librarian Michael Stieber and the gorgeous views outside the library windows.

 The library is so fascinating, both in design and content, that it was tempting to just spend the morning browsing the collections (see link to the lower right to access the Sterling Morton Library blog).   However, each and every window framed a wonderful scene just calling out to be captured, and the gentle rain was just enough to saturate the colors and make them “sing”. 

 After some Whole Foods muffins for energy, the artists got busy, and the results were some beautiful works in watercolor, pastel and colored pencil.

(If you were there, we’d love to add your artwork to this post!)

When you think of Autumn, you think of colorful leaves, and when you think of colorful leaves, what better place to find them than at The Morton Arboretum?    What a great opportunity for gaining inspiration and material for your autumn landscapes or just for being outdoors on what we assume will be a gorgeous autumn day!  Try a new medium or even loosen up a little – it’s all about the color at this time of the year! 

We will be meeting at the Thornhill parking lot at 9 am on Saturday, October 23,  and can choose our painting and sketching locations away from (or if you’re feeling bold, right in the midst of) the crowds.  We are extending an invitation to other art leagues and guests to join us at this paint-out (although non-Arboretum members will still have to pay the gate fee), so bring a friend, and it may also be a good opportunity to meet some new people and see what kinds of creative things they’re up to!

No need to RSVP – there’s room for everyone.  Paint-out date is rain or shine.  (If it’s raining, we’ll meet in the library). Bring your own thermos of coffee or tea, and we’ll supply the muffins.

Sure, the Impressionists had beautiful landscapes and gardens, sparkling fountains and blue skies for their painting pleasure, but we had all of that and more.

At Danada House on Monday, we also had bug spray, a huge indoor terrace surrounded by windows in a gorgeous old mansion, modern indoor plumbing, and a Panera restaurant a few miles away! We thank Connie Devendorf for her work in setting up this wonderful opportunity.

We also thank Ku-Mie Kim for hosting NAG members to a paint-out at her home last month. It’s been reported that her garden was beautiful and there was the added bonus of lunch prepared by Ku-Mie!

Two Nature Artist Guild Members have arranged some new paint-out opportunities for your enjoyment this summer.

Ku-mie  has generously invited us all to a paint-out in her garden on Thursday, July 15, from 9 am to 3 pm.  Ku-mie adds that she’ll have drinks and some fruit to snack on for her visitors!  If you plan on attending Ku-mie’s paint-out, please RSVP to Denise by July 7.  You can find Ku-mie’s address in the NAG yearbook. 

Connie has also arranged for a NAG paint-out at the newly renovated gardens of Danada House, located on Naperville Wheaton Road, just north of I-88 and south of Butterfield Road.   Danada House was built in the 1920’s by Dan and Ada Rice as their country retreat.  Inspiration abounds Continue reading “Two Paint-Outs Added this Summer!” →

Karen Klama, a member of both the Nature Artists’ Guild and the Downer’s Grove Art League has graciously invited fellow NAG members to join a DGAL paint-out in her garden next week.  Continue reading →

Sitting amongst the bluebells and looking out at the redbuds lining Lake Marmo, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild couldn’t have asked for a prettier scene at the paint-out on Saturday. Susan, Sharon and Eva are pictured here, looking quite lovely themselves, like subjects in an impressionist painting!