Category: Paint-Outs

Paint-Out at the Grand Garden on September 5, 2024

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Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden at The Morton Arboretum. Photo credit mortonarb.org (detail).

Nature Artists’ Guild members will visit the Grand Garden at The Morton Arboretum on the morning of September 5, 2024 with their paints and pencils for a fond farewell to summer and a warm welcome to autumn.

Autumn plantings will join the trees, fountains, and remaining summer blooms to create a lovely setting for Guild members to draw, paint, or photograph. The Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden opened at the Arboretum last autumn, and was “designed for gathering, relaxation, inspiration, and beauty throughout the year.” – Delights of the Grand Garden, mortonarb.org

Nature Artists’ Guild members and guests are welcome to drop by the paint-out any time between 9:30 and noon on Thursday, September 5, but registration is recommended in order to be notified by email of updates.

Reminders for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Detail of Summer Daydream, fiber art, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker

Some reminders for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum as August 2024 begins –

  • Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild who would like to share articles or images of their autumn-inspired artwork in the members-only publication, the Quarterly, should forward them to Jane Kellenberger by August 1, 2024. Guild members recently received an email with details and an email address for submitting.

Paint-Out at the Gardens at Ball August 7, 2024

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The Gardens at Ball, photo credit BallHort.com

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be visiting the Gardens at Ball on the morning of Wednesday, August 7, 2024 from 9:30 to noon to paint, draw, photograph, and explore the vast showcase of plants.

Ball Horticultural Company is a leader in all facets of horticulture. Our global family of breeders, research and development teams, suppliers, and distribution companies has a strong presence on six continents in 20 countries.  – Ballhort.com

West Chicago, IL is the home Ball Horticultural Company and the site of the Gardens at Ball, their 13 acres of garden showcases filled with thousands of beautiful plants, including hundreds of their latest innovations in research and breeding.

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will meet at the gardens for a paint-out at 9:30 am on August 7 to enjoy all the color and beauty on display. Registration is required for this event, either online, or by emailing Paint-Out Coordinator Celia Rodee.

Nature Artists’ Guild to Visit Anderson Japanese Gardens on July 18, 2024

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Photo credit Anderson Japanese Gardens

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to join their fellow artists at the renowned Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, IL to sketch, draw, photograph, and simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Guild members will meet at 9:30 am on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at Anderson Japanese Gardens,“one of the highest quality Japanese gardens in the world” after which they can explore the “twelve-acre landscape of streams, waterfalls, winding pathways, and koi-filled ponds.”

If interested, attendees can also choose to enjoy a meal at the onsite restaurant, Fresco at the Gardens at 11:30.

Interested Guild members can register for the event here, or by emailing Paint-Out Coordinator Celia Rodee.

(Participants will be responsible for their own transportation and lunch costs. Anderson Japanese Gardens is located approximately eighty miles from Chicago’s southwest suburbs, a drive of about one and a quarter hours. Easels and paints are not permitted. Attendees can visit the Gardens’ website for details.)

A Garden Tapestry Paint-Out July 11, 2024

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Fiber artist Diane Fisher has woven the paths, plants, and other elements of her garden into a wonderful tapestry of values, colors, textures, and temperatures.

Fellow Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to attend a paint-out in Diane’s private garden in Wheaton, IL on Thursday, July 11, 2024 from 9:30 until noon. Paint-Out Coordinator Celia Rodee will provide coffee and her delicious scones.

Interested Guild members can register here or by emailing Celia.

A Garden Party Paint-Out on June 23, 2024

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Garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard, Glen Ellyn, IL. Photo credit Anne and Charles Bouchard.

Update: Paint-out has been canceled due to cicada activity.

The Bouchards of Glen Ellyn have invited members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to attend a paint-out and enjoy a buffet at their home on Sunday, June 23, 2024 from noon until 3 in conjunction with a garden party reception for volunteers of the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center.

This plein-air opportunity is available to the first 12 Guild members who register, and the Bouchard’s spacious and lovely gardens, originally designed by landscape architect and artist Anthony Tyznik, will be in full bloom.

Just added – An opportunity for members to create and exhibit up to three 8 x 8 inch works of art in a special display during the Guild’s annual Autumn exhibit in November. These two-dimensional works must be inspired by or created at The Morton Arboretum, and the 2024 theme will be, fittingly, “Trees”. This display of art celebrating trees or their parts or inhabitants will be in addition to the regular autumn exhibit and no entry fee or framing will be required for participating artists. More about this opportunity coming soon!

Coming this June!

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Cicada, copyright Jean Black

More than just cicadas are coming to Chicagoland over the next few weeks. For members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, June also marks the arrival of –

  • One of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s most popular annual programs, featuring short demonstrations and discussions by three talented members, at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on the evening of Thursday, June 6, 2024 (open to all, free of charge). This year’s artists will share tools, tips, and techniques for creating botanical art using pen and ink, drawing with silverpoint, and using glazes when painting in oil or acrylic. Details to come soon.
  • An exciting new special exhibit at the Aurora Public Art Commission gallery. Participating Guild artists are dropping off their work this weekend, and in less than two weeks, the exhibit opens. Aurora’s First Friday event on June 7, 2024 will include a reception at the gallery for the Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit (open to all) with light refreshments and live music.
  • A paint-out, tentatively planned for late June at the lovely private garden of one of the Guild’s members. The date of the paint-out will be determined in June, and will depend on weather and possible cicada activity.

Looking Ahead to Late Spring and Summer

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Here Fishy, Fishy, copyright Dan Danielson

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be welcoming the arrival of late spring and summer in a number of enjoyable ways –

  • Nature Artists’ Guild members are encouraged to share images of their summer-inspired artwork for the upcoming issue of the Nature Artists’ Quarterly. This members-only publication includes essays, book reviews, images, and news by and about Guild members. Submissions for possible inclusion in the Summer Quarterly can be emailed to Jane Kellenberger at the NatureArtNews gmail address by May 1, 2024 (Guild members only).
  • There is still time for members to register for the paint-out at Lilacia Park scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 9:30 am. Paint-Out Chair Celia Rodee will share details and updates by email with those registered, and share coffee and her delicious homemade muffins at the paint-out.
  • Artwork drop-off dates for this June and July’s Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at the gallery of the Aurora Public Art Commission are approaching quickly. Registered exhibitors can park in the designated lot next to the building on May 24 between 2 and 4 or May 25 between 11 and 1, and take the elevator to the third floor to sign in their artwork. The exhibit opens on June 7, 2024 with a reception at the gallery (and a gathering at the studio of Exhibit Co-Chair Cheryl Holz) and continues through July 13.
  • Three members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be discussing and demonstrating their inspirations, materials, and techniques at the June 6, 2024 program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum at 7 pm. This program will be open to all, free-of-charge. Details will be coming soon.

Celebrating the May Flowers

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Photo credit Lilacia Park, Lombard, IL

Members of The Nature Artists’ Guild can celebrate the results of recent April showers with a visit to Lilacia Park next month.

On the morning of Wednesday, May 8, 2024, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be gathering at Lilacia Park in Lombard, IL for a paint-out from 9:30 until noon.

What is now Lilacia Park was begun by Colonel William Plum and his wife Helen Plum as their estate garden, inspired by a visit to a garden in France during their Grand Tour. Designed by world-renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen, the park is now over 8 acres and features more than 700 lilacs and 35,000 tulips, as well as a pond and walking trail. Lilacia Park is the site of Lombard’s annual Lilac Time celebrations.

There is no fee for admission to the park, and some seating is available (portable chairs are also allowed). Interested Guild members can stop by the park any time that morning, but registration is recommended in order to receive details and updates by email from Paint-Out Chair Celia Rodee (who will, by the way, be bringing coffee and her wonderful homemade muffins).

Photo credit Lilacia Park. Click on image to register for paint-out.