Where the Garden Leads, copyright Lora Lee Gelles, was included in last year’s Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum. Click on image for more.
Recent cool evenings are beginning to hint at the coming wonders of autumn, especially the spectacular displays of color. Nature Artists’ Guild exhibits, paint-outs, a program, and a workshop (as well as a selection of classes offered by The Morton Arboretum) will help withexploring and celebrating these wonders.
In just a few weeks, prospectuses for the 2026 Autumn Exhibit at the Morton Arboretum and Fauna, the display of 8 x 8 works honoring the Arboretum, will be emailed to members. (New members who join the Guild before the prospectus due date will be eligible to participate in these exhibits.)
The Nature Artists’ Guild will sponsor a program by oil pastel artist George Shipperly on the evening of Thursday, October 1, at The Morton Arboretum. This presentation will be free and open to the public, and no registration will be required. More details coming soon.
A return of the free workshop for Guild members, Wood Slice Ornaments with Lindsay Sandbothe, will be held on October 10. Registration is required, and only a few spots remain for this popular event.
For those who want to learn a new skill or increase their skills with expert instruction, The Morton Arboretum has updated its schedule of classes to include some old favorites as well as new and unique offerings. These classes are open to all, and registration fees apply.
And for those who just want to drop by to enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds of The Morton Arboretum on a weekday morning without the crowds, the Guild’s Coffee and Art gatherings continue each Wednesday, beginning at about 9:30 in the Visitor Center.
The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum is excited to sponsor a presentation by a master of drawing and illustration, Cynthia Hellyer Heinz on August 6, 2026.
After earning a Master of Fine Arts at Northern Illinois University, Cynthia Hellyer Heinz began her long career at the university teaching and mentoring students in drawing and design.
Cynthia will share some of her insights and skills in her presentation, The Poetry of the Crone in the Woods, at The Morton Arboretum on the evening of Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 7 until 9.
The use of color pencils is the primary tool which lends itself to details and the exploration of nuance in color and light. There is a narrative on the surface of the paper as it erupts into the images. Stories unfold and are shared by the exercise of drawing. I look forward to sharing the how, what, and why of my work as an artist, story teller and teacher.
– Cynthia Hellyer Heinz
This program will be open to the public with no charge for attendance, admission to the Arboretum, or parking. Registration is not required, and visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the program to be directed to the Thornhill Education Center.
A door prize, delicious light refreshments, and plenty of seating will add to the enjoyment of the evening!
A few reminders for members —
Articles, images, and announcements for the Autumn Quarterly are due by tomorrow, August 1.
The final day to register for this summer’s special exhibit at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum, is also tomorrow, August 1, the final day to sign-up for demonstrations is August 2, and artwork drop-off will be on August 7, from 1 to 3 pm.
It’s time for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual trip to the display gardens of one of the world’s most renowned growers, Ball Horticultural!
Guild members are invited to attend one of the year’s most anticipated paint-outs at The Gardens at Ball on the morning of Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 9:30 until noon.
“What began as a row trial garden for seed varieties in 1933 has grown to encompass over 15 acres of display gardens for annuals, perennials, cut flowers and vegetables, including the newest plants from the industry’s leading breeders and marketers.”
The gardens are guaranteed to offer a glorious variety of color and form for Guild artists to capture in their sketches, paintings, or photographs. Space is limited for this opportunity, and registration is required. Coordinator Celia Rodee will contact participants with details, directions, and updates.
A few reminders —
The final day to register for the summer special exhibit at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum is tomorrow, July 27. Members were emailed the prospectus and registration link earlier this week.
The last day to submit announcements, images, and articles for the Autumn Quarterly is this Saturday, August 1. Instructions were recently emailed to Guild members.
The Nature Artists’ Guild will sponsor a program featuring Cynthia Hellyer Heinz on the evening of Thursday, August 6, at The Morton Arboretum. This presentation will be free and open to all, and no registration is required. Details coming soon.
Pondside Dancer, copyright Terrie McComb, White Petunia, copyright Marge Hall, Oriental Bittersweet, copyright Kumie Kim
It’s a great time to set aside a few hours from the gardening, summer parties, and vacation plans to enjoy some nature and art with the Guild.
Coming up this Thursday evening, June 4, 2026, at 7, is the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual “Talented Trio” program, featuring three members demonstrating their methods and materials at The Morton Arboretum. This program is free and open to the public, and there will be no charge for the event, for entrance to the Arboretum, or for parking. No registration is required.Details here.
Next Thursday, June 11, 2026, the first summer paint-out for Guild members will be held at the private garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard, in Glen Ellyn, IL from 9:30 until noon. A large, beautiful garden and wonderful pastries will be on hand for participants. Registration is required.
Garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard, Glen Ellyn, IL. Photo credit Anne and Charles Bouchard.
Each Wednesday morning, at about 9:30, Guild members and their guests meet at the Arboretum’s Visitor Center for coffee, friendship, and the opportunity to sketch or photograph the surrounding beauty. “Coffee and Art” is a casual weekly gathering, and all are invited to drop by.
Registration is now open to all forThe Morton Arboretum’s summer classes and workshops, including a new offering of a “Plein Air Community Meet-Up.” The meet-ups are not classes, but gatherings of artists interested in painting nature, and will take place every other Wednesday evening throughout the summer, from 5 to 7:30, beginning on June 10. Member Maggie Mardis will be attending the first event and sharing information about the Guild. Guild membership is not required to attend, but registration is required, and there is a nominal fee.
Everyone is invited to The Morton Arboretum on the evening of June 4, 2026, at 7 pm for a free program featuring three talented members of the Nature Artists’ Guild!
Each year, the Guild invites three of its artists to share their sources of inspiration, their methods, and their list of favorite materials with the audience as they demonstrate their processes.
This year, the Guild will welcome visitors to the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on June 4, 2026, at 7 pm for a program featuring Terrie McComb sharing techniques for using colored pencil on Mylar film, Marge Hall working in oils, and Kumie Kim demonstrating watercolor.
This free event, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, will be open to the public. Visitors can enter the Arboretum free of charge by letting the gate attendant know they are there for the program, and they will be directed to free parking for the Thornhill Education Center. No registration is required. Plenty of seating and free light refreshments will be available.
Pondside Dancer, colored pencil on Mylar Film, copyright Terrie McComb
White petunia, oil, copyright Marge Hall
Oriental bittersweet, watercolor, copyright Kumie Kim
The next few months will be filled with opportunities for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to share, sketch, and learn, all while enjoying the company of fellow artists.
The Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum will be the location for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s trio of artist demonstrations on the evening of June 4, 2026, beginning at 7. Three talented Guild members will share their inspirations, methods, and materials at this popular annual event. The program will be open to all, free of charge, and registration is not required.
On June 11, 2026 (rain date June 12), Anne and Charles Bouchard will share their professionally designed and beautifully updated private garden in Glen Ellyn, IL, with members of the Guild from 9:30 until noon.Guild members can register here for this event, the first of four different private garden paint-outs scheduled for this summer.
Initial preparations for this summer’s Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at the Bloomingdale Park District Museum have begun, and prospectuses will be emailed to all members next month. The exhibit will run from August 8 until September 12, 2026, and will include member demonstrations and an opening reception. Guild members will have the opportunity to enter work previously exhibited at The Morton Arboretum or juried by email photos.
Guild members can use this busy time of wildlife activity to begin their contributions to this autumn’s special display of 8 x 8 works honoring the Arboretum, “Fauna.” Each member will be eligible to include up to three unframed works, which must be 8 x 8 inches, less than 1/2 inch deep, and inspired by the fauna of the Arboretum. (Examples of last year’s small works display, “Flora,” can be seen here.)
As always, Guild members (and guests) are invited to attend a casual Wednesday morning gathering at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum, Coffee and Art. This friendly and welcoming group of artists spends a few hours each week chatting, sketching, or just enjoying the morning sights and sounds of the Arboretum. No registration is required.
More details about these and more events coming soon!
Award-winning pastel artist Nancie King Mertz will demonstrate and discuss her materials, methods, and inspirations at The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 7 until 9 pm.
What a magnificent opportunity to watch a world-renowned pastel artist in action! Nancie will bring some of her completed paintings for in-person viewing, along with her hand-selected private label sets of Richeson Soft Handmade Pastels. Copies of her demonstration source photo will be shared with the audience so they can visually follow along as she works.
This program, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild, is open to the public free of charge. There will also be no charge for parking or admission to The Morton Arboretum for the event. No registration is required, and visitors can let the Arboretum gate attendant know they are there for the program to be directed to the Thornhill Education Center.
Plenty of seating and complimentary light refreshments will be available.
Plein-air pastel painting, copyright Nancie King Mertz
The Nature Artists’ Guild is thrilled to sponsor a program and demonstration by 2025 Pastel Society of America Hall of Fame Honoree Nancie King Mertz on the evening of Thursday, March 5, 2026, at The Morton Arboretum.
All are invited to attend a presentation and demonstration by Nancie on March 5, from 7 until 9 pm, at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. The program will be open to the public, free of charge, and there will be no charge for parking or admission to the Arboretumfor this event. Plenty of seating and delicious light refreshments will be available. No registration is required, and visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the program to be admitted and directed to Thornhill.
Plein-air pastel painting, copyright Nancie King Mertz
Harbingers of Spring – Daffodils, copyright Cheryl Holz. Cheryl will be the Featured Artist of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2026 Spring Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.
Even though there are weeks to go before spring, nature and the Nature Artists’ Guild are eagerly preparing for the longer and warmer days ahead.
In just a few weeks, the March program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild will be held at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. This event on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 7 until 9 will be free and open to all and will feature award-winning pastel artist Nancie King Mertz as the presenter. Much more about the program to come soon.
Guild members will be visiting the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum for a “paint-in” on Thursday, March 12, from 9:30 until noon. (Drop-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended in order to receive email updates and details.) More coming soon.
Guild members can begin thinking about their contributions to the Guild’s annual special exhibit showcasing 8 x 8-inch pieces. This year’s display, “Fauna,” will be inspired by the native mammals, fish, insects, birds, amphibians, and spiders that can be found at The Morton Arboretum. (Detailed instructions for members will be shared later in the year, and “Fauna” will be exhibited in November alongside the Guild’s annual autumn exhibit at the Arboretum.)
In tomorrow evening’s presentation, textile artist Kristin Field will discuss “her natural dyeing practice, her experience growing dye plants in Chicago over the last 7 years, her soil chromatography work, and past and current textile projects inspired by the intersection of nature, science, and art. – fieldandgardner.com
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild were recently emailed a link and instructions for attending the online program, which begins at 7 pm.
Nature Artists' Guild 