Talented artist Dale Olsen will be sharing some of his inspirations and techniques at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 7 until 9 pm. Dale’s website features the full scope of his work in varied subject matter and media, but at this program he will be focusing on his stunning landscapes.
Aspens, copyright Dale Olsen. Used with permission.
As always, guests and visitors are invited to attend this program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum. There will be no charge for admission or parking for this event, and non-members of the Arboretum should just let the gate attendant know they are there for the program to be directed to Thornhill.
Please visit Dale’s website, Dale Olsen Fine Art, to learn more about him and to view many more examples of his wonderful work.
February Afternoon, copyright Dale Olsen. Used with permission.
Susan Waldron and alpacas at her farm. Please click on image to visit susanwaldronart.com
No, there will not be any actual alpacas in the historic Founder’s Room or Arbor Room of the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum in the near future, nor have there ever been, as far as we know. The Nature Artists’ Guild, though, will be hosting a program at Thornhill on Thursday evening, February 1, 2018, from 7 until 9 pm featuring artist and alpaca farmer, Susan Waldron.
While Susan also creates wonderful paintings in the more familiar media of oils and watercolors, her fiber art made from the wool of her own alpacas is uniquely beautiful.
I use my own hand-dyed alpaca fibers in the art pieces that I create. The alpaca fiber feels like a combination of cashmere and silk. As a result of raising these animals from birth, there is a spiritual connection with the animals and the felted pieces.
I am able to combine my love for color, nature, and alpacas to create exquisite, felted pieces.
Susan Waldron’s Alpaca Fiber Art. Copyright Susan Waldron. Please click on image to visit SusanWaldronArt.com
Exquisite, indeed. Please visit her website for more images and to read more about Susan’s artistic journey and these fascinating creatures she raises.
As always, programs sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum are open to all. Guests and visitors are welcome and there will be no charge for attendance, parking, or for admission to the Arboretum for this event.
The Nature Artists’ Guild would also like to encourage potential new members to attend. Please arrive a few minutes early if you have any questions about our group and one of our members will be happy to assist you. There is absolutely no pressure to join and it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the Guild, its members, exhibits, and activities.
On Thursday, October 5, 2017, from 7 until 9 pm, the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be hosting a program by Patricia Larkin Green on the art of sumi-e brush painting.
“Experience the meditative practice of traditional Japanese ink painting, sumi-e, the art of painting using a brush (fude), ink (sumi) and thin, absorbent “rice-paper” (washi).”
Please click on one of the highlighted links to Patricia’s website to learn more about the artist, her artwork and sumi-e brush painting.
As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend this program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. Attendance, parking and admission to The Morton Arboretum are free-of-charge for this event. Visitors should let the attendant at the gate know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program and they will be directed to Thornhill.
The annual August program of the Nature Artists’ Guild has traditionally featured three member-artists’ stations where visitors could learn about and participate in unique artistic methods. The 2017 format for this popular program will basically stay the same, but the three stations will mix it up a bit with presentations on the intriguing history and use of the Chinese chop, proper framing for original fine art, and a display of sketchbooks and journals created by members throughout last summer’s Sketchbook Encounter and this summer’s Nature Art Journal project.
At the Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Exhibit, Featured Artist Nancy Wu received numerous questions about her signature on paintings in the form of a Chinese seal (or chop). For her presentation, Nancy will share books and traditional Chinese paintings as she explains the history and meaning of the seal in Chinese painting, as well as the different carving methods used in creating the seals.
Copyright Nancy Wu
The multi-talented Evelyn Grala, who aside from being a talented artist, publishes the Nature Artists’ Quarterly and has served on nearly every Nature Artists’ Guild committee, is a Certified Picture Framer through the Professional Picture Framers Association. Evelyn will be discussing the proper archival framing methods and materials for various types of fine art. This knowledge is important for understanding options when hiring a professional framer or performing some or all of the framing steps yourself.
Egret, Nature Art Journal pages, copyright Nancy Thyfault
The third station will be devoted to members’ artwork created during last summer’s Sketchbook Encounter or this summer’s Nature Art Journalprojects. Participating members are encouraged to bring their work to share with the group. What fun to be able to browse through fellow artists’ sketchbooks and art journals for inspiration and a glimpse of their creative process (and sometimes personality)!
As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend this enjoyable and informative Nature Artists’ Guild program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum from 7 until 9 pm. There is no charge for admission to the Arboretum, the program, or parking for the event. Guests and visitors should let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be directed to Thornhill.
There has been a slight scheduling change, and the Nature Artists’ Guild now welcomes nationally recognized artist Marge Hall to Thornhill almost a year earlier than originally planned. On Thursday, June 1, 2017, from 7 until 9 pm, Marge Hall will share some of her inspirations, methods, and tips for creating her spectacular floral portraits in oil. Since Marge’s personality is as wonderfully sparkling and colorful as her paintings, it promises to be an enjoyable as well as educational evening.
As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend this Nature Artists’ Guild sponsored program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretumin Lisle, IL. There is no charge for parking or admission to the Arboretum for this event, and visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be directed to Thornhill.
Two White Daisies, copyright Marge Hall. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Please click on one of the photos or highlighted links to learn more about Marge, to see more of her award-winning artwork, or to watch a time-lapse video of her at work.
Flower, copyright Marge Hall. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Update – We apologize, but due to a scheduling concern, Lori will not be presenting the June 2017 program. Please join us instead for a presentation by Marge Hall on June 1, 2017 from 7 until 9 pm.
Artist and educator Lori Stralow Harris opened the Salt Creek Butterfly Farmin 2012 in an effort to provide a “wide variety of opportunities for children and adults to slow down, observe, and appreciate the quiet but spectacular presence of butterflies in our world.”
On Thursday, June 1, 2017 from 7 until 9 pm, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, guests, and visitors will have the chance to experience one of these opportunities as Lori brings her talents as well as some live butterflies to the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their camera and sketchbooks to this unique presentation! As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend this Nature Artists’ Guild sponsored program, and there is no charge for admission or parking. Visitors should let the gate attendant know they are there for the program in order to be admitted free-of-charge and directed to Thornhill.
Please click on this link for the Salt Creek Butterfly Farmor the photo below to read much more about Lori and her fascinating mission.
The good news is that the talented and beloved artist, writer, instructor, and speaker Peggy Macnamara has just finished illustrating a new book.
Mary Hennen and Peggy Macnamara’s The Peregrine Returns
The great news is that Peggy will be teaching a one-day workshop as part of The Morton Arboretum’s Visiting Artist Series on Saturday, March 4, 2017, titled Use the Layering Method in Watercolor with Peggy Macnamara (please click on the highlighted link to check for available spots or to be placed on the wait-list).
The fantastic news is that Peggy will be sharing some of her experiences, as well as a close-up look at her artwork, with members of the Nature Artists Guild, guests, and visitors on the evening of Thursday, March 2, 2017 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
Peggy Macnamara is the Artist-in-Residence at the world renowned Field Museum in Chicago, IL, a professor at the School of the Art Institute, the author and illustrator of numerous scientific and children’s books, and an all-around delightful person!
As always, Nature Artists’ Guild programs are open to all and are free-of-charge for admission and parking. Guests and visitors who are not members of The Morton Arboretum can let the gate attendant know that they are there for the program, and they will be directed to the Thornhill Education Center.
Both the Nature Artists’ Guild program and the workshop are open to all, not just members of the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum. There is a fee and a registration requirement for the workshop, but Thursday evening’s program is free-of-charge for both admission and parking. Visitors should let the gate attendant know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program and they will be directed to the Thornhill Education Center.
Anyone who has seen a sky by Gary Wick in his favored medium of soft pastel doesn’t soon forget it! Attendees of the Thursday, October 6th program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum from 7 until 9 pm at theThornhill Education Center will have the opportunity to watch Gary in the process of creating one of his glowing landscapes.
Gary Wick, a widely collected and admired artist from the Chicagoland area, is also an accomplished instructor in painting with pastels and is currently teaching at the McCord Gallery and Cultural Center in Palos Park, IL.
Gary has been featured in the Pastel Journal as a finalist in their Annual Pastel 100 Awards, and his work has been published in American Artist magazine and in Best of American Pastel Artists, Vol. II. Gary’s work is also included in the permanent collection of the National Veterans Art Museum.
Crooked Creek, copyright Gary Wick
Guests and visitors are welcome to attend this presentation. Non-members of The Morton Arboretum are asked to let the gate attendant know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program, and they will be directed to the Thornhill Education Center. Parking, admission to the Arboretum and to the program are free-of-charge for this event. Please click here for directions to The Morton Arboretum.
The October meeting will also feature examples of Nature Artists’ Guild member sketchbooks completed during the firstGreat Sketchbook Encounter. Any members who wish to share should bring theirs along!
Nature Artists’ Guild members, non-member artists, those fascinated by the process of creating art, or those just curious or looking for an interesting and enjoyable way to spend an evening – all are invited to attend and none will leave disappointed!
On the evening of Thursday, August 4, 2016 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, the Nature Artists’ Guild will proudly present three talented members who will share their art, inspirations and techniques with attendees.
Carol Cooley’s print using “shinkolei” process
Susan Bartlett’s collage from hand-painted paper
Sharon Malec’s fiber art created with her hand-made silk paper
Please click on this link to a previous post to read more about artists Susan Bartlett, Carol Cooley and Sharon Malec, who will presenting this year’s edition of this popular annual program. There is no charge for entry to The Morton Arboretum, the program, or parking, and light refreshments will be provided. Visitors should let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild presentation, and they will be directed to Thornhill.
