Category: Programs

Plan to spend a wonderful evening on Thursday, June 4, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm at the Sterling Morton Library of The Morton Arboretum, as Manager of Library Collections, Rita Hassert, and Rare Art Collection Assistant (and Nature Artists’ Guild member), Arlene Widrevitz, discuss the lives and works of some of the adventurous and dedicated artists who contributed to plant hunting, collecting, and documentation across the world and the centuries.

Featured in the presentation will be Ferdinand Bauer, an Austrian botanical illustrator, and William Bartram, an American botanical and ornithological illustrator, both contributors of artwork to the French botanist and explorer, Andre Michaux and his son, Francois Andre Michaux, for their book on trees of North America, The North American Sylva. The lives and works of other artistic contributors, Pierre-Joseph Redoute and Pancrace Bessa will also be explored.  (Please click on any of the highlighted links above to read more.)

During this presentation, rare works by these and other artists from the Sterling Morton Library’s Art and Rare Book Collections will be on display to highlight and illustrate the presentation, as well as the library’s current exhibit, Plant Hunters.

Guests and visitors are welcome to attend this special presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.  There is no fee for parking or attendance, and non-members of The Morton Arboretum should let the gate attendant know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.

On Thursday, March 5, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum, fiber artist Barbara Schneider will be sharing some of her artwork and techniques with members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, their guests, and visitors.

The three series of fiber art that Barbara will be presenting, Reflections, Leaves, and  Line Dance, Tree Ring Patterns are influenced by the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi, which she describes as “finding beauty in things that are imperfect”.  Barbara’s program is meant to encourage viewers to look at nature “with fresh eyes”, and her creations using cloth, dye and thread are nothing short of breathtaking.

To see a preview of a Barbara’s DVD, Three Dimensional Fiber Art, please click on this link.  To view her artwork and read more about her techniques and inspirations, you can visit Barbara’s website by clicking here and here for her Facebook page.

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend the Nature Artists’ Guild programs. There is no fee for the program, parking, or entry into The Morton Arboretum for this event.  Visitors can 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.

Don’t forget that tonight’s Nature Artists’ Guild Meeting will be held in the Visitor’s Center of The Morton Arboretum.  Please park in the main parking lot and enter through the main doors of the Visitor’s Center.  Proceed towards the Ginkgo Cafe, and our friend Gary will direct you to the correct room.

Carrie Carlson will be sharing her linoleum block printing methods with us, and supplies will be provided to all who care to try some techniques for themselves.  It sounds like a fun evening!

On Thursday, February 5, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm, Nature Artists Guild members, guests and visitors will have the opportunity to explore the art of depicting nature through linoleum block printmaking with Scientific Illustrator, Carrie Carlson. Carrie is especially interested in raising awareness of native flora and fauna, especially threatened species.

Please note that this presentation will take place in the Ginkgo Room (located in the Visitor’s Center).  There is no fee for the program or parking, and visitors should just let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild presentation.

More about this upcoming program from Carrie –

Linoleum block is an established printmaking technique accessible for all ages and skill levels!  Come learn the basics and how to increase sophistication in both content and methodology to create striking works of art.  Working with oil-based inks allows the artist terrific opportunity for hand painting finished prints.  Basic tools and methods, inks, papers, alternative carving substrates, and hot tips will be discussed.

The artist is midway through an ambitious Artist in Residency venture documenting at-risk, recovering, and keystone prairie species through linocut in order to generate awareness and celebration of a local grasslands restoration project.  Step-by-step directions and imagery of these grassland pieces will inspire you to seek out your own local cause to celebrate through linocut!  Small prints will be provided by the artist for experiential learning in hand-coloring and collaborative artistry!

More examples of Carrie’s wonderful artwork can be seen by clicking on this link to her Etsy shop.

Please join the Nature Artists’ Guild on Thursday, October 2, 2014 from 7 until 9 pm at Thornhill for a unique and fascinating presentation by glass artist Paul Messink.

In his Artist Statement, Paul explains that he creates “hand-painted, multi-layered glass panels that exhibit nature in deep dimension, presenting natural objects around us in a new way”.   He goes on to describe his technique:  “By using only enamel applied by hand, I create depth using several techniques:  layering, diminishing size and color, texture, and translucence. “

To view Paul’s wonderfully ethereal artwork, please visit his website. www.paulmessink.com. by clicking here.   In the section entitled “Foggy Trees 1”,  Paul states that “Looking at nature for inspiration, I create scenes which often include bare trees.  I like bare trees because of their minimalism, and because they reveal a great deal of character.”   Paul’s Trees in Twilight, shown below, was recently honored with ” Best in Show” at Gallery 924 in Indianapolis, IN.

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend the Nature Artists’ Guild’s formal meetings.  There is no entrance fee or charge for parking.  Visitors can just let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there to attend the presentation.

The Nature Artists’ Guild annual “Nature Artist Trio” presentation is one of our most popular and well-attended programs each year!  From 7 until 9 pm on Thursday, August 7, 2014, each of three talented artists will share tips and techniques of their unique artwork process.  This is a great opportunity for our members and visitors to learn some basics of a type of artwork they may never have tried before. Since attendees are divided into three smaller groups which rotate between presentations, it is a chance to get an up-close and often hands-on look at the techniques and materials. Each presentation is like a mini-class!

This year, we are featuring the talents of Peggy McGahan, Mary Ann Jimenez, and Charlotte Doyle Leavitt.

Peggy McGahan will be sharing some unique methods for ” adding water to colored pencil in different ways, including using water-soluble colored pencil, using water-soluble crayons, and combining water-color paints with colored pencils”.  Sounds intriguing!  You can see more of her work by clicking on this link to Peggy’s website.

Mary Ann Jimenez will be working with silverpoint, a fascinating type of ancient drawing which is currently experiencing a revival.   Wikipedia explains that “The initial marks of silverpoint appear grey as other metalpoints, but silverpoint lines, when exposed to air, tarnish to a warm brown tone. ”  It is a delicate and subtly beautiful form of artwork.   Mary Ann is a member of The Society of Metalpoint Artists.

Charlotte Doyle Leavitt is one of our most talented watercolorist members, but it appears that she will be mixing things up for this presentation, and working on collage featuring some of those watercolor images.  We are looking forward to seeing what creative techniques she has been working on!

We welcome visitors and guests to this informal and fun meeting, and it is a wonderful chance to meet and talk with some of our Nature Artists’ Guild members.  There is no charge for attendance or parking, so just let the gate attendant know you are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild meeting and you will be directed to Thornhill.

Nature Artists’ Guild members will have a wonderful and rare opportunity to view some of the treasures of the Sterling Morton Library’s Botanical Art Collection at our meeting on Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 7 until 9 pm.  The presentation, by Library Collections Manager Rita Hassert and Art Collection Assistant and Nature Artists’ Guild member Arlene Widrevitz, will take place in the Sterling Morton Library.

According to Arlene, we can look forward to a glimpse of contemporary as well as seventeenth century artwork.  “The new acquisition by the French artist Pancrace Bessa will be featured, as well as work by artists Barbara Regina Dietzsch, Pierre Joseph Redoute, Nancy S. Hart, Julie Sutter-Blair and many others.”

Please follow the links below for more information about each artist and to preview examples of their work (not necessarily those in the Sterling Morton Library collection).

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be welcoming Spring a bit early this year, with Botanical Artist Beverly Behrens on Thursday, March 6, 2014, from 7 until 9 pm, at Thornhill.

Beverly uses graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor to create lovely works of art from the garden and from the wild.   Beverly’s presentation for the Nature Artists’ Guild, Prairie Trails and Country Garden Watercolors will  take us on a tour of her life from “early years on the western prairie of South Dakota to today and the Middlefork Savanna of Illinois”. We will also be treated to a glimpse of Beverly’s layered watercolor technique.

Beverly is a member of numerous art organizations, the recipient of many awards, and is represented by galleries in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.  Please visit her website, countrygardenwatercolors.com to view some of her wonderful work.

We look forward to sharing the evening with Beverly and her artwork!  As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend.  There is no charge for admission.

Please click on any image below to enlarge.  All artwork is copyrighted by Beverly Behrens and is used with permission.

Sunflower, ©Beverly Behrens, Used With Permission

Red Bud, ©Beverly Behrens, Used With Permission

Muscadet Lily, ©Beverly Behrens, Used With Permission

Milkweed, ©Beverly Behrens, Used With Permission

Middlefork Savanna – Summer, ©Beverly Behrens, Used With Permission

The Nature Artists’ Guild of the Morton Arboretum welcomes Landscape and Nature Artist Robert Pennor as our first presenter of the year on Thursday, February 6, 2014 from 7 pm until 9 pm.

Robert will be sharing some of his techniques for creating beautiful landscape, animal and nature scenes in acrylic.  A graduate of the Art Institute of Boston, Robert spent many years working as a graphic designer and illustrator in New York and Connecticut.  He now lives in the Chicago area and devotes his creative energy to painting the landscape and nature.  Robert is a member of the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society, and is represented by the Brigantine Gallery in Downers Grove, IL.

Please visit Robert Pennor’s website, robertpennorgallery.com to view some his wonderful work.

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to join us.  The program is free of charge and the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum will direct you to the correct location.  We look forward to seeing you there!