Category: Programs

“An Ineffable Response to Overwhelming Beauty” – Bryce Lafferty on October 5, 2023

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Green Kingdom, copyright Bryce Lafferty

My watercolor drawings emerge as poetic expressions of my wonderment for the natural world. They provide a surreal, emotional, and ineffable response to overwhelming beauty.

Bryce Lafferty

Bryce Lafferty leads the Department of Art and Design at Jacksonville State University in Alabama, where he teaches drawing and painting. Originally from the Northeast, Bryce is now also “enamored by the abundant variety of living things and geologic features to be discovered in the Southeast.” His widely collected and exhibited watercolors are inspired by his “wonderment for” the natural beauty he has encountered across the country.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is honored to welcome Bryce to speak about his art and experiences on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 7 pm in the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

This program is open to the public, with no charge for parking, attendance, or admission to the Arboretum. Visitors can let the attendant at the gate of The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the presentation to be admitted and directed to Thornhill. Tickets are not required and light refreshments and plenty of seating will be available.

Bryce is also teaching a Visiting Artist Workshop co-sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild at The Morton Arboretum beginning October 6. Guild members can claim an additional discount by registering by phone.

Bryce Lafferty sketching at Lake Ellen Wilson, Glacier National Park

Some reminders about the October 5 meeting for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild –

  • Artwork submissions for the Joy’s Vision special display will be accepted at the meeting, as well as at the Autumn Nature Art Exhibit’s drop-off event on November 8. Artwork for this display does not require matting, framing, preregistration, or an exhibit fee, but must be 8 x 8 inches and properly labeled on the back.
  • Completed prospectuses and fee payments for the Autumn Nature Art Exhibit will be accepted at the meeting (as well as by mail or online by October 7). In-person payments at the meeting must be by cash or check.
  • Posters and postcards for the Autumn Nature Art Exhibit will be available for members to take and share with friends and local businesses.
  • Voluntary contributions for the Autumn Nature Art Exhibit raffle baskets can be dropped off. A list of suggested items was previously emailed to members.

Visiting Artist Bryce Lafferty in October 2023

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Eastern Forest, watercolor, copyright Bryce Lafferty

The Nature Artists’ Guild and The Morton Arboretum are excited to co-sponsor the upcoming three-day Visiting Artist Workshop: Conceptual Landscapes in Watercolor with accomplished artist and educator Bryce Lafferty beginning on October 6, 2023.

My watercolor drawings emerge as poetic expressions of my wonderment for the natural world. They provide a surreal, emotional, and ineffable response to overwhelming beauty.

Bryce Lafferty

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be able to obtain an additional discount for the workshop fee by registering by phone to confirm their Guild membership.

Bryce will also be sharing some of his methods and inspirations at a presentation at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, October 5 at 7 pm. This program, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild, will be open to all, completely free of charge. Visitors can let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the program to be admitted and directed to Thornhill. Light refreshments will be available.

A few reminders for members-

  • Links to the prospectus and an online registration form for the 2023 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum were recently emailed to all current Nature Artists’ Guild members. Members who did not receive the email should contact Membership Chair Jane Kellenberger.

This Autumn for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Zion II – Virgin River, copyright Joe Rizzo

For the Nature Artists’ Guild, the unofficial beginning of autumn will be this week, when the prospectus for November’s Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum is emailed to all members.

The Guild is pleased to announce that the Featured Artist for the 2023 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit will be Joe Rizzo (much more about Joe and his work to come soon). The exhibit will include more than 200 works of nature art by approximately 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The exhibit postcard and posters, as well as many more details, will be coming soon.

Also coming this autumn –

  • A paint-out at the gardens at Cantigny is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, beginning at 9:30 am. The gardens will still be blooming and beautiful for this event. All members are welcome to stop by any time that morning, but by registering here, they can be added to an email list for details and updates. There will be no charge for admission or parking for the paint-out.
  • A paint-out at Lake Marmo at The Morton Arboretum has been tentatively planned for October 4 at 9:30 am. Lake Marmo and its surroundings will be displaying the colors of fall and attendees might find inspiration to participate in the Joy’s Vision special display. A registration form for the paint-out and more details to come soon.
  • The Visiting Artist Workshop: Conceptual Landscapes in Watercolor with Bryce Lafferty on October 6, 7, and 8, 2023 at The Morton Arboretum is being co-sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild. (Guild members can receive an additional discount by registering by phone and confirming their membership.) Bryce will also be doing a presentation, free and open to all, on October 5, 2023 from 7 to 9 pm at the Arboretum’s Thornhill Education Center. More details to come soon.
  • Wednesday morning gatherings, Art and Coffee, will continue each week throughout autumn (except for the days with paint-outs scheduled). Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and their guests are welcome to stop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum between 9 and 11 am to chat, sketch, or enjoy a quiet morning in beautiful surroundings.

John Fleck at The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, August 3, 2023

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All are invited to visit the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 7 pm for a presentation by artist John Fleck.

At this program, John Fleck, a talented artist in a variety of media, will be sharing some of his techniques and inspirations for depicting landscapes in charcoal. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and view the artist’s work up close.

The presentation, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild, will be open to all, free of charge, from 7 until 9 pm. Visitors can let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the presentation to be admitted to the Arboretum and directed to Thornhill. There will be no charge for visitors to enter The Morton Arboretum, for parking, or for admission to the program. Plenty of seating will be available and light refreshments will be served.

Coming in August for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Landscape in charcoal, copyright John Fleck
Gardens at Ball, photo credit ballhort.com
The Morton Arboretum, photo credit mortonarb.org

The Nature Artists’ Guild is offering some end-of-summer opportunities for members and guests to enjoy –

  • On the following Thursday, August 10, 2023, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will meet at the Gardens at Ball at 9:30 am for a few hours of drawing, painting, and photographing some of the colorful offerings of the display gardens of Ball Horticultural, one of the world’s largest seed and plant distributors. Guild members can register here and receive details and updates.
  • Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild (and those who would like to learn more about the Guild) are invited to drop by the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum for Art and Coffee on Wednesday mornings beginning at 9 to sketch or chat. The light is incredible and the views are lovely.
  • Jane Kellenberger will begin work in the coming weeks for the autumn issue of the the Guild’s members-only publication, the Quarterly. Members will receive an email soon with instructions for submitting photos and articles, due by August 1, 2023.

Landscapes in Charcoal by John Fleck on August 3, 2023

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Landscape in charcoal, copyright John Fleck

Charcoal, one of the world’s oldest drawing mediums, has been widely popular since the Renaissance.

John Fleck demonstrates why with his intriguing landscapes that show the depth and detail possible using only lights, darks, and midtones. He is able to create a variety of moods using only one medium and many values.

Landscape in charcoal, copyright John Fleck

John Fleck has shared his talents in a variety of media throughout his career (and will be teaching Art in Plein Air: The Prairie Large and Small beginning this Wednesday at The Morton Arboretum). The Nature Artists’ Guild is honored to sponsor a program by John on Thursday evening, August 3, 2023 from 7 until 9 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

This program will be open to all, free of charge. There will be no charge for admission to The Morton Arboretum for this event, and visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild presentation to be directed to Thornhill.

Celebrating Summer with the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Tomato, copyright Lisa Kanellos

The Nature Artists’ Guild begins the season with gatherings and events to celebrate the special sights, sounds, and scents (as well as textures and tastes) of summer.

  • The exhibit at the McCord Gallery continues through July 7, 2023. More than 30 unique works of nature art created by Guild members adorn the walls of this historic gallery.
  • A paint-out at the recently opened Grand Garden of The Morton Arboretum has been planned for the morning of Wednesday, July 12, 2023 (rain date July 13). Interested members can register here and be added to the attendee list to receive email details and updates.
  • The August 3, 2023 program (open to all) sponsored by the Guild will feature multi-talented artist John Fleck from 7 until 9 pm. John will be sharing his methods and materials for creating landscapes in charcoal. More details to come soon.
  • Weekly Art and Coffee gatherings continue every Wednesday morning (except on days of paint-outs) at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum from 9 to 11:30. Members and guests are welcome to stop by and chat, sketch, or simply enjoy the quiet morning in a lovely atmosphere.

Three Nature Artists on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at The Morton Arboretum

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Artwork copyrighted by (left to right) Joe Rizzo, Cindy Franks, Alice Wych

Everyone is invited to an evening of nature art at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

Three members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, Alice Wych, Cindy Franks, and Joe Rizzo will be sharing tips, techniques, and inspiration from 7 until 9 pm on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. Audience members will be free to rotate through all three 20-minute presentations (or attend any one of them two or three times!) There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and get close-up views of the artists’ work and materials.

This presentation, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild, is open to the public, free of charge. There will be no fee to attend and no fee for admission to The Morton Arboretum for the event. Tickets are not required. Visitors can let the Arboretum gate attendant they are there for the program to be admitted and directed to Thornhill.

This and That for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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

Now that members of the Nature Artists’ Guild have had time to experience some of the beauty and wonder (as well as yard work and gardening) that are all part of spring in Chicagoland, it is time to get back to creating and sharing some art!

Coming up for the Nature Artists’ Guild –

  • Registrations for participation in the upcoming special exhibit at the McCord Gallery are due by May 24, 2023 (just four days from now!) The prospectus and a link to the registration form were emailed to all members on April 29. The McCord Gallery, just half an hour from The Morton Arboretum, features a wonderful gallery space and is active in promoting their exhibits with a reception, postcards, and community outreach. For the first time, Nature Artists’ Guild members will be eligible to also register artwork not previously shown at the Arboretum (details here).
  • May 30, 2023 is the final day to visit the Guild’s exhibit at the Woodridge Public Library, More than thirty pieces of nature art by members of the Guild were exhibited in their gallery space for all visitors to the library to enjoy and be inspired by throughout the month.
  • On Thursday evening, June 1, 2023, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, guests, and visitors will meet at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum for the annual “Trio of Nature Artists” program featuring three members of the Guild demonstrating and discussing fascinating techniques they use for creating nature art. This event is open to the public, free of charge (details here).
  • Guild members are invited to a paint-out at a stunning private garden in Glen Ellyn on the morning of June 15, 2023. Paint-Out Coordinator Celia Rodee will be offering coffee and scones to attendees to add to the enjoyment of what promises to be an idyllic morning. Members who would like to attend should notify Celia by email or by clicking here. Photos and details (scone flavors!) coming soon.
  • The weekly Art and Coffee gatherings continue to meet each Wednesday morning between 9 and 11 at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. All members of the Nature Artists’ Guild as well as those interested in hearing more about the Guild are welcome to stop by. The meeting place is absolutely surrounded by blooms this spring and when the weather permits, attendees can move outdoors to enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents of the morning.
  • It’s the perfect time of the year for Guild members to visit another location from the Joy’s Vision project to sketch or gather reference material. Joy Path (including the Fragrance Garden) will be particularly fetching.

A Trio of Nature Artists on June 1, 2023 at The Morton Arboretum

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It is an annual tradition for the Nature Artists’ Guild to invite three of its members to share some of their skills, methods, materials, and inspirations with fellow members and visitors at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 7 until 9 pm, Guild members Alice Wych, Cindy Franks, and Joe Rizzo will give short presentations on some of their favorite methods for creating nature art. Attendees will be able to ask questions, get an up-close view of the artists’ materials and artwork, and enjoy the wonderful opportunity to watch the artists’ at work.

This year’s Trio –

Mauvelous Mallow, copyright Alice Wych

Alice Wych will be sharing tips about techniques and materials she uses to create the glow of color pencil on a dark surface.

Sunflower, copyright Cindy Franks

Cindy Franks will be using stains to create subtle value changes resulting in stunning images on wood.

Yellow Canopy, copyright Joe Rizzo

Joe Rizzo will be sharing a fascinating technique in which he hand-crinkles masa paper and uses varied brush strokes to create “the illusion of water movement and textured surfaces.”

The public is invited to this presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild free of charge. There is no fee for attendance, parking, or admission to the Arboretum for this event, and tickets are not necessary. Visitors can simply let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the presentation to be directed to the Thornhill Education Center.