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.
The Gardens at Ball have been the evaluation and testing grounds for the world’s wealth of horticultural introductions and improvements for over 80 years. What began as a row trial garden for seed varieties in 1933 has grown to encompass over 9 acres of display beds for annuals, perennials, cut flowers and vegetables
Ball Horticultural, ballhort.com/GardensAtBall
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum have the opportunity to spend a lovely morning at the Gardens at Ball on Thursday, August 10, 2023, beginning at 9:30, to paint, draw, sketch, or photograph some of the wonderful flowers (or vegetables) at their peak.
Interested Guild members can register here to reserve a spot and be added to the email list for more details and updates about this paint-out.
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.
The Gerald T. Donnelly Grand Garden at The Morton Arboretum was completed last year in celebration of the Arboretum’s 100th anniversary.
Already, the garden is evolving from a space containing mostly physical structures, including pergolas, benches, waterfalls, and a fountain, to a peaceful and lush area with a variety of lovely trees, flowers, and shrubs.
The Grand Garden will continue to develop each year, and the Nature Artists’ Guild has an opportunity to visit on July 12, 2023 from 9:30 until noon(rain date, if necessary, July 13) to capture in photos, pencil, ink, paint, or pastels, some of this year’s beauty.
Members of the Guild who would like to spend a morning with fellow members at this paint-out at the Grand Garden can register by clicking here and receive further details and updates from coordinator Celia Rodee.
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.
The Nature Artists’ Guild will have an information table in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum during it’s popular annual Wine and Art Walk on August 19 and 20, 2023.
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.
The Morton Arboretum is offering a number of nature art classes to members of the Nature Artists’ Guild (and all interested artists) this summer.
Some highlights –
Art in Plein Air: The Prairie Large and Small with John Fleck will take place on six mornings in July and August at the Arboretum’s historic Schulenberg Prairie, a “sea of color in the summer months, with native grasses and flowers in full bloom.”
For botanical artists (or artists at any skill level) who would like to try a very different approach, the Art Workshop: Andy Warhol’s Flowers on the evening of July 26 could be a fun adventure. Rachel Davis will lead artists in using “a hot summer palette of pinks, yellows, and lime greens to create a Warhol-inspired graphical painting of flowers.”
Many Nature Artists’ Guild members will remember last summer’s wonderful workshop and program on painting landscapes in pastel with Laverne Bohlin. Laverne will be returning this August 4 and 5 to teach a Visiting Artist Workshop: Painting Expressive Flowers in Pastel.
There is still time for Nature Artists’ Guild members to arrange to attend this Thursday morning’s paint-out at the beautiful private garden of Anne and Charles Bouchard in Glen Ellyn, IL from 9:30 am to noon. Paint-Out Coordinator Celia Rodee will be bringing coffee and Rosemary Currant and Maple Pecan scones for all attendees, and the weather forecast looks promising!
The Bouchard’s landscape was originally designed by Tony Tyznik (landscape architect of The Morton Arboretum for forty years) in his signature style, and has been updated and enhanced over the years.
Members can sign up here to be included on Celia’s email list for directions, further details, and updates for what promises to be a lovely morning in the garden.
Postcard artwork by Alice Wych. Postcard design by McCord Gallery & Cultural Center. Right click to download a copy for sharing.
All are invited to a reception on Sunday, June 11 between 1 and 3 pm for light refreshments and an opportunity to meet and support participating artists while enjoying the exhibit at this lovely historic gallery.
The exhibit will continue through July 7, 2023 and is open to the public during regular gallery hours at the McCord Gallery & Cultural Center.
Postcard design by McCord Gallery & Cultural Center. Right click to download a copy for sharing.
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.
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.
Nature Artists' Guild 