May 14, 2019 by Denise

New Directions with Peggy Macnamara on June 6, 2019

Sea Dragon, copyright Peggy Macnamara. Used with permission.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to sponsor a presentation by the delightful and talented artist, author, and educator, Peggy Macnamara on the evening of Thursday, June 6, 2019 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

Peggy is the Artist-in-Residence at the world-renowned Field Museum in Chicago, Il, where a large collection of her watercolors are on permanent display. She also teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is the artist and author of numerous books about art and science. Please visit her website, peggymacnamara.com to learn more.

Many members of the Nature Artists’ Guild have met, learned from, and admired Peggy through classes, workshops, and previous presentations. In New Directions, Peggy will share some of her latest adventures and projects.

The Nature Artists’ Guild invites all to attend this program completely free-of-charge. There will be no fee for admission, parking, or entrance into The Morton Arboretum for the event, nor any requirement to be a member of the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum. Visitors can let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be admitted and directed to the Thornhill Education Center.

Octopus, copyright Peggy Macnamara. Used with permission.

Seahorses, copyright Peggy Macnamara. Used with permission.

May 7, 2019 by Denise

Paint-Out Rescheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Due to the weather, the Cosley Zoo paint-out originally scheduled for today will be postponed until Tuesday, May 14, 2019 from 2 until 4 pm.

Photo credit CosleyZoo.org

Interested members of the Nature Artists’ Guild should contact Linn Eldred if they would like to attend next week. All admission fees to the zoo for paint-out participants who contact Linn will be covered by the Nature Artists’ Guild.

This is limited to Nature Artists’ Guild members only. Linn’s contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook.

Please click on the highlighted link above to read more about the paint-out.

April 25, 2019 by Denise

Nature Composed Workshop with Wendy Brockman Next Month

Practice is crucial and studying is important, but possibly the best way to rapidly improve artistic skills is to work with the most accomplished artists in the field. The Visiting Artist Series: Nature Composed workshop with Wendy Brockman coming to The Morton Arboretum for three days, May 17th through May 19th, 2019, will give nature artists the opportunity to learn from one of the best.

Beach Feathers, mixed media on bristol, copyright Wendy Brockman. Used with permission.

This workshop is open to all artists, not just members of the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum. Click on the above link to the registration page to read more or to enroll in the workshop. Space is limited.

Please visit Wendy’s website to read about her inspirations and accomplishments and to see more of her artwork. It is stunning.

April 23, 2019 by Denise

Painting Landscapes with Joel Sheesley on May 4, 2019

Artist and author Joel Sheesley presented the March, 2019 program at The Morton Arboretum for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, their guests, and visitors. Joel, his fascinating adventures, and his work interested and inspired so many that the Arboretum has invited him back to teach a workshop about painting landscapes.

Painting Landscapes, will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 9 am until 3 pm. This mostly plein air workshop is available to all artists, not just members of The Morton Arboretum or the Nature Artists’ Guild, although Arboretum members will receive a discount on the registration fee. Interested artists can read more or enroll by using this link to the workshop’s registration page, or this link to the LEARN & experience page of The Morton Arboretum.

Please click on this link to Joel’s website or on the image above to see more of Joel’s work and to read about his exciting painting experiences.

April 22, 2019 by Denise

Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2019 Exhibit at the Norris Cultural Arts Center

White Magnolia 2, copyright Linn Eldred.

Please click on this link to the Norris Cultural Arts Center for more information.

April 18, 2019 by Denise

Sorry, But The Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula Will Be Otherwise Engaged On May 14, 2019

Note – This post has been edited to replace the originally scheduled paint-out date of May 7 with the new date, May 14, 2019.

The Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula and the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach may not be out on display for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s paint-out at the Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, IL on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, from 2 until 4 pm. Nearly 60 other species, though, many native to Illinois, some domestic, and some exotic, will be available (click here for the zoo’s full species list with photos).

Space is limited, so interested Nature Artists’ Guild members should contact Linn Eldred (whose contact information can be found in their Yearbook) if they’d like to attend. Please click on one of the highlighted links to read more about the Cosley Zoo and its animals, its history, and its mission.

Lynx rufus, Bobcat. Photo credit http://www.CosleyZoo.org.

April 5, 2019 by Denise

Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Exhibit Opens this Weekend, April 6 and 7, 2019

Some of the warmest temperatures so far this year are predicted for the Chicagoland area this weekend, and visitors will be flocking to The Morton Arboretum to enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the season. One stop on any visitor’s tour of the Arboretum should be the Cudahy Room (located next to the historic Sterling Morton Library inside the Administration & Research Center) to view the Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art. The exhibit is free-of-charge with admission to the Arboretum.

In addition to the approximately 150 pieces of nature art created by nearly 50 members of the Guild, there will be raffle baskets, small original works of art for sale, opportunities to talk with artists and watch them work, and, for members of the Arboretum (and guests of the artists) at tonight’s reception, delicious refreshments. Please click on any of the highlighted links for more information.