Fringed Gentian, Gentianopsis crinita, copyright Heeyoung Kim
The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud to co-sponsor an upcoming workshop with The Morton Arboretum by renowned botanical artist Heeyoung Kim. The workshop is open to all, but members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will receive a 10 percent discount by enrolling by phone and confirming their membership. (If enrollment in the workshop is being given as a gift, the discount is available if the attendee is a current member of the Nature Artists’ Guild.)
As the Nature Artists’ Guild wraps up 2022, there is one more thing to do – remind everyone to join or renew!
Programs, paint-outs, exhibits, workshops, gatherings, and issues of the Quarterly are already being planned for the new year and it’s easy to join or renew for 2023 by mail or online.
The subtle tones of winter return as the Nature Artists’ Guild prepares for 2023. After celebrating the many moods of the prairie last autumn, members of the guild can now look forward to studying the nuances of local and exotic plants in various phases during the upcoming months.
January 2023 will include a paint-in at The Morton Arboretum’s Herbarium, which contains within its more than 200,000 specimens the world’s most complete collection of dried plants from the Chicago region.
Wednesday morning Art and Coffee gatherings will return in January with various plants or greenhouse flowers for sketching while sipping.
In early February, Lynne Railsback will return with an online program, sharing her stunningly intricate artwork and thoughts about spontaneity and the use of a limited palette.
The palette will become more colorful in February at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual “trip to the tropics” at Orchids by Hausermann, one of the Midwest’s largest orchid growers.
The Guild is honored to co-sponsor a workshop by renowned botanical artist Heeyoung Kim at The Morton Arboretum in March. Guild members will have the opportunity to enroll in the workshop at a discounted fee.
Dates, times, and other details for these and other upcoming events will be shared with members by email and on this website as they become available.
Flora or fauna, vibrant or muted, bold or delicate, loose or detailed – members of the Nature Artists’ Guild do it all.
Downers Grove Public Librarywill host an exhibit of works by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum throughout January 2023. The library has a long tradition of proudly collecting and exhibiting the work of a wide variety of artists, from local to international, within two dedicated gallery spaces. The Nature Artists’ Guild is honored to participate each January.
Links to the prospectus and a library disclaimer were emailed to members on November 21, 2022. All artwork must have been included in a previous Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit and members will need to have renewed their guild membership for 2023 in order to participate. Completed forms must be returned by mail to Gary Chipman,postmarked by Saturday, December 10, 2022 and the artwork drop-off will be on the following Saturday, December 17.
Who isn’t awed by The Morton Arboretum in the evening, especially during the holiday season when the festive lights of the buildings and their surroundings contrast with the dark, silent woods and meadows? It can truly be an experience of wonder.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to experience this wonder along with the joys of sharing food and laughter with friends and fellow artists at the annual Holiday Party tonight, December 1, 2022.
Festivities begin at 6 pm in the Founder’s Room (originally the library of the country estate of Joy Morton) at the lovely and historic Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.
All the details were emailed to members on November 26. No RSVP is necessary and each member is invited to bring a guest.
How to be-be-be like a chickadee-dee-dee? By spreading cheer to end the year!
No need to snatch peanuts, hop around, or chatter away (although it might be fun!) – there is another way to join these endearing little birds in spreading cheer during the cold, short days of winter.
2022 is the third year for the newest tradition for the Nature Artists’ Guild, the exchange of handmade cards at the end of the year to share and celebrate the wonders of nature and spread some cheer.
Interested Nature Artists’ Guild members can sign up with Celia Rodee (by email or by clicking here) by Sunday, December 4, 2022. Celia will randomly match each name with a recipient and email the recipient’s name and address to the sender on Monday, December 5. Every member who sends a card will receive one from another randomly-selected member.
A blank multi-media card and envelope will be available to pick up at the Nature Artists’ Guild’s holiday party at the Thornhill Education Center on December 1 for each participant, but any mail-able art surface is acceptable to use.
Cards should be mailed by Thursday, December 15, 2022. Before mailing out their handmade cards, participants are encouraged to take a photo to share on this website (email to Denise Fisk) to spread the cheer even further. The images won’t be shared on the website until after all cards have been received in the mail – no spoilers here!
On Thursday evening, December 1, 2022, at 6 pm, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and a guest are invited to the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum to celebrate the season and a year full of art, nature, and friendship.
Members can check their invitation, emailed on November 6, for all the details.
Also coming up –
The popular holiday card exchange tradition returns for 2022. Blank cards will be available to pick up at the holiday party on December 1, but members can contact Celia Rodee any time to sign up for the exchange. An email with the details was sent on November 15.
For those needing a little guidance with their cards, Carrie Carlson is teaching an online workshop on creating holiday cards in watercolor on December 8 at The Morton Arboretum.
The annual Downers Grove Library exhibit of work by the Nature Artists’ Guild will be held throughout January, 2023. Guild members were emailed the details and a link to the prospectus on November 19 (updated November 21.)
This is just a small sample of artwork created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie. Thirty-six 8 by 8 inch works inspired by the Schulenberg Prairie were exhibited at the Sterling Morton Library of The Morton Arboretum along with the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual Autumn Art Exhibit in the adjacent Cudahy Room of the Administration Building. Both exhibits were open to all visitors to the Arboretum on November 12 and 13, 2022 from 10 to 4 and for an Artist Reception on the previous evening.
Prairie Pair, copyright Alice WychCopyright Maggie MardisMorning at Schulenberg, copyright Betsy EdwardsLandscape, copyright Marlene VitekDowny Gentian, copyright Karen RemkusJoe Pye and Black Eyed Susan, copyright Margaret NavolioMilkweed Pods, copyright Marlene VitekPeace on the Prairie, copyright Margaret NavolioCopyright Cindy KerchmarPerfect Prairie Morning, copyright Laverne BohlinHoya, Hoya Carosa, copyright Kumie KimLittle House, copyright Bernadette HanacekPrairie Plants, copyright Arlene WidrevitzThe Prairie, copyright Dorothy Duffala
Mushrooms & Monarch Butterfly, copyright Linn Eldred
Barred Over Boreal, copyright Carol Cooley
Please enjoy this sample from the approximately 200 pieces of wonderful artwork celebrating nature recently exhibited by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild in the 2022 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum.
The images are also available for viewing on the 2022 Autumn Art Exhibit page of this website, along with instructions for contacting the artists.
Congratulations and thank you to all of the many volunteers, artists, employees of The Morton Arboretum, and visitors for their contributions in making the exhibit a success.
Images from the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie will be coming soon.
Poster artwork by Alice Wych. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.
The 2022 Autumn Art Exhibitof the Nature Artists’ Guild at The Morton Arboretum will showcase more than 150 pieces by approximately 50 members, including numerous works by Featured Artist Alice Wych.
In addition to viewing the exhibit artwork, visitors will be able to purchase original artwork on slate, buy tickets for raffle items, and interact with artists who will be demonstrating their techniques.
The exhibit is free of charge for The Morton Arboretum’s visitors on Saturday and Sunday (entry pass to the Arboretum required.) Those attending the Friday evening reception will not require an entry pass and can let the gate attendant know they are there for the reception to be admitted and directed to the Administration Building.
Nature Artists' Guild 