Nature Artists' Guild

Creating Art at the 2022 Spring Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit

Published on March 19, 2022 by Denise1 Comment

In addition to viewing more than 200 works of nature art by nearly 50 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum, visitors will have the opportunity to observe some of the talented artists at work, learn about their materials, and ask questions.

From 5 until 7 pm on Friday, April 8, Sharon Malec will demonstrate techniques for depicting landscapes and clouds with soft texture using needle felting.

On Saturday, April 9 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm, Jill Adzia will share some of her tips on capturing the fascinating details of nature with scratchboard.

On Saturday, April 9 from 1 until 3 pm, Dan Danielson will be using watercolor to create wonderfully loose and vivid paintings.

On Sunday, April 10 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm, Terrie McComb will show visitors how she creates delicate botanical drawings in colored pencil.

Winter Whimsy, colored pencil on Mylar film, copyright Terrie McComb

On Sunday, April 10 from 1 to 3 pm, Lindsay Sandbothe will share her techniques for painting wonderful wildlife on wood using acrylics.

Red-winged Blackbird, acrylic on wood, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe

Please click here for more information about the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild

Meadow Lake Paint-Out on March 23, 2022

Published on March 13, 2022March 19, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

**Meadow Lake construction, The Morton Arboretum.** Photo credit The Morton Arboretum.

Meadow Lake was established in 1959 at The Morton Arboretum when a meadow with boundaries (now shoreline) and plantings dating from the late 1930’s and early 1940’s was excavated and the gravel used to widen a nearby road. The Morton Arboretum’s first director, Clarence Godshalk, wrote in a letter to the Board of Trustees –

The new Meadow Lake has given me more of a thrill in its creation than anything I have done in the Arboretum development… The first thing in the morning and the last thing at night I find great pleasure in looking at this body of water as it grows, now that the lake is being filled.

The Nature Artists’ Guild has scheduled a paint-out at The Morton Arboretum as one way to participate in celebrating their Centennial.

On the morning of Wednesday, March 23, 2022, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will have early access to the Gingko Restaurant and Cafe in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum to sketch the lovely view of Meadow Lake from 9 until 11 am. Artists are welcome to stay later, but the cafe will open to all visitors at 11. Members can contact Linn Eldred with any questions or to let her know they’d like to attend. To protect the floor of the cafe, oils, acrylics, or other potentially staining art materials are not allowed.

Exterior of Ginkgo Restaurant and Cafe facing Meadow Lake at The Morton Arboretum. Photo credit mortonarb.org.

Featured Artist of the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild, Paulette McDermott

Published on March 4, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

The Nature Artists’ Guild is pleased to announce the Featured Artist of the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum, Paulette McDermott. To learn more about Paulette and her inspirations and view images of some of her wonderful artwork, visit her Featured Artist page of this website.

In addition to numerous works by Paulette, the 2022 Spring Art Exhibit will include nearly 200 pieces by approximately 50 participating members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. The exhibit will be free and open to all visitors to The Morton Arboretum on the weekend of April 9 and 10, 2022, and to friends and family members of the artists and members of the arboretum on the evening of April 8. Please click on the highlighted link for details.

George Bruce Presentation Tomorrow, March 3, 2022 at 7 pm

Published on March 2, 2022March 4, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

The March 3, 2022 presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will feature George Bruce and his lovely paintings in watercolor and oil pastel. Please click here for more information.

Please note – The board of the Nature Artists’ Guild has, in an effort to ensure that all members and guests feel safe and welcome, made a decision to require that masks be worn by all attendees at the March 3, 2022 meeting. The presenter may not wear a mask during the presentation, but has been asked to while in closer conversations with guests. Please note that The Morton Arboretum has, in alignment with the state of Illinois, lifted its indoor mask requirement and there is a slight possibility of encountering arboretum staff or members of the public within the building who may not be wearing masks.

2022 Nature Artists’ Guild’s Spring Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum

Published on February 22, 2022March 4, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

2022 Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Art Exhibit poster. Artwork by Paulette McDermott. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

Spring must be on its way! One of the earliest signs of spring each year is the poster for the Spring Art Exhibit of The Nature Artists’ Guild at The Morton Arboretum.

Much more about the 2022 Spring Featured Artist, Paulette McDermott, as well as samples of her artwork and that of some of the other participating artists will be coming soon.

The digital version of the exhibit postcard will be emailed to members to share with their friends and family and copies of the poster and postcards will be available to pick up at next week’s program at The Morton Arboretum.

There is still time to join the Nature Artists’ Guild or renew membership for 2022 and participate in the upcoming exhibit. New or returning members will be emailed a link to the prospectus when their membership is confirmed (current members were emailed a link on February 5.)
Completed prospectuses must be returned by Monday, March 7, 2022.
Click here for more information about membership. If joining by mail, please use this contact form to let us know.

George Bruce Presentation on March 3, 2022

Published on February 15, 2022March 2, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

George Bruce’s education and career in design and marketing well-prepared him for later following his passion of creating fine art. Initially creating lovely scenes in watercolor, George also developed an affinity and for using oil pastels and sometimes combining the two.

More of George’s work can be seen at the Proud Fox Gallery in Geneva, IL and he teaches at the Dupage Art League.

On Thursday evening, March 3, 2022 beginning at 7 pm, George will give an in-person presentation sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. The presentation will be open to all and free-of-charge for admission to the program, admission to the arboretum, and parking. Visitors can let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be directed to Thornhill.

Note for members – Posters and postcards for the upcoming 2022 Spring Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum will be available to pick up at the meeting.

Nature Artists’ Guild Returns to the Tropics on February 9, 2022

Published on February 5, 2022February 15, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Photos from 2020 Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out at Orchids by Hausermann

This Wednesday, February 9, 2022, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will have the opportunity to attend a paint-out inside the vast tropical greenhouse of Orchids by Hausermann. The paint-out will occur from 7 until 10 am, before Hausermann’s business hours. Guild members who would like to attend can. contact Linn Eldred by Tuesday, February 8 to reserve a spot. (Linn’s email address can be found in the guild’s Yearbook or in the January 9 email sent to all members.)

Established in 1920, the Hausermann’s greenhouse complex is one of the largest “orchid ranges” in the world. Their website features a comprehensive photo gallery of their wide variety of stunning orchids.

Nancy Wu’s artwork at Hausermann’s, 2020

Wonderful Trees for Week 4

Published on January 28, 2022February 9, 2022 by Denise1 Comment

To the artist the forest is an asylum of peace, of dancing shadows, of sun-flecked green. The rugged trunks are stalwart guardians–green, violet, and russety grey–with their reaching branches meeting in a noble arch overhead.
– John F. Carlson

The three pieces chosen from the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection for the fourth and final week of the 2022 Beginning the New Year with the Masters project of the Nature Artists’ Guild feature trees in different styles and media.

In 2022, one of the world’s most renowned “tree museums” The Morton Arboretum celebrates “100 years of planting and protecting trees for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.” The Nature Artists’ Guild hopes to honor the celebration in various ways, and gaining inspiration from the work of master artists is a good beginning.

Sculptor Adam Matano, February 3, 2022

Published on January 25, 2022February 9, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

*The Hunter*, *bronze, copyright Adam Matano*. Photo credit adammatano.com.

Sculptor Adam Matano will be the presenter for the February 3, 2022 online program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.

Adam’s stunning large and small-scale bronze sculptures of animals are usually from “real life models that he has spent time with, through observation or interaction.”

In Los Angeles, where Adam sculpts and teaches, he often brings his students to the zoo to work from live models. He has also begun teaching online workshops for students at all levels where they “learn basic anatomy, form and proportion, rhythm and design; and its application in the sculpting of animal figure.”

More about Adam, short videos about his works, his process, and his classes and workshops, as well as images of his artwork are available on his website.

From Adam Matano’s outdoor workshops. Photo credit adammatano.com.

Nature Artists’ Guild members will receive instructions and a link for attending this online program by email within the next week. Since the guild’s presentations are open to all, any non-members who wish to attend can request a link by completing the contact form on our About page.

Guild members were emailed a basic list of materials on January 13 for those who would like to try some of Adam’s techniques on their own.

Color, Color, and More Color in Week 3

Published on January 23, 2022January 23, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

O’Keeffe, Yellow Hickory Leaves with Daisy

“Color, color and more color” is the theme in the third week of the Nature Artists’ Guild’s 2022 Beginning the New Year with the Masters. Whether it’s through the use of one bright color, numerous jewel-like colors, or pairs of complementary colors, each piece of artwork chosen from the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago highlights color in a masterful way.

Participants have been asked to study the use of color in the above works and think about how they use it in their own.