Nature Artists' Guild

Autumn Art Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild November 11 – 13, 2022

Published on October 15, 2022October 28, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Poster artwork by Featured Artist Alice Wych. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger. Exhibit posters and postcards are available to pick up between 9 and 4 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at the Thornhill Education Center. Members are encouraged to share with local businesses, family and friends.

The 2022 Autumn Art Exhibit of 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.

Nature Artists’ Guild members’ small works celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie will be also be displayed at the adjacent Sterling Morton Library during exhibit hours.

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. More details to come about the 2022 Autumn Art exhibit.

Also coming up –

A paint-out next Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at Lake Marmo of The Morton Arboretum will take place between 9 am and noon. Interested members can contact Linn Eldred for details and to be added to her email list for updates.

Sterling Pond, Autumn, copyright Dale Olsen

No pre-registration is necessary to participate in the exhibit celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie. Details for participating were recently emailed to Nature Artists’ Guild members.

Prairie artwork, copyright Marlene Vitek (first two) and Maggie Mardis.

Even though the October 19th Coffee and Art will be cancelled so that members can attend the Lake Marmo paint-out, the gatherings will return the following Wednesday. Recent weeks have focused on fantastic feathers, but the next few will feature, of course, lovely leaves.

Colors of Fall, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez

The Morton Arboretum Photographic Society is also celebrating the Schulenberg Prairie’s anniversary with Seasons of the Schulenberg. The exhibit at the Sterling Morton Library ends on October 16, but the stunning images will soon be available for viewing on their website.

Even more –

New memberships and renewals are now being accepted for 2023.

The last day for members to submit photos or articles for the Winter Quarterly is November 1, 2022. Images of winter-related artwork can be sent to Jane Kellenberger.

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s Holiday Party with raffles, food, and fun will be on the evening of Thursday, December 1, 2022 at the Thornhill Education Center. Members will receive an invitation by email with all the details.

Next January’s special exhibit at the Downers Grove Library will have an earlier drop-off date of December 17, 2022 this year. A prospectus and all the details will be emailed to members.

We See You Autumn! Paint-Out at Lake Marmo on October 19, 2022

Published on October 8, 2022October 28, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Autumn, Sterling Pond, copyright Dale Olsen

Nature Artists’ Guild members have been so busy preparing for exhibits, attending programs and workshops, and focusing on the prairie that they may not have noticed the annual changing-of-the-colors sneaking in! Well, the trees are now doing their best to capture everyone’s attention and the Nature Artists’ Guild has taken note.

A paint-out has been scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 9 until noon at Lake Marmo, located in The Morton Arboretum for all members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. Lake Marmo is known for it’s springtime reflections of the redbuds lining its shores, but autumn brings it’s own warmer colors to the scene with reflections of yellow, gold, and red contrasting with and accentuating the vivid blue of the lake.

Members can participate in this paint-out by contacting Linn Eldred (by email or by clicking here) to be added to the email list for details about the meeting spot and weather related updates.

Colors of Fall, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez

Note that the Wednesday morning Coffee and Art gathering will not take place on October 19th.

A Few Found Feathers This Wednesday

Published on October 3, 2022 by Denise1 Comment

Journal Pages with Feather Study, 2021, copyright Kathy Belletire

Found feathers from a Great Horned Owl and a few other birds will be available for interested Nature Artists’ Guild members to study or sketch at this Wednesday’s Coffee and Art gathering. (Attendees are also encouraged to bring feathers of any type from their own collections.)

Everything You Need To Know About Feathers from The Cornell Lab provides the basics in a simple but thorough summary.

Guild members are invited to stop in any Wednesday morning at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum beginning at 9 to sketch, chat, or simply enjoy the morning quiet. Participants are always welcome to bring artwork, inspirations, or supplies they’d like to share or discuss with the group.

Nature Artists’ Guild Welcomes Autumn

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

The weather is already a bit brisker, there is just a hint of brilliant color in the leaves, and members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are looking forward to celebrating the wonderful displays of the season through their art.

Coming soon –

Tomorrow, September 24, 2022, the guild has a workshop scheduled for members interested in creating subtle pieces of art using color pencil on slate tiles.

Color pencil on slate, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez

On Thursday, October 6, 2022, artist and illustrator Kelley Cappell will be sharing some of her thoughts about creating artwork for a variety of viewers using pen and ink and acrylic, as well as digitally. This program, sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild is open to the public, free of charge.

Snow Leopard, pen and ink, copyright Kelley Cappell

October 10, 2022 is the last day for members to mail completed prospectuses for participating in the 2022 Autumn Nature Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum in November. More to come soon about the exhibit and Featured Artist Alice Wych.

Poster artwork by Alice Wych. Poster design by Jane Kellenberger.

Every Wednesday morning, a group of guild members meet at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum to chat, sketch, or enjoy the morning quiet at the Coffee and Art gathering. All guild members are invited to stop by.

Previous October pages in nature journal, copyright Linn Eldred

Members who would like to participate in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie will be able to pick up an 8 x 8 canvas, board, or paper for the project at the Thornhill Education Center on September 24 during the Color Pencil on Slate Tile workshop or on the evening of October 6 at the Kelley Cappell presentation. Some types of supplies may be limited, so interested members may wish to contact Carol Balabanow for more information.

8 x 8 pieces from the Schulenberg Prairie, copyright Marlene Vitek (first two) and Maggie Mardis.

As always, click on the highlighted links for more information.

Color Pencil on Slate Workshop Next Week

Published on September 16, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Color pencil on slate tile, copyright Mary Ann Jimenez

At a free workshop for Nature Artists’ Guild members, Mary Ann Jimenez will share techniques for creating stunning but subtle works of art on slate tiles using color pencils. The workshop will be held at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10 am until 2 pm.

Blank slate tiles will be provided free of charge to members to complete at the workshop or take with them for further work. The completed pieces will be for sale at the 2022 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum in November with all proceeds benefitting the Nature Artists’ Guild.

Interested members can contact Mary Ann Jimenez to register for the workshop. Her contact information and a supply list were emailed to members on August 3.

Note: 8 x 8 canvases, boards, or papers for the Schulenberg Prairie anniversary project will also be available at the workshop for members to pick up. Supplies of certain surfaces may be limited, so members are encouraged to contact Carol Balabanow for further information.

The Nature Artists’ Guild Welcomes Scientific Illustrator Kelley Cappell on October 6, 2022

Published on September 10, 2022October 8, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Snow Leopard, pen and ink, copyright Kelley Cappell. Used with permission.

On Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 7 pm, the Nature Artists’ Guild will welcome scientific illustrator Kelley Cappell to the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum to share some of her inspirations and experiences creating illustrations and collaborating on exhibit design for the renowned Brookfield Zoo.

A qualified scientific illustrator with a degree in biology, Kelley creates her work in traditional methods using pen and ink, acrylic, and graphite, as well as digitally. In addition to her work at the zoo, Kelley is an instructor at the Water Street Studios School of Art in Batavia, IL.

This presentation, sponsored by the Nature Artists Guild of The Morton Arboretum, is free and open to all. There will be no fee for admission to the arboretum for this event, no fee for attendance, and no fee for parking (and no timed-entry pass necessary.) Visitors can let the gate attendant know they are there for the program to be admitted to the arboretum and directed to Thornhill.

Coming Soon for the Nature Artists’ Guild

Published on September 5, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Garden at Cantigny Park. Photo credit Jane Kellenberger.

This Wednesday, September 7, 2022, the Nature Artists’ Guild’s paint-out at the gardens of Cantigny Park will take place from 9 am until noon. While members are encouraged to let Linn Eldred know they are attending, drop-ins are also welcome. The gardens and grounds at Cantigny Park are always wonderful and this year there is the added bonus of an exhibit of colorful large-scale sculptures by artists from Mexico City. Parking and admission will be free.

(Boards, canvases, or papers for the Schulenberg Praire anniversary project will be available at this paint-out if a request is made in advance to Carol Balabanow.)

Note – The weekly Art and Coffee gathering will not take place on this date.

Also coming soon –

On September 24, 2022 from 10 to 2, members can attend a volunteer workshop at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum to learn how to create artwork using color pencils on slate tiles. The tiles will be sold at the upcoming Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum with proceeds benefitting the guild. Tiles will be provided, but participants are asked to bring a few other supplies (details are in the August 3rd email sent to members.)

On October 6, 2022 at 7 pm, Artist and Illustrator Kelley Cappell will share some of her experiences, inspirations, and techniques with the audience at the Thornhill Education Center. This program will be open to the public, free of charge. More about Kelley and her art coming soon.

October 10, 2022 will be the final date for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to mail their completed prospectuses for participating in the Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum in November. The link to the prospectus was emailed to all members on August 31. Much more about the exhibit and the Featured Artist, Alice Wych, to come.

Nature Artists’ Guild members who would like to participate in the Schulenberg Prairie anniversary project can still pick up an 8 x 8 canvas, board, or paper at any of the in-person guild events (including by request at the Cantigny paint-out and excluding the Wednesday Coffee and Art gatherings.) Members can also use their own surface, but the final artwork must be exactly 8 x 8 inches (and less than approximately a half inch deep) to fit into the display. Questions about the project can be emailed to Carol Balabanow.

Butterflies Fluttering Away

Published on August 30, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

Branch of West Indian Cherry with Achilles Morpho Butterfly, Maria Sibylla Sylvan 1702-03. Image credit Royal Collection Trust.

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild can drop by this Wednesday, August 31, 2022 beginning at 9 am in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum for the weekly gathering to sketch, paint, draw, chat, or simply take in the beauty of a quiet summer morning surrounded by plants, butterflies, and birds.

This will be the final week for the butterfly interpretive station staffed by arboretum volunteers. To enhance their exhibit, the volunteers have included some beautifully illustrated books featuring the artwork of Maria Sibylla Merian, a noted German artist and entomologist who set sail to South America in 1699. Next month’s interpretive exhibit will focus on bees.

Paint-Out to Celebrate the Final Bursts of Summer Color at Cantigny Park

Published on August 26, 2022August 30, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

This year there is even more color and art to enjoy at Cantigny Park as they celebrate the native flowers of Mexico along with their current display of 49 alebrije sculptures (“monumentals” and “spirit animals“) created by artists from Mexico City.

Mosquiw, by **Emanuel Arturo Zarate Ortíz**. Photo credit **Cantigny.org**.

The Park’s Many Stunning Gardens –

The gardens at Cantigny include Display Gardens, a Rose Garden, Rock and Gravel Gardens, a Logarium, a Hosta Garden and an Idea Garden. The Display Gardens alone consist of ten gardens, including a White Garden, Lower Display Garden, Pollinator Garden, Fountain Garden, and Perennial Border. Cantigny’s Natural Areas offer “native wildflowers amid grasses, small wetland areas, and maturing trees—a snapshot reminder of what Illinois used to be.” (cantigny.org)

The **Perennial Border** at Cantigny Park includes seventy-two varieties of plants, many of which are native to Illinois. Photo credit cantigny.org.

There will be so much to choose from to paint, sketch, or photograph for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at Cantigny Park as they meet for a paint-out on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 between 9 am and noon. Parking will be free that day, and there is no charge for admission to the park and gardens. Interested members can contact Linn Eldred to be added to the email list for details or updates. Drop-ins are also welcome to attend. There will be plenty of color for all!

Update – 8 x 8 papers, boards, and canvases will be available at this event for participants in the Schulenberg Prairie Anniversary Project to pick up. Interested members should contact Carol Balabanow to request them.

As always, please click on the highlighted links for more information. Cantigny Park has done a wonderful job highlighting their gardens and the exhibit with numerous gorgeous photographs.

Gallery 200 Exhibit Continues Throughout August

Published on August 19, 2022 by DeniseLeave a comment

A sample of some of the stunning artwork by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at Gallery 200 in West Chicago throughout August 2022 –

Waldport, Oregon, copyright Ann Lamoureux

Also coming soon –

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will demonstrating and talking with visitors about the guild at a table inside the Visitor Center during the Wine and Art Walk at The Morton Arboretum this weekend, August 20 and 21, 2022.

The Wednesday morning Art and Coffee gatherings continue each week at 9 am. All Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to drop by to share ideas, inspirations, or supplies, or simply relax and enjoy the morning.

The Schulenberg Prairie Anniversary project kicks off with a paint-out at the prairie on Thursday morning, August 25, 2022.

More to come soon about a paint-out at the gardens of Cantigny Park on September 7, 2022 and a Color Pencil on Slate workshop for members on September 24, 2022.