Participants in this week’s Wednesday Morning Coffee and Art gathering can learn all about butterflies at a staffed interpretive station located just steps away in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. The August hands-on exhibit focuses exclusively on butterflies and their habitats. All Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to stop by to chat, sketch, simply enjoy the quiet of the morning, or even begin gathering reference material for the Schulenberg Prairie Anniversary Project.
Also ongoing or coming up –
The Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at Gallery 200 continues throughout the month of August. More examples of the wonderful artwork included in this exhibit will be coming soon.
Dining on Goldenrod, pastel, copyright Gary Chipman
This weekend, August 20 and 21, 2022, five members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be demonstrating various methods of creating nature art and answering questions about the guild at a table inside the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum during the annual Wine and Art Walk.
Detail of Moth pyrography, copyright Gail Diedrichsen
A project celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie has begun. A paint-out has been scheduled for August 25, 2022, but members who wish to participate in the special exhibit can also choose to begin work on their own at any time. Each piece must be created at or inspired by the Schulenberg Prairie and have a finished size of 8 x 8 inches.
Prairie Mosaic (Ecology is Doxology AP2), Block Print, Copyright Carrie S. Carlson
As always, please click on the highlighted links for more information.
Initially, it may be difficult to understand the lure of the prairie, as it is not known for showy flowers, majestic trees, or rushing streams. Instead, the prairie reveals its peaceful beauty to its visitors slowly and quietly, until eventually, they understand. As traveler and author Eliza Steele wrote in 1840 –
I started with surprise and delight. I was in the midst of a prairie! A world of grass and flowers stretched around me, . . . We passed whole acres of blossoms, a carpet of every color intermixed, or narrow bands, as if a rainbow had fallen upon the verdant slopes. . .”
October sketchbook pages, copyright Karen Johnson. Karen completed these watercolor sketches at the Schulenberg Prairie in October, 2020.
This year, The Morton Arboretum celebrates the 6oth anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie. From their website –
Begun in 1962, it now takes in more than 100 acres of restored tallgrass prairie, savanna, and wetland habitats, and has become an inspiration and model for similar restorations.
The first planting took place in 1963, and over the next few years, staff and volunteers planted not only seeds but more than 80,000 seedlings that Schulenberg and his staff had grown. With few other restorations to guide them, they devised techniques as they went along and used different ones in different areas.
Schulenberg attempted to replicate the former prairie—one of the first times such a restoration had ever been tried. He based his plans on what he could learn from the few scraps of tallgrass prairie that remained among the Chicago area’s highways and subdivisions.
Today, the prairie is regarded as a benchmark in the development of ecological restoration in Illinois.
When you wander the prairie paths in summer, you’re surrounded by swaying grasses and tall flowers alive with butterflies, bees, and birds.
The Nature Artists’ Guild is honored to participate in the anniversary celebration by creating artwork inspired by the Schulenberg Prairie for a special display at the Sterling Morton Library this November.
The project will begin with a paint-out at the Schulenberg Prairie on August 25 from 9 am until noon. Participants will be supplied with 8 x 8 artboards or paper to be used at the prairie or taken home to be used in the studio with their sketches, photos, or other sources of inspiration found at the prairie. Interested members can contact Carol Balabanow to be added to the list of participants to be notified with any paint-out updates. (Carol’s email address is in the Nature Artists’ Guild’s Yearbook.)
For members unable to attend the paint-out, the 8 x 8 boards and paper will also be available to be picked up at upcoming workshops and meetings. Members are welcome to use their own surfaces, but the final size must be 8 x 8 inches to fit into the display. No framing will be required by participants. The final works must be created at or inspired by the Schulenberg Prairie.
As the nights become a little cooler and the earliest signs of autumn begin to appear, we know that, although there will be plenty of yellows and golds in the months ahead, many of the pinks and purples of summer will begin to fade.
To celebrate the pink and purple blossoms before they disappear, we are inviting participants in this week’s Wednesday Morning Coffee and Art gathering to try to find a flower from their garden to bring along for themselves or other attendees to sketch. A few members will bring some different types of color pencils for others to try as well.
All Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to drop in at the seating area of the cafe in the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum any Wednesday morning beginning at 9 to spend a little time sketching, chatting, or enjoying the morning quiet. (Timed-entry passes are required and are usually available the same morning.)
Shady Lakes, pastel, copyright Laverne Bohlin. Used with permission.
This week the members of the Nature Artists’ Guild –
Can still contribute to the upcoming Quarterly by sending images of their autumn-focused artwork to Jane Kellenberger. Images must be sent by today, August 1, 2022.
Can try out pastels at this week’s Coffee and Art Club on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 beginning at 9 am. A few basic supplies will be shared by fellow artists so that interested members can give the medium a try. There is hope that our program presenter for Thursday (and fellow member) Laverne Bohlin will join us for coffee and a chat. Timed-entry passes will be required (usually available the same morning.)
Can attend a program by renowned pastel artist Laverne Bohlin on Thursday, August 4, 2022. Laverne will share some of her techniques and inspirations beginning at 7 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. Visitors and guests are welcome to attend this program free of charge and can let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the program to be admitted and directed to Thornhill. Timed-entry passes are not required for this event.
Will open a new exhibit at Gallery 200 in West Chicago. A reception, complete with refreshments and open to all, will be held at the gallery on Friday, August 5, 2022 from 6 to 8 pm.
Will learn more about a project to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Schulenberg Prairie at The Morton Arboretum. Details are still being worked out and will be shared with members as soon as they are finalized. The Schulenberg Prairie is “one of the nation’s oldest and most successful prairie and savanna restorations.” – mortonarb.org
As always, please click on the highlighted links for more information.
Coleus, copyright Ann Lamoureux will be one of the lovely pieces exhibited at Gallery 200 during August 2022.
The Nature Artists’ Guild is returning to Gallery 200 in West Chicago this August. This spacious and vibrant gallery regularly showcases the work of thirty artists but has plenty of room for special exhibits as well. The artwork of participating Nature Artists’ Guild members will be featured from Thursday, August 4 until Friday, August 26, 2022. (Artwork drop-off will be from 11 am until 1 pm on Saturday, July 30, 2022.)
A reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, August 5 from 6 until 8 pm. All are welcome to drop in to meet some of the artists and enjoy the exhibit.
Red-tailed Hawk, copyright Alice Wych is one of more than fifty pieces of artwork in Visions of Nature at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center during July 2022.
Visions of Nature at Hidden Oaks Nature Center ends on Saturday, July 30, 2022. This wonderful exhibit includes more than fifty works of art by Nature Artists’ Guild members. (Artwork pick-up will be on Sunday, July 31, 2022 between noon and 2 pm.)
Wetland Tangle, copyright Laverne Bohlin
August also begins with a program sponsored by the Nature Artists’ Guild featuring Laverne Bohlin and her serene pastels.This program will be open to all, free-of-charge, on Thursday, August 4, 2022 beginning at 7 pm.
More details about these events can be found by clicking on the highlighted links.
Arrive for the Art and the Architecture and Stay for the Sights, Scents, and Sounds of Nature
Visions of Nature, an exhibit of more than fifty works by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will continue until the end of July 2022 at the newly reopened Hidden Oaks Nature Center.
Here is a quick look at some of the wonderful artwork included in the exhibit –
Jack in the Pulpit, copyright Nancy Thyfault
Red-tailed Hawk, copyright Alice Wych
Rabbits, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
Colorful Iris, copyright Linn Eldred
Blue Jay, copyright Jane Kellenberger
Porcini and Pinecones, copyright Jane Kellenberger
Kiwi Harvest, copyright Linda Fairbanks
Blue Heron, copyright Margaret Navolio
Red Currant, copyright Irena Gintilas
Coneflowers, copyright Alice Wych
Slate -Colored Junco, copyright Vicki Liszewski
Path, copyright Linda Fairbanks
Red Gooseberry, copyright Irena Gintilas
Sycamore Leaf, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
Goldfinch and Squirrel, copyright Cindy Kerchmar
Short-eared Owl, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
Perseverance Conquers All, copyright Nancy Wu
Empress Lotus, copyright Kumie Kim
Shotting Star, copyright Cindy Kerchmar
Pink Magnolias, copyright Paulette McDermott
Virginia Bluebells, copyright Linn Eldred
Cedar Waxwings, copyright Arlene Widrevitz
Spring Keeps Her Promise, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker
How it might have looked long ago – digitally-aged detail of a current photo from the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
On Monday, July 25, 2022, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will meet for a paint-out at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center from 9 am until noon. This beloved no-longer-little and no-longer-red nature center has grown and now includes a large visitor center with live animals, three unpaved walking trails, and a new paved trail through its expansive accessible garden.
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center visitor center. Photo credit Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
The little red schoolhouse is still there, of course, along with its history and charm. Here is how it actually looks in its current restored and well-maintained state.
Little Red Schoolhouse. Image credit Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
Nature Artists’ Guild members who would like to attend the paint-out should email Linn Eldred to be put on the contact list for any updates. There is room for all at the Little Red Schoolhouse!
Notice – this event has been canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
Reminder to all Nature Artists’ Guild members – completed registrations for the Gallery 200 exhibit must be returned (online or postmarked) by tomorrow, Saturday, July 16, 2022. Links to the mail and online registration forms were emailed to all members last Monday.
Gallery 200 is a lovely and vibrant artists’ cooperative located in West Chicago and features the work of 30 artists in a wide variety of media. Classes, monthly special exhibits, and other art events are held in the large open areas of the gallery’s new location.
Artwork by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be highlighted throughout the month of August 2022 in a special exhibit, Visions of Nature.
No Printer? No Postage? No Problem!
Hopefully, anyway. The Nature Artists’ Guild is trying out a new way for members to submit their registration for special exhibits. In addition to the option of mailing a completed registration form (previously emailed to members,) members will soon be emailed a link with the option to use an online form. In order to participate in the Gallery 200 exhibit, members must either submit the online registration or mail their completed registration by Saturday, July 16, 2022.
Porcini and Pinecones, copyright Jane Kellenberger. One of more than fifty works of art featured at the Visions of Nature exhibit at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center.
For those who have long been considering joining the Nature Artists’ Guild or those who have just discovered it and don’t want to wait until the new year to join, there is now a half-year (July through December) membership plan available for new members only. Please click on this link to the Membership page to read more.
A Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit at Gallery 200 in West Chicago has been scheduled for the month of August 2022. The prospectus was emailed to members on June 24 and completed prospectuses for participating artists must be returned (postmarked) by Saturday, July 16, 2022.
Members will meet for a paint-out at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center on Monday, July 25, 2022 from 9 am until noon. More about the paint-out coming soon.
A program featuring Laverne Bohlin and her lovely pastels will be open to all, free-of-charge at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 7 pm.
The Nature Artists’ Guild will have an information table and artist demonstrations inside the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum during the Wine and Art Walk the weekend of August 20 and 21, 2022.
Finally, there’s an opportunity every Wednesday at 9 am to enjoy a few hours of chatting, sketching, snacking on delicious muffins, or just relaxing and watching the chipmunks scurry through the flowers at the Coffee and Art Club.
Postcard design by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Artwork by Kumie Kim.
All are invited to visit the Hidden Oaks Nature Center on Friday, July 8, 2022 between 4 and 7 pm to celebrate the reopening of the center, support the artists, enjoy some light refreshments, and take in the wonderful view.
The reception is free and open to all – please share the invitation with friends and family!
Nature Artists' Guild 