Patricia Larkin Green and Sumi-e Brush Painting

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On Thursday, October 5, 2017, from 7 until 9 pm, the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be hosting a program by Patricia Larkin Green on the art of sumi-e brush painting.

Patricia Larkin Green, Sumi-e Artist. Photo credit http://patricialarkingreen.com/blog/.

“Experience the meditative practice of traditional Japanese ink painting, sumi-e, the art of painting using a brush (fude), ink (sumi) and thin, absorbent “rice-paper” (washi).”

Please click on one of the highlighted links to Patricia’s website to learn more about the artist, her artwork and sumi-e brush painting.

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend this program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.  Attendance, parking and admission to The Morton Arboretum are free-of-charge for this event. Visitors should let the attendant at the gate know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program and they will be directed to Thornhill.

St. James Farm Paint-Out on Tuesday, September 19, 2017

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The St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville, IL not only “contains over 100 acres of woodlands, prairies and wetlands, which are home to over 300 native plant species”, but is home to a 1890’s barn, a pond and numerous sculptures commissioned by the McCormick family, former owners of the property.
St. James Farm Forest Preserve. Photo credit https://www.facebook.com/stjamesfarm/.

On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to attend a paint-out at the preserve between 9 am and noon. Interested members are encouraged to RSVP to Jane Kellenberger, whose contact information can be found in their Yearbook, and should meet in the Winfield Road Entrance main parking lot, 2S541 Winfield Road, Warrenville.

Lindsay Sandbothe’s Birds at Vogt Visual Arts Center

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Nature Artists’ Guild member Lindsay Sandbothe would like to extend an invitation to all to visit her new exhibit at the Vogt Visual Arts Center in Tinley Park, IL.  This two-person exhibition features the artwork of bird artists Lindsay and Kristina Knowski, and will be open from September 5th through September 30th, 2017.  Please click on this link for times and driving directions.

An artists’ reception will be held at the Vogt Visual Arts Center on Friday, September 8, 2017 from 7 until 9 pm, and all are invited to attend. Please click on this link to the Facebook event page or this link to Lindsay’s website for more information.

Goldfinch, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe. Used with permission.

Nature Painting on Ceramics Workshop for Nature Artists’ Guild Members

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The Nature Artists’ Guild fundraising committee will be conducting a new workshop for members only on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 9:30 until noon at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

Participants in this free workshop will learn how to create art on ceramics using oil-based paint markers.  The Nature Artists’ Guild will provide all the ceramic plates and some oil-based paint markers for the workshop, but attendees are asked to bring one Sharpie oil-based paint marker in a color of their choice to share. These markers are widely available in art stores or craft departments.

Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers. Photo credit http://www.dickblick.com.

Attendees should also bring a simple nature art design to transfer onto a ceramic plate. Flowers, birds, feathers or leaves would be appropriate, but landscapes are discouraged.

The finished ceramic pieces (for decoration only and not dishwasher safe) will be sold for $20 each at the Autumn (Holiday) Exhibition of Natural History Art in November, with all proceeds going to the Nature Artists’ Guild. Materials and instructions can be provided for participants who would like to take their piece home to complete and return it on November 1 at the exhibit artwork drop-off.

Interested members should contact workshop leaders Jill Adzia or Catherine Stacy to enroll in this fun and easy fundraising project.  Their contact information can be found in the Guild’s Yearbook.

Nature Artists’ Guild members Catherine Stacy, Jill Adzia and Susan Bartlett with their lovely ceramic plates.

The 2017 Gardens at Ball Paint-Out

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The Gardens at Ball have been the evaluation and testing grounds for the world’s wealth of horticultural introductions and improvements for nearly 80 years. What began as a row trial garden for seed varieties in 1933 has grown to encompass over 9 acres of display beds for annuals, perennials, cut flowers and vegetables, including the newest plants from the industry’s leading breeders and marketers. http://www.ballhort.com/GardensAtBall/

On the morning of Thursday, August 24, 2017, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum are invited to attend a paint-out at The Gardens at Ball, Ball Horticultural Company, 622 Town Road, West Chicago, IL between 9 am and noon.

Participants are asked to RSVP to Jane Kellenberger, and should bring a folding chair, art supplies, and their camera for this exciting opportunity. Many thanks to Jane for the wonderful photos (please click on any photo for a larger version).  Her contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook.

The Gardens at Ball, photo credit Jane Kellenberger
The Gardens at Ball, photo credit Jane Kellenberger
The Gardens at Ball, photo credit Jane Kellenberger

Driving directions and more information about the historic Ball Horticultural Company or The Gardens at Ball can be found by clicking on one of the highlighted links.

Something for Everyone at the August 3, 2017 Nature Artists’ Guild Program

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The annual August program of the Nature Artists’ Guild has traditionally featured three member-artists’ stations where visitors could learn about and participate in unique artistic methods. The 2017 format for this popular program will basically stay the same, but the three stations will mix it up a bit with presentations on the intriguing history and use of the Chinese chop, proper framing for original fine art, and a display of sketchbooks and journals created by members throughout last summer’s Sketchbook Encounter and this summer’s Nature Art Journal project.

At the Nature Artists’ Guild Spring Exhibit, Featured Artist Nancy Wu received numerous questions about her signature on paintings in the form of a Chinese seal (or chop).  For her presentation, Nancy will share books and traditional Chinese paintings as she explains the history and meaning of the seal in Chinese painting, as well as the different carving methods used in creating the seals.

Copyright Nancy Wu
The multi-talented Evelyn Grala, who aside from being a talented artist, publishes the Nature Artists’ Quarterly and has served on nearly every Nature Artists’ Guild committee, is a Certified Picture Framer through the Professional Picture Framers Association. Evelyn will be discussing the proper archival framing methods and materials for various types of fine art. This knowledge is important for understanding options when hiring a professional framer or performing some or all of the framing steps yourself.
Egret, Nature Art Journal pages, copyright Nancy Thyfault

The third station will be devoted to members’ artwork created during last summer’s Sketchbook Encounter or this summer’s Nature Art Journal projects.  Participating members are encouraged to bring their work to share with the group.  What fun to be able to browse through fellow artists’ sketchbooks and art journals for inspiration and a glimpse of their creative process (and sometimes personality)!

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend this enjoyable and informative Nature Artists’ Guild program at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum from 7 until 9 pm. There is no charge for admission to the Arboretum, the program, or parking for the event.  Guests and visitors should let the gate attendant at the Arboretum know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program to be directed to Thornhill.

Some Upcoming Events

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  • This month’s Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out is scheduled for Thursday, June 22, 2017 from 9 am until noon in the Ground Cover Garden of The Morton Arboretum. Please click on the highlighted link for details.

    Ground Cover Garden at The Morton Arboretum. Photo credit http://www.mortonarb.org.
  • A Nature Artists’ Guild Special Exhibit, Impressions of Nature, at A Gallery of Nature  opens at Wasco Nursery and Garden Center in St. Charles, IL this Friday, June 23, 2017. Participating artists should drop off their work on Tuesday, June 20 between 11 am and 1 pm.  All are invited to attend a public reception on Saturday, July 22, 2017 between 3 and 5 pm to meet the artists, enjoy some light refreshments, view 30 works of nature art and observe a few of the artists engaging in the creative process.  Please click on the above highlighted link for driving directions and more information.
  • The Summer Encounter – Nature Artist’s Journal is well underway, but members can still join in. More details are available by clicking on this link.
  • The next Nature Artists’ Guild program is scheduled for Thursday, August 3, 2017. More information coming soon about what promises to be a fun and informative evening!