Nature Artists' Guild

Birds in Jeopardy Exhibit Features Some of Our Favorite Artists!

Published on October 5, 2015October 5, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

Birds in Jeopardy, an exhibit of fine art showcasing images of birds that are either extinct or endangered, opens Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Noyes Cultural Center, First Floor Art Gallery, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL.

The Nature Artists’ Guild is proud and excited to announce that two of our favorite artists, member Lindsay Sandbothe, and Artist in Residence at the Field Museum of Natural History, frequent instructor for The Morton Arboretum art program, and presenter for our guild, Peggy Macnamara, will be featured in this exhibit. Curated by Sarah Kaiser-Amaral, the exhibition will also include artwork by Kristina Knowski, Maggie Weiss, and others. All participating artists in the exhibit will donate a portion of sales to a local bird conservation organization.

The opening reception will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 2 until 5 pm at the gallery. Refreshments will be served and entertainment will be provided by singer Josefien Stopplenburg. It will be a wonderful opportunity to show support for some great artists as well as for endangered birds. Birds in Jeopardy will be exhibited until December 1, 2015.

Please click on the highlighted links above for exhibit hours, directions, or more information about the artists.

Special Presentation by Wendy Brockman, Thursday, October 15, 2015

Published on September 29, 2015January 23, 2020 by DeniseLeave a comment

The Morton Arboretum will be hosting the 8th International Oak Society Conference from October 18 until October 21, 2015. In conjunction with this event and as part of the arboretum’s 2015 Visiting Artist Series, artist Wendy Brockman will be teaching a workshop entitled Painting Oaks. (A few openings for this workshop may still be available – please click on the link to visit the registration page.)

The Nature Artists’ Guild is thrilled to announce that Wendy has also agreed to present a discussion of her art, inspirations and techniques for our members, guests and visitors on the evening of Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

White Oak, Quercus alba, ©Wendy Brockman. Used with permission.

From her website, wendybrockman.com, we find that –

Wendy Brockman lives and works in Minnesota, where northern forests and rocky shorelines provide inspiration for her imagery. She explores her interests in art and environmental issues using a variety of media. An avid observer, her work examines bits and pieces of nature and the responses they evoke.

Widely exhibited, Brockman’s paintings have been included in group and solo exhibitions. Her work has received national and international exhibition awards and is held in public and private collections throughout the United States.

Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa, ©Wendy Brockman. Used with permission.

What a wonderful opportunity to view the stunning work of this fine artist and hear more about her inspirations! This special presentation will be open, as are all Nature Artists’ Guild programs, to members, guests and visitors. There is no fee for attendance, parking, or admission to The Morton Arboretum for this event, and visitors just need to let the gate attendant know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.

For more information about Wendy or to view more of her beautiful artwork, please visit www.wendybrockman.com by clicking on the link or any of the images.

Red Oak, Quercus rubra, ©Wendy Brockman. Used with permission.

Guess Whoooooo?

Published on September 13, 2015January 23, 2020 by DeniseLeave a comment

Yes, you may feel like screeching at all of these corny references, but if you give a hoot about art or wildlife, you might find it wise to attend the upcoming Nature Artists’ Guild program on Thursday, October 1, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum.

The guest presenter at the upcoming meeting will be Marla Jedlicka, director of The Wise Old Owls Sanctuary, along with a few of her feathered friends. Marla began her career of rehabilitating owls by volunteering and interning at a small raptor center, which later closed. That is when Marla began the Wise Old Owls Sanctuary, which houses “owls that were once wild, injured, nursed back to health, but sadly cannot be released back to their natural habitat”. Marla also teaches and volunteers at SOAR Illinois – Save Our American Raptors, Inc., dedicated to “the welfare of our native birds-of-prey”.

There will be no Great Horned Owls there, (as in Evelyn Grala’s lovely painting, below), but Marla will be bringing some of her rescued Eastern Screech Owls and a Short-eared Owl for program attendees to sketch, photograph, or just learn more about.

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend the Nature Artists’ Guild presentations. This presentation would be of interest to artists, photographers, birders or anyone who enjoys nature! Parking. attendance and admission to the arboretum are free for this event, and visitors just need to let The Morton Arboretum gate attendant know they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program.

Do you speak owl?, copyright Evelyn Grala

More Opportunities to Support Fellow Nature Artists This Month

Published on September 8, 2015September 8, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

Nature Artists’ Guild former president Susan Bartlett, and treasurer Nancy Wu will be exhibiting their work at the Woodridge Public Library, Woodridge, IL for the entire month of September, 2015. An artists reception is coming up this Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 2 until 4 pm.

Karen Johnson's Artwork, Oak Park Conservatory — Karen Johnson’s Artwork, Oak Park Conservatory

Karen Johnson, Nature Artists’ Guild member and instructor for the Botanical Art program at The Morton Arboretum is honored to share her solo exhibition of artwork in a variety of media, titled Inspirational Insects, An Artists’ Journey, at the Oak Park Conservatory, Oak Park, IL. An artist reception will be held Sunday, September 13, 2015 from 1:30 until 3:30 pm at the conservatory.

Laurie Alvear’s work will be featured in a solo show at Gallery II of the DuPage Art League, in Wheaton, IL for the month of September, 2015.

If you are in the mood for a road trip, it would be worthwhile to head to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY (near Niagara Falls), where The Society of Animal Artists is presenting their annual exhibit. Charter member and former president of the Nature Artists’ Guild, instructor for the Botanical Art program at The Morton Arboretum, and last spring’s featured artist, Nancy Halliday is a member of this world renowned group of animal artists, and her Moonlight Snack has been juried into their Art and the Animal exhibition. The exhibit will run through October 25, 2015. You can spot Nancy attending a lecture by Robert Bateman at about 5:19 on the video of the opening weekend!

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, photo credit The Society of Animal Artists

Please click on any of the highlighted links or photos for more information on the artists and exhibits.

Gallery of Nature Exhibit Opens September 16, 2015

Published on September 6, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

An exhibit of over thirty lovely works of art created by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will take place from September 16 through October 26, 2015 at the Gallery of Nature, Wasco Nursery, 41W781 Route 64, St Charles, IL. Please click on this link to the Wasco Nursery website for directions and hours.

The Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit will open during the annual St. Charles Arts Fest, September 11 through 20, 2015, and is listed on their calendar of events (thanks for the tip, Marilyn Peretti)! The exhibit will be also open throughout the St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, October 9 through 11, 2015. What a wonderful way to spend an early autumn day – viewing nature art and attending one of these fun festivals in beautiful St. Charles!

An Artists’ Reception will take place from 4 until 6 pm on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the gallery. Appetizers and pastries will be served and the event is open to the public.

Please click on any of the highlighted links above to learn more.

The Next Few Months for the Nature Artists’ Guild

Published on August 26, 2015August 26, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

A preview of some of the exciting events coming up this autumn for the Nature Artists’ Guild –

The first Nature Artists’ Guild Painting-in-the-Round is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm at Thornhill. Please check the previous post for more about this event, which promises to be a lively one!
Wasco Nursery, St. Charles, Il, will be featuring the artwork of the Nature Artists’ Guild in their Gallery of Nature from September 16th through October 26th, 2015. An artists’ reception (complete with appetizers and pastries) will be held on Saturday, October 3, from 4 to 6 pm. Please click on this link to the Wasco Nursery website for hours and directions. (Nature Artists’ Guild members who are interested in participating can still return their prospectus until the end of this week.)
Whooooo do you suppose will be the surprise guests at the October 1, 2015 Nature Artists Guild program at Thornhill from 7 until 9 pm? If you give a hoot about finding out, please check back later for more details!
Renowned nature artist Wendy Brockman will be teaching the workshop Painting Oaks as part of The Morton Arboretum’s 2015 Visiting Artists’ Series this October. The Nature Artists’ Guild is pleased to announce that Wendy has agreed to do a special presentation for our members featuring her art and techniques on Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm at Thornhill.
The annual Holiday Exhibition of Nature Art, featuring over 100 pieces of artwork by Nature Artists’ Guild members is scheduled for the weekend of November 7 and 8, 2015, with an artists’ reception on the evening of Friday, November 6, 2015. The featured artist for this exhibit will be Mary Ann Jimenez. New this year will be a “mosaic” display of small paintings by members. The prospectus will be sent to members next month.
Nature Artists’ Guild members and their guests are invited to gather at Thornhill on the evening of Thursday, December 3, 2015, for the annual holiday celebration.

More details about all of these events will be announced as the dates approach. Please click on any of the highlighted links for more information.

Kind of Like Musical Chairs, but Everyone Wins!

Published on August 16, 2015August 26, 2015 by Denise2 Comments

It’s on the first Thursday of the month from 7 until 9 at Thornhill, but it’s not a program. Nature Artists’ Guild members will be painting together, but it’s not a paint-out. Members will be creating finished paintings, but it’s not a fundraiser.

It’s Painting-in-the Round! This new event, on Thursday, September 3, 2015, led by Connie Devendorf and Susan Bartlett, is a gathering of Nature Artists Guild members for no other purpose than to have fun, enjoy the company of fellow artists, and create a one-of-a kind acrylic painting to bring home.

Each round table will seat several artists, and there will be a still-life of natural objects and plants in the center. Each artist will be given a prepared (with black gesso) 12 x 12 canvas to begin painting on. After a certain length of time, Connie or Susan will give the signal and each artist will pass their canvas to their neighbor to continue painting on it. This continues until each canvas has gone all around the table and comes back to the original artist, who gets to take it home! Maybe it is a small “masterpiece”, or maybe not. Either way, it is sure to be an evening filled with laughs and creativity.

All supplies will be provided at no cost for members, so please contact Susan Bartlett or Gail Diedrichsen to let them know if you’d like to participate as soon as possible, so they know approximately how many canvases to bring. Nature Artists’ Guild members will find Susan and Gail’s contact information in their Yearbook.

Exciting Evening this Thursday for Nature Artists’ Guild!

Published on August 4, 2015December 4, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

As if watching three talented artists create beautiful artwork wasn’t enough, Nature Artists’ Guild members have a few other new opportunities awaiting them at this Thursday’s (August 6, 2015) meeting.

Nature Artists’ Guild members will have the opportunity to choose some lovely books to purchase from a collection of over sixty, donated by artist and member Margo Heald. The collection includes art instruction books, coffee table books, art history books, and each book will be deeply discounted. All proceeds will go towards the Nature Artists’ Guild’s general fund and only cash or checks can be accepted as payment (no credit cards, please). Thank you, Margo!

The Nature Artists’ Guild 2015 Holiday Exhibition is not too far away (can you believe it?), and will include a brand new type of fundraiser.
Photo credit Dick Blick

At this Thursday’s meeting, twenty of our members will have the opportunity to bring home a small canvas that they can paint, decoupage, or embellish in almost any way, as long as the finished product reflects the beauty of nature. These canvases will be hung together in a wonderful mosaic-like fashion at the upcoming exhibit, and each sold for a set price (to be announced at the meeting). First come, first serve! All proceeds will go to the Nature Artists’ Guild.
As always, guests and visitors are welcome to attend this Nature Artists’ Guild presentation (click here to read more about the event). Admission and parking are free, and visitors need only let the gate attendant at The Morton Arboretum know that they are there to attend the Nature Artists’ Guild program.

Beautiful Weather and Beautiful Blooms Predicted for Tomorrow’s Nature Artists’ Guild Paint-Out

Published on July 31, 2015 by DeniseLeave a comment

Nature Artists’ Guild member Laverne Bohlin, who has offered the use of her personal garden for tomorrow’s (August 1, 2015) paint-out, has updated us with the latest bloom report.

Daisies, ballon flower, phlox, liatris and purple coneflower are all in bloom, and the vegetable garden is thriving and beautiful!

Laverne will also be having a studio show and sale that day, and has lots of free issues of Pastel Journal magazine and some free art books to give away. There will be a drawing for some black and white prints of trees by Tony Tysnik for The Morton Arboretum, as well.

The garden will be open until 4 pm for Nature Artists’ Guild members, and there is no need to RSVP. Laverne’s address can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook.

Members are welcome to bring their lunch, and lemonade and light refreshments will be provided.

An Invitation to Attend, Three Nature Artists, August 6, 2015

Published on July 11, 2015January 23, 2020 by DeniseLeave a comment

Each year, the Nature Artists’ Guild presents a program featuring three of our most talented members and their artwork. This year, artists Bob Sunyog, Gail Diedrichsen, and Lindsay Sandbothe will be sharing their knowledge of techniques, materials, tips and inspirations with us. An added twist for 2015 is that all three artists will be working with wood, each in their unique way.

Bob Sunyog has been a member of the Nature Artists’ Guild for many years and as an advertising firm retiree, as well as fine artist, has worked in many media. For this presentation, Bob will be narrowing his focus to the creation of his wonderful small three-dimensional dioramas made of wood, featuring various aspects of nature.

Gail Diedrichsen, our current Nature Artists’ Guild president, is a retired art teacher (as well as children’s book illustrator), and creates beautiful work in numerous media. For this program, Gail will be showing us her stunning creations that give a whole new dimension to the art of pyrography.

Detail of Moth pyrography, copyright Gail Diedrichsen

Loon pyrography, copyright Gail Diedrichsen

Bee pyrography, copyright Gail Diedrichsen

Lindsay Sandbothe, currently employed by the American Academy of Art, created quite a stir at the last few Nature Artists’ Guild exhibitions with her acrylic paintings of birds on wood. We can’t wait to get a glimpse of how Lindsay creates such breathtaking works. Please click on this link to Lindsay’s website to learn more about her and her artwork.

Great Horned Owl, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe

Lindsay Sandbothe at work

Wood Ducks, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe

Sandhill Crane, copyright Lindsay Sandbothe

This casual and fun presentation will take place at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, on Thursday evening, August 6, 2015 from 7 until 9 pm, and is open to the public. Anyone interested in art or nature would certainly enjoy it! There is no fee for the program, for entry into the arboretum for this event, or for parking. Visitors should just let the gate attendant know that they are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild program, and they will be directed to Thornhill.