The Next Few Months for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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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!

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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!

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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
    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

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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 Bohlin Garden

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

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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.

Bob Sunyog at work
Bob Sunyog at work

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.

Even the Vegetable Garden is Lovely!

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Laverne Bohlin has been teaching both art and landscape design classes at The Morton Arboretum for years, so it’s no surprise that her own garden is so lovely (Laverne’s garden has been featured in Chicagoland Gardening).  How kind of Laverne to invite her fellow Nature Artists’ Guild members to join her in her garden in Aurora, IL for a paint-out on Saturday, August 1, 2015 from 9 am until noon!

Laverne has also spent some time organizing her studio recently, and is having a studio show and sale on the same day from 10 am until 4 pm. There will be art supplies, books, mats, frames, and even some original artwork and prints available.  You can learn more at Laverne’s website by clicking here.

Please contact Mary Ann Jimenez if you’d like to attend.  Nature Artists Guild members can find her contact information, as well as Laverne’s address, in their Yearbook.

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Joy Path and Fragrance Garden Paint-Out July 15, 2015

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On Wednesday, July 15, 2015, beginning at 9 am, Nature Artists’ Guild members will be enjoying the scents, sounds and sights of the Fragrance Garden and Joy Path at The Morton Arboretum.

Participating artists at this paint-out may consider bringing a folding chair (although limited seating is available), some insect repellant, and a snack or beverage, as well as their favorite art supplies and camera.  There is no need to reserve a spot – plenty of room for all.

Summer is passing so quickly that it would be a shame to miss an opportunity to spend a morning enjoying the unique beauty of this beloved garden and path. 

Thanks to Suzanne Wegener for this pretty photo, just taken yesterday!

Fragrance Garden at The Morton Arboretum
Fragrance Garden at The Morton Arboretum

Coming Soon!

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We may not be able to count on the weather this time of the year (how about all of this rain?), but we can always count on the Nature Artists’ Guild to come up with some great events, indoors and out.

Coming up in the next few months –

  • On Wednesday, July 15, 2015, from 9 am until noon, members will be meeting on the Joy Path and in the Fragrance Garden of The Morton Arboretum for a paint-out filled with wonderful scents, sounds and sights.
  • The Nature Artists’ Guild exhibit, Viewing Nature, at Benedictine College in Lisle, IL, continues until July 16, 2015.  This gorgeous collection of nature art is located in the Komechak Gallery on the fifth floor of the Kindlon Hall of Learning.  After entering at the main entrance, visitors should proceed to the back of the building, where the elevator to the fifth floor is located in a short hallway to their right.  For more details, please click on the gallery name above.
  • On Thursday evening, August 6, 2015, from 7 until 9 pm, at Thornhill Education Center at The Morton Arboretum, Nature Artists Guild members and their guests will be given the opportunity to see three of our most talented artists at work.  Gail Diedrichsen, Bob Sunyog and Lindsay Sandbothe will be sharing some of their techniques, tips and inspirations at this popular yearly program.  Open to visitors, it is a great chance to interact with these artists, as well as to meet other members of the Nature Artists Guild (and possibly even consider becoming a member in the future). Everyone is welcome to attend this fun and fascinating program!
  • Member Margo Heald has very generously donated over 60 books to the Nature Artists’ Guild!  At our August 6, 2015 meeting, these books (instructional art books to fabulous coffee table books, as well as everything in between) will be available for purchase at a generous discount to our members (cash or check only, please).
  • A new fundraising project will be announced at our August 6, 2015 meeting. Committee members will have twenty 6-inch square canvases to give to members who wish to participate.  These canvases will then be taken home by the artists, to be painted or collaged as they wish, and returned at “referee night” of the Holiday Exhibit.  A display of all the canvases will be part of our 2015 Holiday Exhibit, and the canvases will be for sale, with proceeds going to the Nature Artists’ Guild.

Please be sure to check back for more details about these events as the dates approach.  

Two More Opportunities to Paint This June!

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Well, why not?  Why not paint while the weather is willing and the gardens are at their finest?

Nature Artists’ Guild member Linn Eldred (click here to see some examples of her work as a previous featured artist) has kindly offered to share her daughter’s garden in Bolingbrook, IL with fellow members for a morning of painting, sketching, drawing and photographing from 9 am until noon on Thursday, June 18, 2015.  Those who would like to attend should RSVP to Mary Ann Jimenez, and check their e-mails from earlier this month for the address.

Ty Warner Park, Westmont Park District, Photo Credit Westmont Park District
Ty Warner Park, Westmont Park District, Photo Credit, Westmont Park District

On Thursday, June 25, 2015 between 9 am and noon, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be meeting at Ty Warner Park,  at the corner of Plaza Drive and Blackhawk Drive, Westmont, IL for another morning in nature.  According to the park’s website page (click here to visit), “Restored woodlands and enhanced wetlands are connected through a prairie system surrounding the perimeter of the park”.  Members should meet at the main gazebo, and may want to consider bringing a picnic lunch.  There is no need to RSVP for this event – the more the merrier!

She Will Be Missed

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It was less than a year ago when long-time Nature Artists’ Guild member Charlotte Doyle Leavitt shared with us some of her inspirations and techniques for creating colorful watercolor collages featuring items from the seashore.   We are saddened to learn of Charlotte’s recent passing at age 91.

Even into her 90’s, Charlotte continued to explore new and exciting ways to share her joie de vivre with all, including through her joyful artwork and through her wonderful smile. Charlotte will be missed.

Charlotte Doyle Leavitt, Nature Artists' Guild 2014
Charlotte Doyle Leavitt, Nature Artists’ Guild 2014