Plenty of Opportunities For Summer Painting!

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Many of our Nature Artists’ Guild members are also members of other artists’ organizations in the area.  One of these organizations, the Dupage Art League, has members who meet once per week to paint outdoors.  These “Friday Morning Plein Air Painters” have issued their summer schedule, so if you are interested, please click on this link to the Dupage Art League for more information.  Thank you to Nature Artists’ Guild members Barb Denny and Linn Eldred for this tip!

Also, “Friends of the Field”, an informal group of artists who meet at the Field Museum to paint from the exhibits, led by Artist in Residence Peggy Macnamara, will be meeting on June 14, 2014.  Museum addition fees will apply. Unfortunately, we do not have any more information about this event, so if any of our members have the details about the meeting time or place, please respond in the comment section below.

 Update – Nature Artists’ Guild member Irena Gintilas has kindly provided us with details on the event.  Please click on her comment below.  Thanks Irena!

The Nature Artists’ Guild Returns to Mayslake Peabody Estate on June 10, 2014

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As you can see from the photos below, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st Street, Oak Brook, Illinois, was the location for one of the loveliest paint-outs of last year for the Nature Artists’ Guild.  The weather was gorgeous, the historical home provided a stately background, the lake was picturesque, the flowers were in full bloom, and our Nature Artists’ Guild artists completed the scene that could have been taken right out of an Impressionist painting.

All Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to attend this year’s wonderful gathering on Tuesday, June 10, 2014, from 9 am until noon.  We especially encourage our newer members or members who have not previously attended paint-outs to attend.  This would be a great no-pressure opportunity to try your hand at plein-air painting, sketching, or even photographing, and we think you’ll find your fellow Nature Artists’ Guild members to be friendly, helpful and encouraging.

There is plenty of room for all, so there is no need to RSVP, but if you have any questions, please contact Carol Jean Rogalski, whose contact information you can find in your Yearbook.

Thank you to our event photographer, Kathy Wagner-Selbach for these beautiful photos from last year’s event.

 

Presenting Sterling Morton Library Treasures on June 5, 2014

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Nature Artists’ Guild members will have a wonderful and rare opportunity to view some of the treasures of the Sterling Morton Library’s Botanical Art Collection at our meeting on Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 7 until 9 pm.  The presentation, by Library Collections Manager Rita Hassert and Art Collection Assistant and Nature Artists’ Guild member Arlene Widrevitz, will take place in the Sterling Morton Library.

According to Arlene, we can look forward to a glimpse of contemporary as well as seventeenth century artwork.  “The new acquisition by the French artist Pancrace Bessa will be featured, as well as work by artists Barbara Regina Dietzsch, Pierre Joseph Redoute, Nancy S. Hart, Julie Sutter-Blair and many others.”

Please follow the links below for more information about each artist and to preview examples of their work (not necessarily those in the Sterling Morton Library collection).

As always, guests and visitors are welcome to join us at this program.  Please enter The Morton Arboretum at the main entrance and let the gatehouse attendant know you are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild presentation.  There is no fee for attendance or parking.

Speaking of Birds – Updates!

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

(Originally posted May 2014)

The migrating birds are here (and The Morton Arboretum certainly has attracted its share), but very soon all the leaves will be on the trees and even though you may still hear the birds, you might not be able to find them.  Before you know it, they will be gone again, heading towards their breeding grounds.

The above artwork featuring birds, created by Nature Artists’ Guild members, just may inspire you to get out there and take a look.  All artwork is copyrighted by the artists and is the sole property of the artists.

All Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to submit images of their artwork (up to four images) featuring birds to be added to this slide show.  Please send your artwork  to Evelyn Grala (you can find her contact information in your Yearbook).  When submitting artwork to Evelyn, please indicate whether it may be used in the Quarterly, on this site, or both.  We look forward to seeing even more Nature Artists’ Guild birds!

Busy June for Nature Artists’ Guild Members

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We realize that June is already a very busy month for many Nature Artists’ Guild members, but the wonderful activities the Guild has planned may entice you to consider setting aside a few hours for the following –

  • Your completed prospectus for the upcoming Bloomingdale Park District Museum exhibit is due on Thursday, June 5, 2014.
  • We will be treated to a rare glimpse of some of the Sterling Morton Library’s treasures at our program on Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 7 pm until 9 pm (in the library).
  • Our next paint-out is being held at the gorgeous Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, Illinois on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 from 9 am until noon.

Check your e-mail, your Quarterly, or here for more details in the upcoming weeks!

Birds, Birds, Everywhere

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Blue Jays, copyright Evelyn Grala
Blue Jays, copyright Evelyn Grala

Spring migration is underway, and suddenly you may be seeing all sorts of colorful birds that you’ve never seen before!   One of these jewels would sure spice up your latest sketch or painting, but the photo you took was probably a little blurry, or perhaps you didn’t have time to note all the markings and colors in your sketchbook before the bird flew away. How will you identify your bird so that you can do more research and fill in the missing details?

Luckily, bird classes are almost as abundant as the migrating birds this spring.  As always, The Morton Arboretum is offering their popular Spring Bird Walks (the next one is scheduled for May 17, 2014).  These short hikes are designed to familiarize you with the native and migrating birds at the Arboretum.

Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum in Lisle, IL, is offering the Backyard Birds of Illinois Workshop and Nature Walk for all ages and levels of birdwatchers on May 17, 2014.

Please click on the event titles above for links to more information about these one-day events.

This Weekend, Come for the Exhibit, Stay for the Scenery!

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The Morton Arboretum Photographic Society (MAPS) would like to extend an invitation to all to their 3rd Annual Nature Photography Exhibit this weekend.  This gorgeous exhibit of approximately 150 original photographs, many inspired by the The Morton Arboretum, will take place in the Sycamore Room (near the Visitor’s Center) on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, 2014, from 10 am until 4 pm.  There is no fee for the exhibit, although gate fees will apply for non-members of the Arboretum.  An Artists’ and Members’ Reception is scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2014, in the Sycamore Room, from 5 until 8 pm. For more information on the exhibit or other MAPS activities, please click on this link to the MAPS website.

Before (or after) you visit the exhibit, be sure to take a tour of  The Morton Arboretum grounds.  The daffodils, bluebells and dogwoods are all in full bloom, and the scene is stunning. For a list of all the plants in bloom, or ready to bloom, please click on this link to the Bloom Report from the Arboretum.  You won’t be disappointed, and you may even be inspired to return with your camera and participate in next year’s MAPS exhibit!

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s First Outdoor Paint-Out of 2014

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Last year’s Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out at Graue Mill was held late in summer and had to be postponed for a few days because of the heat!  We don’t anticipate that problem for this year’s event, scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

There is so much to see and sketch or paint at Graue Mill on Salt Creek in Oak Brook!  Wildlife, a waterfall, and historic buildings are just some of the subjects available for our artists to choose from.  Please take a few minutes to view some photos by clicking on this link to the Graue Mill website.  You’ll also be able to read more about the gristmill (one of only two operating in Illinois), the Underground Railroad, and the history of this fascinating and important location.

Bring your chair, a drink and your art supplies anytime between 9 am and noon on May 13, 2014 and be prepared to enjoy the morning!  There is no need to RSVP.

Graue Mill is located at 3800 York Road, Oak Brook, Illinois.  Please click on the following link for directions.

Paint-Outs Planned for 2014

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Our Program and Paint-Out Chairperson, Carol Jean Rogalski, has surpassed even last year’s busy paint-out schedule for Nature Artists’ Guild members!

April 8, 2014 – Joel Oppenheimer Inc., Chicago Illinois

May 13, 2014 – Graue Mill, Oak Brook, Illiinois, 9 am until noon

June 10, 2014 – Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook, Illinois, 9 am until noon

July 8, 2014 – Garden of Susan and Kenneth Beard, Oak Brook, Illinois, 9 am until noon

August 12, 2014 – Garden of Catherine Donovan, La Grange, Illinois, 9 am until noon

September 9, 2014 –  Garden of Tanner Musso, Hinsdale, Illlinois, 9 am until noon

October 14, 2014 – Lake Marmo, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, 9 am until noon

Details will be forthcoming as each event approaches.  Nature Artists’ Guild members should check their e-mail for more information.

Plein Air at Chicago Botanic Garden, Saturday, April 12, 2014

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The Lake County Art League Plein Air Group invites members of the Nature Artists’ Guild to join them at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois for a plein air session on Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 9 am until noon. 

The session coincides with the Chicago Botanic Garden’s annual Antiques & Garden Fair ($10 admission) and the Garden Photographic Society’s  Nature in View exhibit, so even if the weather doesn’t lend itself to plein air painting, there will still be much to see and do!  Please click on the above links for more information about these two events.

 Nature Artists’ Guild members should check their e-mail for all the details and directions.