Graue Mill Paint-Out Postponed Until Next Week

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From the website of Graue Mill and Museum,

One summer morning in 1852, Fred Graue entered his mill and turned the wheel that opened the sluice gates outside. Water from Salt Creek rushed into the millrace and the wooden waterwheel began to turn for the first time. It would turn the machinery that would grind grain for the next seventy years.

Today, Graue Mill is the only operating waterwheel gristmill in the Chicago area.

"Graue Mill", © Bill Schauert. Used with permission.
“Graue Mill”, © Bill Schauert. Used with permission.

Carol Jean Rogalski has secured a date for a Nature Artists’ Guild paint-out at this historic and lovely site, which is owned and maintained by the Forest Preserve District of Dupage County. Our paint-out is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, September 17, 2013 from 9 am until 1 pm.  Please contact Carol Jean if you would like to attend.  You can find her contact information in your Yearbook.  The address for Graue Mill is 3800 York Road, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523.

We’d like to extend a special “thank you” to two members of the Morton Arboretum Photographic Society (MAPS), Bill Schauert and Bob Webster, for the wonderful photos.

"Fishing at Graue Mill", © Bill Schauert. Used with permission.
“Fishing at Graue Mill”, © Bill Schauert. Used with permission.
"Graue Mill", © Bob Webster. Used with permission.
“Graue Mill”, © Bob Webster. Used with permission.

“More Than a Pretty Picture”

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Nature Artists’ Guild member and Nature Art Education Manager at The Morton Arboretum, Suzanne Wegener, would like to invite us all to the following evening event, which features just about everything a nature artist could ask for!

Zone 5 Science Cafe’: More than a Pretty Picture

From white fringed orchids, to Hine’s emerald dragonflies, to Illinois chorus frogs—discover how scientific illustration can help preserve our flora and fauna. The illustrator is the eyes of the botanist and can illuminate what is unobservable.  Join Kathleen Garness, Freelance Artist and Suzanne Wegener, Nature Art Education Manager, The Morton Arboretum, in a lively conversation that will highlight botanical works of art, scientific illustrations and the role of art in conservation initiatives. Wine, appetizers and Arboretum admission included in the fee.

Thursday, September 19 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Sterling Morton Library. Cost: $10 member, $12 nonmember.

To register for course Z401, click here: http://bit.ly/15nG1vp

Call: 630-719-2468

Email: Registrar-ed@mortonarb.org

Space is somewhat limited, so you may want to sign up soon!

Butterflies and Birds at Wildwood

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We’ve had some beautiful weather lately, and apparently we are not the only species enjoying it!  According to Nina Koziol, who will be hosting Nature Artists’ Guild paint-outs this Saturday and next Tuesday, she has spotted Giant Swallowtails, Pipevine Swallowtails, a few Monarchs, and Red-Spotted Purples, as well as Hummingbirds.

Red-Spotted Purple, Photo credit Wikipedia
Red-Spotted Purple, Photo credit Wikipedia

Nina is looking forward to hosting our paint-out, and will even be offering us some light refreshments!  She also wants to let us know that there is plenty of parking along the road across the street from her home and gardens.   Scroll down this page to see more information and some photographs of Wildwood.

If you would like to attend, please contact Carol Jean Rogalski, whose contact information you will find in your Yearbook.  

Lynne Railsback Solo Exhibition Through August 20, 2013

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Lynne Railsback is being featured in a solo exhibition of her botanical art from July 16 through August 20, 2013, at the Gallery of Nature of the Wasco Nursery and Garden Center,  41 W 781 Route. 64, St. Charles IL.  An Artists’ Reception will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2013 from 4 until 6 pm.

Lynne is a long-time and well-respected member of the Nature Artists’ Guild, not to mention an international award winning botanical artist, and this is a great opportunity to see a local exhibition of her stunning work.  Please click here to visit Lynne’s website.  You’ll be even more inspired to see her work in person!  

For directions to the Wasco Nursery, click here.  The gallery is open from 9 am until 5 pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 10 am until 5 pm on Sundays.

Big Foot Wild Things, © Lynne Railsback.
Pure Corn Grid, © Lynne Railsback
Great Solomon’s Seal, © Lynne Railsback

From Across the Pond

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Carol Jean Rogalski discovered this gem on London’s Kew Royal Botanic Gardens’ website. Please click here to see a short video about influential botanical artist Rory McEwen.

After viewing the video, you can scroll down the page to preview the book,  Rory McEwen The Colours of Reality.   “Developed in close collaboration with the McEwen family, this is the first major exposure of Rory McEwen’s work since 1989. The book includes stunning illustrations of McEwen’s floral subjects, and essays about his life and work from Martyn Rix, James Fox, Richard Demarco and Dr Shirley Sherwood.”

Botanical Art by Rory McEwen, from Amazon.com, "Rory McEwen Colour of Reality".
Image from http://www.Amazon.com, “Rory McEwen The Colours of Reality”.

Wildwood Awaits! New Paint-Out Opportunity on August 17 and August 20, 2013

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You may know Nina Koziol as a garden writer for the Chicago Tribune and Chicagoland Gardening, as well as a speaker and teacher at the Chicago Botanic Garden and The Morton Arboretum.

Nina Koziol's Wildwood Garden, Used with permission
Nina Koziol’s Wildwood Garden, Used with permission

Now we will be lucky enough to experience Nina’s gardening skills in person, as she has so generously offered to open her personal garden, Wildwood, (also the name of the gallery in Lockport, IL owned by Nina and her husband, http://www.WildwoodGallery.com) on two separate mornings to members of the Nature Artists’ Guild for painting, sketching and photographing!

Nina Koziol's Wildwood Garden, Used with permission
Nina Koziol’s Wildwood Garden, Used with permission

Nina’s gardens take inspiration from her grandparents’ garden in Essex, England, and include flower and shrub borders, edible and container gardens, and judging from the photos on Nina’s website, www.thisgardencooks.com, some fascinating creatures as well!  Not all of them will be present for our paint-out, but Nina promises there will be “hummingbirds and butterflies galore”!

Nina Koziol's Wildwood Garden, Used with permission
Nina Koziol’s Wildwood Garden, Used with permission

Our members are invited to share Nina’s garden on either Saturday, August 17 or Tuesday, August 20, 2013, from 9 am until 1 pm.  The address is 11925 Ford Road, Palos Park, IL, and Nina has even been kind enough to offer light refreshments!

Please let Carol Jean Rogalski know on which of the two dates you’d like to attend (or both, if space permits, but please indicate your first choice).  You can find Carol Jean’s contact information in your Yearbook.

Artist Trio Presentation, August 1, 2013

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On August 1, 2013, from 7 pm until 9 pm at Thornhill, three members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will share their inspirations and techniques with us.

Attendees will divide into three smaller groups, which will rotate through the three presentations. This gives us all a great opportunity to get closer looks, ask more questions, and engage with the artists in a way not possible with a larger group. The three talented artists who will be generously sharing their talents with us are –

Jane Doherty – Western Marbling

Karen Johnson – Polymer Clay Patterns: Botanicals and Insects

Ed Cook – Landscapes

Please join us for what promises to be a fun, inspirational and educational meeting! Guests and visitors are welcome.  Visitors,  please just let the attendant at The Morton Arboretum gate know that you are there for the Nature Artists’ Guild meeting.

Better Homes and Gardens comes to Wildwood!

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Exciting news!  We have it on good authority that some photographers from a Better Homes and Gardens specialty publication are scheduled to be present at Nina Koziol’s Wildwood garden on the same day as one of our Nature Artists’ Guild paint-outs (scheduled for August 17 and August 20 – see earlier post).

Don’t get ready for your close-up just yet, though.  We are waiting for some details – we have the “where”, but still need the “who, what, why, and when. “   We’re not sure yet whether our participants will be included in any of the photos,  but be assured that if you would rather not be included, you can still attend the paint-out.   The photographers will obtain a photo release from anyone who may appear in any of their photos.

As soon as we get more details, we will share them with all of our members!  Please remember to RSVP to Carol Jean Rogalski if you would like to attend either of the paint-outs (you’ll find her contact information in your Yearbook).

Call for Artwork from Nature Artists’ Guild Members

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2013 Calendar CoverGraphic Artist, former Nature Artists’ Guild President, and honorary lifetime member Mary Ingels has once again volunteered to design and coordinate our annual Nature Artists’ Guild Desk Calendar.  The calendar, which features members’ artwork, is our most popular fund-raising project as well as a wonderful way for members to see their artwork published.  Even nice sketches can become lovely calendar pages in Mary’s talented hands. Artwork for this 2014 calendar must be submitted by September 13, 2013.  

Nature Artists’ Guild members will soon be receiving full instructions for participating in the calendar project by e-mail or mail, but to get started, please click on this link to see instructions for creating a quality digital copy of your artwork.  All artwork must be in high-resolution digital format to be included in the calendar.  If you have any questions about the instructions, please do not hesitate to contact Mary.  She (now living near Seattle) says she would be happy to hear from you and help ensure that the quality of your digital copy does your artwork justice!  You can find Mary’s number and e-mail address in your Quarterly or in the instructions you will be receiving by e-mail or mail.