New Paint-Out Opportunity – Mayslake Peabody Estate on May 14, 2013

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We have added a new location to our Paint-Out schedule this year.  On May 14, 2013, Nature Artists’ Guild members are invited to enjoy and paint or sketch the grounds of the beautiful and historic Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St. , Oak Brook, IL from 9 am until 12:30 pm.  You can view some photographs on their website to get a sense of the striking architecture and gardens you’ll find there.

Please let Carol Jean Rogalski know if you plan to attend.  You can find her contact information in your Yearbook.    Park in the main lot, proceed through the blue door into the estate, and then left to the terrace and lawn.

Spring

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There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. 

Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

“Brought to Life-Bellwort and Bee” © 2013 Karen A Johnson
“Brought to Life-Bellwort and Bee” © 2013 Karen A Johnson

Workshop and Framing Demonstration this Saturday, March 23, 2013

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This year’s workshop for the Artisan Shop at the Spring Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be very special.  Not only will we be creating items for our fundraising table at the upcoming exhibit, (please bring acrylics, brushes and a water container, as well as sketches or reference materials in your choice of subjects from nature), we will also have the chance to learn about framing from professional framer (and member), Evelyn Grala! Picture Framing

From 9:30 until noon, we can work on our handmade items for the exhibit, and then from 1 pm until 3 pm, Evelyn will show fellow Nature Artists’ Guild members – how to choose frames that will enhance your artwork, how to creatively re-use frames, how to choose standard frame sizes for ease and economy, the do’s and don’ts in preparing for an exhibit, and finally, a framing demonstration for the “do-it-yourself” artists!

If you can’t stay for the whole workshop, please stop in any time between 9:30 am and 3 pm, work as little or as much as you like, or even take an item home to work on. The workshop takes place on Saturday, March 23, 2013 in Classroom C at Thornhill.

Update – Please enjoy these photos, thanks to Carol Carls, of the Spring Workshop participants hard at work!

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Our Featured Artist, Linn Eldred

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You have our featured artist for the April 2013 Spring Exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, Linn Eldred to thank for our beautiful new spring header, which features a detail of her painting Tulip Time.  You can see the entire painting, as well as read about Linn and see more of her artwork, by clicking on the Current Featured Artist tab above.  Congratulations, Linn!  We look forward to seeing your artwork at the upcoming exhibit, and appreciate the hint of spring you’ve brought to us through your paintings!

Iris ©Linn Eldred
Iris ©Linn Eldred

Don’t Forget Your Pith Helmet!

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You may be sitting within feet of a pride of lions.  You may be looking into the eyes of a leopard.  You could even find yourself staring down a skunk!

Yes, you guessed it!  The Nature Artists’ Guild is going to Jurica.  Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, located on the second floor of the Birck Hall of Science at Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL  60532, will be the site of an upcoming expedition (paint-out) for brave Nature Artists’ Guild members.

Photo Credit Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum
Photo Credit Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum

This year’s paint-out will take place on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.  No RSVP is necessary – you can drop in any  time between 9 am and 12 pm, but you’ll want to get there early to allow yourself enough time to sketch, paint or photograph some of the more than 10,000 specimens in the collection.  The museum has even added a new permanent exhibit featuring rocks and minerals.

The museum curators have confirmed that are expecting us and will be there to let us in, so no safaris in search of the elusive door key will be necessary this year!

For more information, please check out their website, http://benuscience.org/museum/index.php.

 

Illumination

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Ranunculus, © Carol Jean Rogalski, Watercolor and 23k gold on Vellum
Ranunculus, © Carol Jean Rogalski, Watercolor and 23k gold on Vellum

 On March 7, 2013 at 7 pm in Thornhill, we will have the pleasure of attending a program by one of our own members, Carol Jean Rogalski, as she shares with us the history and techniques of Illumination. 

Prior to the development of the printing press, original illustrations were used to enhance medieval manuscripts.  These glowing  illustrations included the use of silverpoint, egg tempera and illumination with gold on vellum.  Carol Jean Rogalski has spent years traveling to museums to view these early examples of illustration, while also learning and practicing these early techniques. She recently completed a techniques demonstration for the ASBA at The Chicago Botanic Garden in October, 2012.

Many of you may know Carol Jean as an instructor in The Morton Arboretum’s Botanical Art and Illustration program, and may have seen examples of her stunning illuminations in our Nature Artists’ Guild exhibits.  You may also remember Carol Jean as one of the three short–program demonstrators at our “Artist Trio” event last summer.

There has been so much interest in and fascination with Carol Jean’s artwork and techniques that we have asked Carol Jean to return for a full-length program that you won’t want to miss!