Some Nature Artists’ Guild Member Artwork

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Thanks to our Nature Artists’ Guild photographer Kathy Wagner, you may have already seen the gorgeous photos from our recent paint-out at Susan and Kenneth Beard’s garden.   We thought you might also enjoy a few wonderful sketches and drawings from some of the paint-out participants.  Included here are an ink drawing by Nancy Wu, two oil paintings by Linda Skisak, two watercolors by Connie Devendorf, a watercolor by Karen Johnson, a watercolor by Paulette McDermott, and a watercolor by Carol Jean Rogalski.  Please click on the thumbnails of the artwork to see larger versions.

Enjoy!

Remember to Make the Most of Your Nature Artists’ Guild Membership

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We are so excited to welcome  many new members to the Nature Artists’ Guild this year!  We just wanted to check in with all our members, the brand new ones, as well as those that have been around a while, to make sure everyone is making the most of their membership.

Remember, your membership entitles you to –

  • Attend formal meetings (the next one will be in August, and will feature three of your talented fellow members sharing some of their favorite techniques in various media)
  • Attend paint-outs at some great places (there is one coming up in July at Laverne Bohlin’s wonderful garden, and more are being added all the time)
  • Participate in Nature Artists’ Guild exhibitions (either at The Morton Arboretum, where up to a thousand visitors will view your artwork in one weekend, or at various outside venues)
  • Attend workshops (to help create items for fundraising and to learn new skills from fellow artists)
  • Contribute artwork or articles to our quarterly publication, The Nature Artists’ Quarterly
  • Contribute artwork to the annual Nature Artists’ Guild desk calendar

There are also many opportunities for just having fun with your fellow artists, whether by attending a “field trip” to somewhere interesting,  helping to create our annual Scarecrow for The Morton Arboretum,  volunteering on one of the committees or attending the Holiday Party!

Please check the Important Dates tab above to see our current schedule of events.

What a Pretty Paint-Out!

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Once again, the weather and the garden couldn’t have been lovelier for the Nature Artists’ Guild 2013 Paint-Out at Susan and Kenneth Beard’s garden in Oakbrook, IL.  Please enjoy these gorgeous photos contributed by Kathy Wagner.  We thank the Beards for so graciously sharing their garden with us.

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Join us in Celebrating! Bohlin Garden Paint-Out July 13, 2013

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Talk about talent!  Long-time Nature Artists’ Guild member, Laverne Bohlin, is an instructor in The Morton Arboretum’s Botanical Art program , teaches at the Peninsula School of Art in Door County, Wisconsin, and her paintings are widely exhibited and collected around the country.  We are lucky enough to exhibit Laverne’s paintings in each of our Nature Artists’ Guild exhibits, and they are appreciated by all.

In addition to all of the above, Laverne also happens to be a skilled landscape designer and gardener. She teaches numerous classes on Landscape Design at The Morton Arboretum, and we have just learned that Laverne’s personal garden will be featured in the upcoming July/August 2013 issue of Chicagoland Gardening magazine!  The issue should be on the newsstands in June, and we can’t wait to see it.

Let’s help celebrate Laverne’s wonderful news by joining her in her garden, which she has been kind enough to share with all the members of the Nature Artists’ Guild, for a paint-out on July 13, 2013.Laverne Bohlin Garden Feel free to drop in any time between  10 am and 4 pm.  There is no need to RSVP, and light refreshments will be served.   

It will be a great chance to not only paint or sketch a lovely garden, but to spend some time getting to know your fellow artists in a casual and fun setting.  Member Carol Jean Rogalski has seen Laverne and Pete Bohlin’s garden and claims that they apparently know Jack (of the beanstalk fame) because the garden surely has its origins in some kind of magical seeds!

You Didn’t Miss It, Did You?

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We had a great time at the meeting last evening!  Our presenter, the wonderful Peggy Macnamara wowed us with her paintings, and her hilarious stories left us both entertained and encouraged.   Thank you, Peggy!  We will be sure to let everyone know when Peggy’s book-signing at The Morton Arboretum is scheduled.

We would also like to thank all of the guests that attended!  We hope you enjoyed the program and will consider returning.  We’d love to have you as a member of the Nature Artists’ Guild, so that you would have the chance to not only attend programs, but to participate in paint-outs, exhibitions, workshops and social events.  Please click the Membership Application tab above for more details.  Artists of all levels of ability are welcome.

Photographs are courtesy of Kathy Wagner, and all artwork is the property of Peggy Macnamara.

Calvin C. Wright

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In remembrance –

We received word from Evelyn Grala last week of the passing of a longtime and well-loved member of the Nature Artists’ Guild.  Calvin Wright was 92 years old, and will be missed by all those who knew him.  Carol Jean Rogalski has shared these photos of some of the beautifully carved birds that Cal was known for creating.

Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum has Joined Meetup.com!

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Meetup.com is a website that brings people with common interests together, and we are hoping to attract some nature art enthusiasts in the area to the Nature Artists’ Guild.  Click here to see what it’s all about, and while you are there, click on the Find a Meetup Group tab at the top of the page.   You just may find a few wonderful groups that share your interests!

A Break from the Summer Heat

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Perhaps you, like many of us, enjoy taking an occasional break from the heat and humidity of  summer.   If so, you may wish to consider enrolling in one of the summer classes offered in The Morton Arboretum’s Botanical Art and Illustration program.

You can enjoy nature in a gorgeous setting while avoiding the heat and insects of the season by choosing from these (mostly) indoor classes offered by The Morton Arboretum –

  • Begin to Draw Nature 
  • Botanical Art and Illustration: Pencil 
  • Plants in Watercolor I
  • Underpainting Techniques in Pastel 
  • Botanical Art in Garden Catalogs  
  • Making Mosaics for the Garden 
  • Garden Journaling
  • Summer Mandala
  • Insects in Polymer Clay 
  • Master’s Studio – Summer Flowers in Colored Pencil 
  • Visiting Artist – Scott Harding, Landscapes in Watersoluble Oil 

The classes are open to all (you do not need to be a member of the Nature Artists’ Guild nor The Morton Arboretum, nor be enrolled in the Art and Illustration Certificate Program to participate) and many are suitable for beginners.   Some of the more advanced classes, though, have suggested prerequisites.  Please click here for class descriptions and details!