Our Special Exhibitions Coordinator, Paulette McDermott would like to remind us all that –
The Nature Artists Guild has a lovely new landscape show that will open on Saturday, April 28th.
That afternoon from 2 – 4 pm, on the 28th, we are planning a “Meet the Artists.”
We hope that you have the opportunity to stop by, see their work and say hello.
Please click here for more information on the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles.
You may know Nancy Halliday as a talented Nature Artists’ Guild Charter Member, or you may know her as a favorite Morton Arboretum Botanical Art instructor. Now you can learn even more about Nancy and enjoy seeing her artwork at a special exhibit!
Almost thirty of Nancy’s works are currently being featured in one-woman exhibit at the Glenview Public Library, 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview, IL 60025. Library hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am-9 pm, Saturday 9-5, and Sunday 1-5. The exhibit will be up through April 29, 2012, and Nancy will be giving a gallery talk on Tuesday, April 24th, at 6:30 p.m.
The library introduces Nancy’s exhibit with the following – “With university degrees in biological sciences and environmental studies, a natural ability to draw, and a keen eye for detail, Glenview resident Nancy Halliday carved a successful career in scientific illustration. This fascinating exhibit will draw you into nature—creatures large and small, botanical studies, and a few examples of Nancy’s artwork painted simply for pleasure.”
You can read more about Nancy and see a beautiful example of her talents at the website of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI).
We know that Spring is one of the busiest times of year for nature artists – there is so much beginning to grow, bud and bloom that it’s a challenge to keep up with the sketching, drawing and painting! Add to that the planting, pruning and tending of the garden, and who has time to spare?
It is probably time to take a little break from your busy schedule! On April 28, the drop-off of artwork for the “Landscapes” exhibit at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles will begin at 10 am (please remember to return your prospectus by April 20, 2012). Later, there will be a “Meet the Artist” reception at the same location from 2 pm until 4 pm (please bring a few snacks if you can).
You probably already have some artwork completed and framed from the last few Nature Artists’ Guild exhibits, so there will be no extra work for you. You’ll be able to just relax and enjoy an afternoon with fellow artists and guests while gaining an opportunity to exhibit your artwork at a wonderful new location. It sure beats weeding, mowing and mulching!
If any of our members could have possibly forgotten, this is a reminder that this evening is “referee night”. This is the evening that you will have your petals counted, your corners checked and your mats inspected! It’s not quite as intimidating as it sounds – it’s just the exhibition committee doing their job, making sure that this weekend’s upcoming exhibit of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum meets its usual high standards.
We look forward to seeing you between 6 and 8 this evening at Thornhill!
Please join the members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum at their annual Spring Exhibit. All are welcome, and admission to the exhibit is free, although there is a gate fee for entry into The Morton Arboretum. The exhibit will consist of the work of more than fifty members of the Nature Artists’ Guild.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum have been invited to exhibit their work at the St. Charles Hickory Knolls Discovery Center for the months of April, May and June, 2012! Three separate exhibits are planned, with the following themes –
April – Botanical Art
May – Landscapes
June – Wildlife
The first exhibit opened on April 1 and runs through April 28, 2012.
If you did not receive an e-mail or letter with the registration forms, or if you have any questions, please contact our Outside Exhibitions Chair, Paulette McDermott (you can find her contact information in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook).
Yes, it may be a bit early to declare Spring, but our new header image sure puts us in the spirit! This sweet detail from the watercolor Sweet Violets, was contributed by our featured artist of the upcoming 2012 Spring Exhibition of the Nature Artists’ Guild, Margo Heald. You can view the entire painting, read all about Margo and see more of her beautiful artwork by clicking on the Our Current Featured Artist tab above.
Our Fund-Raising Committee Co-chairs Nancy Thyfault and Brenda Spitzer have a fun workshop planned for this year’s spring exhibit fundraising table! The workshop will take place at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on March 24, 2012 from about 9:30 am until about 1:00 pm. Here’s what we can look forward to –
Join us to create one of a kind treasures for our Artisan Shop (fundraising table).
There are some new things to try out:
Sharon Malec has a wrapped branch project. These look great in a vase. Please bring:
- Freshly cut branches, fairly sturdy ones
- Any scrap yarn, any color.
Brenda Spitzer will demonstrate ArtEmboss, a method of embossing metal. The metal can be displayed on its own, or attached to a support, such as a wooden box. Please bring:
- An old mouse pad (to put beneath the metal)
- A design no larger than 4” x 4” drawn on tracing paper..
- Brenda will supply styluses and metal.
Nancy Thyfault will demonstrate how to transfer of copies of your artwork. These can be used to decorate wood pieces, papier mache items, etc. Please bring:
Laser copies of artwork (ink jet will wash away) which can be made at any office supply store. Make multiple sizes to cut up. Copies sized 8.5 x 11 and reduced down from that work well.
- Old pieces of jewelry or found objects
- A burnisher, if you have one (we can share)
- An old stiff brush for application
- Acrylic paints & brushes
- A water container
We will have trays, boxes and other items to decorate or paint on. The embossed metal and/found objects can be incorporated onto your piece, as well.
This workshop will incorporate some new, fresh ideas with some old standbys. Don’t miss it!
You may join us or leave at any time. If YOUR time is short, stop by and pick up something to work on at home.
See you there!
Nancy and Brenda
Even if you missed the mastodon at our previous paint-out, as a member of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, you will now have another chance to draw, paint or photograph many, many huge (or tiny, if you prefer) creatures!
The Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL houses over 10,000 mounts, skeletons and other items in its 2500 square foot space, and we will have it all to ourselves the morning of March 12, from 9 am until 1 pm.
Please click here to view the museum’s new online catalog of photographs and information!
There are a few benches, but for the best view and your own comfort, bring a folding chair along with your art supplies. Many attendees choose to go out for lunch following this yearly paint-out.
Please RSVP to Suzanne Wegener if you’d like to attend, but even if you decide to drop-in at the last minute, please feel free to. There’s plenty of room, and you can even show up late if you’d like!
We are thrilled you decided to join us! There are quite a few new members in 2012, and we are so happy to have you all. We sincerely hope that you will find the Nature Artists’ Guild to be a supportive, friendly, informative and fun group to be a part of.
Please make sure to take advantage of all that the Nature Artists’ Guild has to offer! From our top-notch exhibitions at The Morton Arboretum and other venues, to our paint-outs at some really interesting and beautiful places (and we’re always adding more), to our formal programs featuring some of the best artists around, and even to our fun fund-raising workshops, we like to think we have something to offer all of our members.
We hope that our atmosphere of non-competitive support goes a long way towards ensuring that all artists, from the newest beginners to the most seasoned professionals, feel welcome. Please join us at the next meeting or send in your prospectus for the Spring Exhibition! We look forward to getting to know you!
If you ever have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact any of the committee or board members.
Nature Artists' Guild 