Nature Artists’ Guild liaison, Suzanne Wegener describes our upcoming program featuring Marlene Hill Donnelly –
Nature artists have color considerations beyond those of other artists—we need to be able to mix both the intense and precise colors of our flowers, birds and insects, and the quiet but luminous colors of shadow, reflected light and distance. Marlene will first demonstrate her system of “color mapping” designed to create a team of colors for any subject to ensure both accuracy and interest. Next she will demonstrate a very loose and expressive method that can be used to learn color mixing in a fun and meditative way as well as to create finished paintings or backgrounds.
Marlene HIll Donnelly is a third generation artist with degrees in Fine Art from the American Academy of Art in Chicago and in Zoology, with a minor in Botany, from University of Illinois. She is a science artist Associate for the Field Museum, reconstructing ancient landscapes and extinct plants and animals for the Department of Geology. She also works with the Smithsonian Institution, University College Dublin, Ireland, and many other institutions, bringing the past to life. Her work is widely published and is exhibited in museums throughout the world. She is a Certificate Course instructor at the Chicago Botanic Garden and at the Morton Arboretum.
One thing is for certain – Patty loves to spend time outdoors! She’s kind of quiet, but you can tell by her smile that she’s thrilled to be the newest member of the Nature Artists’ Guild. Be sure to stop by to see Patty before our next meeting on October 6. She spends most, if not all, of her time at The Morton Arboretum, hanging out by the lake with some friends.
Also pictured are Jill Adzia, Patty Koenigsaecker and Suzanne Wegener (they’re the ones not wearing hats).
In addition to all the other fun things we’ll be working on during our Holiday Exhibit Workshop at Thornhill tomorrow (see details in earlier post), we’ll also be assembling the very first Nature Artists’ Guild Scarecrow for The Morton Arboretum’s annual display. The gorgeous gal in the sketch below, by Nature Artists’ Guild member Patty Koenigsaecker, is what we hope our scarecrow will look when she’s done. Don’t you agree she just may be the cutest scarecrow ever? Please stop by the workshop any time between 10 and 2 to help get her ready for her debut!
An important message from our Fundraising Chair, Nancy Thyfault –
Ladies and Gentlemen, mark your calendars! Our Holiday Workshop will be September 17th, 10 am to 2 pm, Room C, Thornhill.
This is your opportunity to create items for our fundraising table at the Holiday Exhibit. Think you aren’t “crafty”- well, it’s more about creating unique items embellished with your artwork! Please join us and we can get you started.
We will have wooden trays, boxes and other pieces that you may paint, faux finish or design however you would like to. Nancy Kolar will be there to help with fabric painting on holiday tote bags- what a great idea for “wrapping” a holiday gift! If you think that you may want to paint a tote bag, you can work up a design in the 8” x 10” range to bring along. You could also bring photos for reference. There will other “projects” to work on as well.
You needn’t stay for the entire time. Many people pick up items and take them home to work on. You may stay, bring lunch and enjoy some creative time with your fellow artists!
Please bring along your favorite brushes and acrylic paints. A container for water is a good idea, too. Thanks to some generous donations, we have plenty of things to work on.
It’s been a beautiful summer (what blue skies!) and although we hate to see it end, we all know that autumn will also bring more than it’s share of beauty. The well-attended Nature Artists’ Guild Holiday Exhibit, taking place November 18th through the 20th will be a wonderful opportunity for displaying your autumn landscapes as well as your botanical or wildlife artwork!
Prospectuses for the Holiday Show must be mailed by October 8th, so there’s still time to start a new piece! With so much inspiration all around, why not? If you are a new member, please don’t be timid! For many of our members, a Nature Artists Guild exhibit was the first place they ever exhibited. They know first-hand how intimidating it can seem, and we think you’ll find that your fellow NAG members are very supportive, non-competitive and helpful (not to mention plain old nice).
At our formal meeting on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 7 pm, Dick Blick Wheaton store manager Kevin Sandstrom and his associates will be performing product demonstrations and even handing out some free samples!
Along with his experience in retail management and marketing, Kevin is an experienced freelance illustrator, and founder of various artist groups and forums.
Please join your fellow Nature Artists’ Guild members in what we expect to be a fun and informative evening!
Suzanne Wegener, Nature Art Education Manager at The Morton Arboretum (and our Nature Artists’ Guild liaison), announces another wonderful opportunity for our members –
Painters in the Garden
Come for a day or an hour and paint in the beautifully landscaped Children’s Garden where flowers, fish and frogs abound. We will have a cooling station with goodies so don’t let a little warm weather keep you indoors. Children’s garden staff will have a “make & take” for children interested in art. Please help us raise awareness of the Nature Artists’ Guild by participating. Please RSVP to Suzanne Wegener at swegener@mortonarb.org
Suzanne adds that you can bring information about yourself and your art if you’d like –a great opportunity to promote your work! Visitors will be strolling around, but since there are volunteers who will be doing art projects with children, there is no teaching involved. Suzanne will be available both days to answer visitor’s questions about the Nature Artists’ Guild as well as The Morton Arboretum’s Education Program. Click here for more information about the Children’s Garden!
Once again, Nature Artists’ Guild member Connie Devendorf has been kind enough to arrange for us the popular mid-summer paint-out at the beautiful gardens of Danada House, located on Naperville Wheaton Road, just north of I-88 and south of Butterfield Road. Danada House was built in the 1920’s by Dan and Ada Rice as their country retreat, and the recently renovated grounds include a rose garden labyrinth, native plants garden, a lovely alley garden, courtyard garden, and even a Thoroughbred horse farm!
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Click here for the Danada House website, or here for a few photos from last year’s paint-out. We’ll have the grounds from 9:30 am until about 2:00 on Monday, July 18, 2011, so come any time, and there’s no need to RSVP. Facilities and a huge screened-in terrace (no bugs!) overlooking the gardens will be available.
Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to submit artwork for the 2012 Nature Artists’ Guild Calendar.
The 2011 Calendar was a success – Now it’s time to gear up for 2012. Calendar sales support the programs and activities of the Guild and are a great way to showcase your work. They also make great gifts!
The deadline for submissions is September 17, 2011. If you have questions, please contact Mary Ingels. If you’d like to volunteer to help, contact Sylvia Root Tester (phone numbers and email addresses can be found in the Yearbook).
The Nature Artists’ Guild has been invited to participate in the annual Gardener’s Art Festival being held on Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 10 am until 4 pm at The Growing Place in Naperville. Please click here to find out all the details about this popular festival!
Photo credit The Growing Place
We are looking for artists to volunteer to participate for a 2-hour shift of painting, drawing or sketching during the event. What a great opportunity to show off your work while enjoying the beautiful surroundings!
The Growing Place would love to have four artists for each shift, so please don’t hesitate to sign up if you can – we need your contribution to help make this a success! Contact Jill Adzia to sign up (you can find her contact information in your Yearbook).
Nature Artists' Guild 