Welcome!
PROGRAMS/MEETINGS on the 2nd Wed. of the Month *unless otherwise indicated:
Important note and time update: In an effort to have adequate time for our speakers and be able to clean-up and exit the library before 9 pm, we are now going to be starting our speakers promptly at 7 pm. If you would like time to socialize before the meeting, please plan to arrive around 6:30 and we will be starting our announcements at 6:45 pm.
September 11, 2024-7 pm: Golden Brand Acrylics with Sandie Bacon
October 9, 2024-7 pm: Botanical Drawing Talk with Kimberly Mullarkey
November 13, 2024-6:30 pm: Urban Sketching with Wes Douglas
December 11, 2024-6 pm: Holiday Party, more details to be sent to LAG Members soon!
January 8, 2025-6:30 pm: Annual Show and Tell
February 12, 2025-6:30 pm: Art on Napkins as a Traveling Journal with Robert Morris
March 12, 2025-6:30 pm: Minute to Magnificent: Macro Photography using your Cell Phone with Nancy Uznanski
April 9, 2025-6:30 pm: Collage Techniques with Laura Lein Svencner
May 14, 2025-6:30 pm: Your Artist Website Strategy: A Beginner’s Guide to a Dynamic Web Presence with Becky Sciullo
CREATE AND CHAT: ARTISTS MEET-UP at Homer Township Public Library
2024 Upcoming Dates 3rd Mondays unless otherwise indicated:
Nov 18, 2024
Dec 16, 2024
Time: 1-3 pm
Artists of all kinds are welcome to join our monthly meetup group! Meet other local artists (including some from the Lemont Artists Guild), discuss what you’re working on, and spend time creating alongside others. Bring your current project or art supplies to find inspiration & start a new one! The group meets from 1-3pm. New folks – and all art mediums – welcome!
While this is not an instructional class, the gathering of artists can help inspire you and give you feedback or ideas on your own artwork. Or, if you haven't been able to create but want to start, join us and see what others are making. Seeing others create can be just what you need to get your own project started!
No registration required; just show up!
Contact us if you would like more information!
Image copyright Wes Douglas
The Lemont Artists Guild Meetings are open to all, you do not have to be a Lemont Artists Guild member to attend.
We hope you can attend our programs at the library which are free and open to the public!
Our meetings take place IN PERSON at Homer Township Public Library
14320 W. 151st Street, Homer Glen, IL 60491, 708-301-7908
Important note and time update: In an effort to have adequate time for our speakers and be able to clean-up and exit the library before 9 pm, we are now going to be starting our speakers promptly at 7 pm. If you would like time to socialize before the meeting, please plan to arrive around 6:30 and we will be starting our announcements at 6:45 pm.
Urban Sketching with Wes Douglas
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 6:30 pm
REGISTER AT: https://www.homerlibrary.org/urban
The Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present Art Director, Graphic Designer, and Instructor Wes Douglas, who will give a talk on Urban Sketching. Urban Sketching can be described as "sketching on location" that often incorporates architecture, street scenes, and people in their daily lives going to stores, restaurants, and other day to day activities for leisure or work. The sketch tells a story of what is happening around the artist and happens on site, as opposed to a formal studio setting of an artist. Learn all about the spontaneity and fun you can have when urban sketching!
Wes Douglas, a suburban Chicago resident for more than 50 years, is a design graduate of Northern Illinois University and was a founding member of the innovation firm Maddock Douglas in Elmhurst. Wes loves to sketch people on location and is a lifelong illustrator. An instructor at past Sketch Seminars, Wes now teaches students at the DuPage Art League about the secrets of urban sketching. He also has been an active member (and former co-administrator) for Urban Sketchers Chicago (aka, USk, www.urbansketcherschicago.org) since 2013. In 2023, Wes was selected as the Sketch Correspondent for that year’s Chicago Sketch Seminar.
In 2017 he was selected as one of the Sketch Correspondents for the International Symposium in Chicago. Also in 2017, he was responsible for getting a feature article in the Metra newsletter called “Urban Sketchers Tell Metra Stories Through Art” featuring the commuter sketches from such artists as Don Colley, Mary Jo Ernst, Brian Wright and others. Wes has appeared on WGN Morning News with Liz Steel and WGN Radio AM 720 “Outside The Loop” program to share his passion of urban sketching with Chicago listeners and to promote the USk Chicago Sketch Seminars and the 8th International Urban Sketchers Symposium. You can find out more about Wes on Facebook: Wes Douglas, Instagram: @wheels317,
Web: https://sketchnography.blogspot.com/, https://sketchawes317.blogspot.com/
Meetings are open to all; you do not have to be a Lemont Artists Guild member to attend. Registration required.
Past Programs 2024-2023
Botanical Drawing with Kimberly Mullarkey
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 7 pm
On Oct. 9, 2024, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library, Artist and Instructor at College of DuPage, Kimberly Mullarkey, who will give a talk on Botanical Drawing which depicts the form, color, and details of plant life. Kimberly’s presentation, consisting of a slide show and her actual artwork, will touch upon the history of botanical illustration and her exploration of nature – both in an expressive manner and more scientific drawings. Botanical drawing is not only a beautiful art genre, its roots go back to the first century when scientists wanted to start documenting how plants look and their medicinal purposes.
Kimberly Mullarkey has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the University of California-Santa Cruz with an emphasis in Printmaking and Drawing and a Master’s of Fine Art degree from Northern Illinois University with an emphasis in Drawing and Painting. She is an instructor of Drawing and Graphic Design at the College of DuPage and also also teaches Botanical Art at The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. To study early Northern Renaissance painting techniques, she lived in France for six months and studied under Patrick Betaudier in Monflanquin. Her artwork is included in the published book series “Best of Colored Pencil” and is also in The Morton Arboretum art collection. Kimberly was also an Artist-in-Residence at Isle Royale National Park in Michigan in Lake Superior. She recently finished a large commission, of 34 paintings for The Clearing in Door County, WI.
Golden Brand Acrylics with Sandie Bacon
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 7 pm
Visual Artist, Sandie Bacon, will introduce the world of Golden Brand Acrylics. Sandie will discuss the many aspects of acrylic paint and the mediums that can be used with acrylics. She works for Golden Artist Colors and those who attend will have an opportunity to see the paints and mediums she brings and sign up to receive a free sample of some of these amazing products!
Sandie Bacon is a versatile artist whose paintings convey image through form, and narrative imagery based upon observations of nature. She has a fascination with materials, and is proficient in watercolor, acrylics, oils and drawing media. Her artwork is shown in numerous collections including most recently a purchase for CLC and the Art in Architecture Program. She also has been commissioned and exhibited by museums, galleries, art centers, private interiors, and public installations.
She teaches throughout the Midwest and is a Certified Working Artist and Silver Brush Educator for Golden Paints. Learn more about her at www.sandiebaconstudio.com and visit https://goldenartistcolors.com/ to learn more about Golden products.
Pastel Demonstration-Child's Portrait with Kim Abbati
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 7 pm
On May 8, 2024, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library, Kim Abbati, who is an award winning artist in multiple artistic mediums. Attendees will learn about the vibrant beauty of the pure pigment of pastel which is Kim’s favorite medium for rendering a child’s portrait. As she demonstrates the child’s portrait in pastel, she will show several approaches to starting a pastel piece and include different stages of an underpainting. She will also explain a variety of substrates including surfaces in which to work on, pastel grounds, and the many different materials available for the artist to explore when using pastel.
While Kim enjoys traveling and painting en “plein air,” her true passion in her artistic subject matter is the figure and portraiture. In addition to being an instructor at McCord Gallery and Cultural Center in Palos Park, IL, she is the current Illinois Ambassador for the Portrait Society of America, a member of the Pastel Society of America, Chicago Pastel Painters, Plein Air Painters Chicago, and the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Kim received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art at the Art Institute of Chicago, where her love of art began on a field trip there in only the second grade. Learn more about Kim at:
www.kimabbatiart.comand https://www.instagram.com/kim_abbati_art
Ceramic Artist Talk with Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 7 pm
On April 10, 2024, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library, Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi who is an award winning ceramic artist, and will talk about her clay process and techniques that transform vintage designs into her unique contemporary stoneware. Laurie’s pottery pieces are inspired by 19th and 20th century traditional women’s needle crafts and also are most notably collected because of her mastery of glaze patterning and critical attention to detail.
Laurie’s love for ceramics started in high school. When her teacher could no longer teach Laurie new things, Laurie was able to take college classes in ceramics while still in high school. Laurie graduated with a BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago. Her pieces are one of a kind and made with her own stamps and tools. Besides selling in galleries around the country and in Canada, Laurie does many shows each year including trade shows and the famous Chicago’s “One of a Kind” show. Laurie works full time in her studio building on her property and fires up her kiln at least once or twice a week, sometimes daily. She will bring examples of her work and some clay along with handmade tools for participants to try.
Learn more about Laurie at: https://www.facebook.com/LPEclayStudio/ , https://www.instagram.com/lpeclay/
or, https://www.artfulhome.com/artist/Laurie-Pollpeter-Eskenazi/8172
Wycinanki-Polish Folk Art of Papercutting with Grace Bazylewski
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 7 pm
Polish American teacher and practitioner, Grace Bazylewski, will demonstrate “Wycinanki,” the intricate Polish folk art of papercutting that comes as the result of cutting, clipping, punching, tearing, and carving paper into abstract and recognizable forms. Participants will create their own decorative & colorful Wycinanki designs to take home! Supplies will be provided.
A Chicago born Polish American, Grace Bazylewski is the daughter of Post World War II political dissidents. She learned the art of wycinanki from Polish artists living in the United States while a member of the Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois (Harcerstwo.) She has been a teacher and practitioner of the folk art form for over fifty years. She has shown in various museums, libraries, galleries, public venues and clubs in the Chicago metro area as well as a museum gallery in Hong Kong.
In "real" life Ms. Bazylewski is an urban planner, works for the consulting firm Westwood Planning Solutions, LLC and resides in Chicago's south suburb of Lansing. She earned degrees in her field from the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Grace is active in a variety of professional organizations in Chicago and the south suburban region. She has served on the boards of the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Polish Museum of America, the Polish Arts Club and an as ambassador of Chicago Community Trust and on the executive board of Habitat for Humanity South Suburbs and is involved in promoting the improvement planning for Camp Norwid, the Polish Scouting Organization‘s camp ground in the North Woods of Wisconsin. She currently serves as the Chair for the Village of Lansing Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals. Recently, she contributed to Back Home, the retrospective of Polish immigration to the Chicago Region at the Chicago History Museum.
Feltmaking with Betty Burian Kirk
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 7 pm
The Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library, Feltmaking, where multi-talented and award winning fiber artist, Betty Burian Kirk, will share the fine art craft of feltmaking. She will go over many aspects of feltmaking including the history of making felt, how it is made, and its contemporary techniques and uses. A lucky attendee will win one of Betty’s felted hearts!
Also a former teacher, some of Betty’s many talents include weaving, spinning, ribbon flowers, tassels, Japanese bookbinding and braiding (Kumihimo). Betty frequently teaches at regional and national conferences. This summer she will be teaching Japanese bookbinding at Convergence 2024 in Wichita KS as well as spinning novelty yarns.
Annual Show and Tell
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 7 pm
Attendees at this meeting will have an opportunity to share their creative endeavors, hear constructive suggestions, meet other artists, and/or share their creative plans in 2024! Attendees can also just watch and listen to what others are up to in their art worlds.
Plein Air Tips with David Becker
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023 at 7 pm
On Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 7 pm, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present award winning artist, David Becker who will show his expertise in painting and provide some Plein Air tips. Plein air is the act of painting/creating art outdoors with the natural lighting and landscape. David will bring his plein air easel and supplies to demonstrate his plein air process and give some tips on painting outdoors. David works in many mediums, including watercolor, oils, and acrylics, and is mostly recognized for his watercolor scenes of Chicago. David is the author of “Watercolor Composition Made Easy,” and “How to Sketch with Watercolor.” He has had two different articles published in “International Artist Magazine” and in “Watercolor Magic.”
He has reached signature status in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, and has won numerous awards for his work from watercolor societies around the country.
Since 1983, David had spent most of his artistic life and career in the city of Chicago. He studied at The American Academy of Art in Chicago which is the reason that a large majority of his subject matter comes from his life in the city that he loves so much. After studying there, he went into illustrating for a major advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson, and later, for Foote Cone and Belding. He also started teaching around the country right out of school, but always found time for his favorite ambition, creating fine art paintings. One can find many of his works hanging in homes and businesses throughout Chicagoland. David’s favorite painting was commissioned by Starbucks to do a scene for their Macy’s Starbucks store that was to include a scene looking out of that store's window, onto Wabash, that included the “L” platform. This painting used to hang in the Northeast corner of the Macy’s Starbucks store on Randolph and Wabash, but recently the store has been renovated and the painting is no longer there.
Becker currently is focusing on his business and art practice with BeckerArt LLC. Subscribe to his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@BeckerArt and watch his FREE Paint-a-Long lesson every Thursday at 6:00 pm on YouTube. You can also find more about David on his website at www.beckerart.net, his Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/beckerartllcand Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/davidrbecker/
Create a Watercolor Autumn Themed Still-Life Scene with Cyn O'Brien
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Cyn O’Brien will lead a hands-on watercolor lesson of creating an autumn themed still-life. Cyn has worked in many subject areas and enjoys painting people and pets. Her fascination in faces began as a makeup artist in the cosmetics industry. Her later career was teaching art in an after school program, private art lessons, hosting art painting parties and teaching a variety of workshops in drawing and painting. She also enjoys traveling to many areas of the world which inspires her passion for art and feeds the creative soul.
Children’s Book & Procreate Design Talk by Brooke O’Neill
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 at 7:00 pm
On Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 7 pm, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present Brooke O’Neill, a children’s book illustrator. She will give a presentation on her artistic journey, share her artwork created using the online program “Procreate” (the two-time Apple Design Award winning digital art studio), and will share artistic resources that have helped her as an artist. Brooke will also give a quick Procreate tutorial--so feel free to bring your iPad & iPencil, or bring a sketchbook and draw along!
Brooke is currently represented by Astound US Illustration Agency. She has illustrated over 20 children’s books, and has worked with publishers such as Scholastic, Sourcebooks, Curriculum Associates, and Wisdom House. She’s also licensed several greeting cards.
In addition to illustrating, she is a freelance graphic designer, and a member & volunteer of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Brooke attended Illinois State University, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in Graphic Design in 2008. When she’s not drawing, she loves spending time with her two children, husband, and dog, Donut.
You can view Brooke’s portfolio and more at www.brookeoneilldesign.com. Find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/brookeoneill.illustration.
Botanical Art with Zentangle Style by Pat Mroczka
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 7:00 pm
On May 10, 2023 at 7 pm, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present Pat Mroczka who will discuss her Botanical Art with Zentangle Style. Pat Mroczka is an award winning artist who uses watercolor and mixed media to depict botanic art using her decorative style. She will talk about her techniques and bring examples of her artwork as well as show some of her finished artwork. She also will show stages of how to glue artwork to a wood board and discuss UV varnishing of the artwork to preserve it. If time allows, she will be prepared to work on an art piece that is already in progress.
While trying various mediums, her current use of watercolor has evolved with the use of doodle-like forms in her florals/leaves — her favorite subject matter. Watercolor captures the fragility of the essence of her subjects. In addition, watercolor in conjunction with the Zentangle/doodle style is most relaxing, fun and spiritually satisfying, as well as challenging. Pat layers watercolor revealing deep, rich colors, similar to oils/acrylics. Her realistic watercolors are framed traditionally with mats and glass. Recently, she’s mounting them on wood panels and using a watercolor UV varnish to preserve the paintings.
Pat’s love of art began at the Sinsinawa Dominican Center near Dubuque. She continued her studies at the Art Institute of Chicago. She loved the detail in technical work involved in constructing buildings on paper which led her to also obtain an Associate’s Degree in Architecture. Pat says that the quaint homes where she lives in Downers Grove and their downtown area has been a source of inspiration to her for more than 30 years and she continues to complete home portraits for her clients.
Pat’s first honor was a second place in the Milwaukee Art Journal contest for an oil painting. She later completed 12 renderings for the Indian Boundary YMCA. She was commissioned by the Village of Downers Grove to complete 5 renderings in celebration of their 175thanniversary. A signature member of the Illinois Watercolor Society, Pat achieved Honorable Mentions in three National Shows in Dixon IL. She is also a member of the Downers Grove Artists’ Guild, Naperville Art League and Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum, and received several awards also with the DuPage Art League, and La Grange Art League. She has had solo exhibits at the Oak Park Arms Hotel and the Villa in Lisle in 2019. In September, 2018 she was accepted for the highly acclaimed Naperville Riverwalk Fine Art Fair and her artwork was used for their publicity posters. She currently is the “Spring Featured Artist” for The Morton Arboretum’s Nature Artists’ Guild and has artwork on exhibit there from April 14-16, 2023. (Visit https://natureartistsguild.com/featured-artist/spring-2023-featured-artist-patricia-mroczka/ for more info.)
You can view her Facebook page under Patricia Mroczka and can find a lot of her beautiful artwork images on line by looking up her name. We hope you can attend this program which is free and open to the public!
Art Journaling with April Schabes
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Colored Pencil Techniques with Phil Schorn
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Art Studio/Supply Organization with Colleen Klimczak
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Email: Colleen@PeaceOfMindPO.com
Website and Blog: http://www.PeaceOfMindPO.com
Podcast: Your Organized Life with Colleen Klimczak, CPO
Pinterest / Twitter: ColleenCPO
Instagram: Colleen.Klimczak - Facebook / Linked In:MColleenKlimczakCPO
Annual Show and Tell
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm
On January 11, 2023, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library, Show and Tell, where all attendees at this meeting will have an opportunity to share their creative endeavors.
This is a great opportunity to talk about what you are up to creatively, get some new ideas, constructive suggestions, meet other artists, and/or share about your plans for the future. You can also just come and watch and listen to what others are up to in their art worlds!
If you would like, feel free to bring your current project/sketchbook/journal/etc. and anything else that you want to "show and tell" about!
Past Programs:
2022
Figure Drawing
presented by Ellen Rottsolk
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Recording to Follow soon! Check back at a later date.
On November 16, 2022, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library, Ellen Rottsolk, who will give an interactive program on Figure Drawing. She will discuss the correlations that occur in the human figure, then put into practice, by drawing, some of these relationships and experience how they change and shift as the body moves. Please bring some drawing supplies you can utilize during her demonstration to watch and learn as you draw along with Ellen. These include a sketchbook or paper, charcoal and/or vine charcoal or black chalk, a kneaded eraser, a black pen, and markers and pencils if you like. Ellen will provide some extra vine charcoal and paper. Ellen believes drawing is a learned skill and there are important relationships between the body’s shapes that help us understand how to draw this form. She likes to use vine charcoal and charcoal as they smear to be able to achieve various levels of shading to enhance and bring to life the figure itself.
Ellen has Bachelors and Masters Degree in Art from Northern Illinois University. She has taught art in area high schools and now teaches fundamental drawing, figure drawing, portrait studies and pastel painting at DuPage Art League in Wheaton.
Astrophotography-Photography/Imagery of the Night Sky
presented by Jasonn Pellegrini
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 7:00 pm
IN PERSON at
Homer Township Public Library
14320 W. 151st Street
Homer Glen, IL 60491
708-301-7908
On October 12, 2022, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library, Jasonn Pellegrini, who will share his knowledge and photographic images in the field of Astrophotography which is the photographing of the night sky. This includes astronomical objects, outer space phenomena and events which can include images of the moon, sun, planets, asteroids, stars, and galaxies. Jasonn will bring outer space and the stars inside so we can see them for ourselves projected on the big screen in the library’s conference room!
Jasonn has always had a passion for photography. His portfolio includes landscape photography and he started focusing on Astrophotography during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Astronomy, in general, has also always been a passion of his and sharing his astrophotography images with the world lets him spread the wonder of space and time to everyone.
While by day, Jasonn is an electronic technician who repairs communication radios and other electronics, by night, he carries his technical expertise into his celestial photos by using special astrophotography techniques and equipment. The equipment he utilizes to take the photographs includes telescopes, lenses, mounts, various accessories, computer software, and his special camera which uses specific filters to cut out light pollution near the city and surrounding area. Since light pollution is always a struggle in the Chicago and surrounding area, with his expertise, techniques, and equipment he is still able to capture the beauty of the night sky. He has even attended the annual “Nebraska Star Party” near Valentine, NE under some of the darkest skies in the country where Astrophotographers get together and take incredible pictures with the Milky Way galaxy as their light. You can see more about the star party at https://www.nebraskastarparty.org/ and view this YouTube video at https://youtu.be/Fqk_AaxI5XY.
Connect with Jasonn and his images here: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Starlancer/,
https://www.instagram.com/starlancerastro/, https://www.artpal.com/jpastro
Kumihimo-The Art of Japanese Braiding
presented by Betty Burian Kirk
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 7:00 pm
On September 14, 2022, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library, the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library, Betty Burian Kirk, who will talk about Kumihimo Braiding which is a Japanese Braiding Technique. Betty will give a historic overview of how Kumihimo was brought to Japan and the connection to the Japanese Samurai Warriors. Various braiding techniques will be covered by Betty and an abundance of samples will be displayed. Betty will give a demonstration of how the braiding is done on a Marudai (pronounced mar-oo-dye) which is a round-top braiding stand used to make a wide variety of Kumihimo braids in many different forms such as round, square, rectangular, flat, triangular, and other polygonal shapes. (To learn more about the Marudai visit: https://amksoc.org/glossary/marudai/) Attendees present will be given a cardboard disk in which will Betty will guide them on a form of the Kumihimo braiding.
Betty studied art at Northern Illinois University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. She taught 13 years as an elementary school art teacher and three semesters as a college weaving instructor. She now teaches at regional and national fiber conferences and sells her handmade wearable fiber art at art shows in Illinois. Her website is www.bbkirk.com and she is a long time member and the Publicity/Newsletter Editor for the Lemont Artists Guild. For more information please visit: www.lemontartistsguild.org.
Image copyright Wes Douglas