GA_091919

glencoeanchordaily.com life & arts
the glencoe anchor | September 19, 2019 | 19
Nearly 200 pieces on
display at NSAL art show
Eric DeGrechie
Managing Editor
Susie Williams enjoys
creating art. The works
of the Wilmette botanical
artist have been shown
and sold at juried exhibitions
across the country
over the last decade.
While Williams is proud
of seeing the fruits of her
labor on display, she does
admit the beginning phase
of creation can be challenging.
“The most difficult
stage is to start,” Williams
said. “First, I decide on
my palate, mix my colors
and try them out on
a watercolor scrap of paper,
comparing them to
the actual specimen. Then
I delineate form on my
painting by using lights
and darks first. If the form
isn’t right, the painting
isn’t right. Lights and
darks give the specimen
depth, preventing a flat
painting.”
Williams is a member
of the North Shore Art
League. The organization’s
95th Annual Members’
Art Show began
Sept. 6 at the Winnetka
Community House, 620
Lincoln Ave. The show
runs through Sept. 30.
“This stellar art display
showcases the work of
over 100 of our member
artists and NSAL faculty
whose talents and support
have sustained the
organization for over nine
decades,” said Linda Nelson,
executive director
of the NSAL. “The vast
array of talent, mediums
and subject matter make
this show a must-see exhibit
of over 180 pieces.”
A members’ show benefit
reception and preview
party was held Sept. 6.
Guests were the first to
browse among the outstanding
fine art in the
gallery space on the first
and second floors of the
Winnetka Community
House.
“The NSAL considers
this exhibition its major
event and benefit of the
year,” Nelson said.
Williams is also a longtime
member of the Philanthropic
Educational
Organization’s Wilmette
chapter. P.E.O. is an international
organization that
provides education grants,
scholarships and loans.
Williams majored in art
in college but spent her
career over decades teaching
in those with learning
disabilities, most recently
at DePaul University. It
was after retiring from
teaching that she returned
to her love of art.
Having always been
drawn to nature, she focuses
her art on botanicals.
“I enjoy the details that
they require,” Williams
said. “It is important to
note the difference between
what I do — which
is botanical art that focuses
on details and accuracy
and can include imperfections
— and botanical illustration,
that has a scientific
purpose and acts as
Local artists at NSAL
show
• Jennifer Black,
Glencoe
• Susan Holtz,
Glencoe
• Cathy Naro, Glencoe
• Sally Wille, Glencoe
a record of a plant specimen.”
Williams can take up to
three weeks — painting
around four hours a day,
five or six days a week —
to complete a single painting.
Her paintings range
from flowers and bulbs to
birds’ nests to fruits and
vegetables. William’s original
paintings and drawings
can be seen on her
website: www.susiewilliamsbotanicalart.com.
To learn more about
P.E.O., its educational
philanthropies and to
view stories of women
who have benefited from
the programs, visit peointernational.org.
Proceeds for the NSAL
art show will be dedicated
to funding NSAL operations
and annual scholarship
programs recognizing
the achievements of area
high school art students.
The League is a 501(c)
(3) organization. Gallery
hours for the show are
9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. For
more information regarding
the Members’ Show or
classes, please contact the
North Shore Art League
office at (847) 446-2870
or e-mail at info@northshoreartleague.org.
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2
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Wilmette
artist
Susie
Williams
shows
off her
original
greeting
card
creation.
Photo
submitted
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