"Two of the finest living practitioners of this art form are the artists behind Under the Magnifying Glass: Fifty Miniatures by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist,..." ~ Everyl Adair, Director of Research and Rare Collections at the R.W. Norton Art Gallery, Shreveport, LA, USA

"He's world famous as a miniaturist, and he's hailed as one of the finest living practitioners of the miniature art form. It was a real privilege to have him." ~ Narissa Steel, President of the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C., USA [Wes judged the Society's 77th International Exhibition]

"In my opinion, the most significant thing that has distinguished Wes and Rachelle Siegrist throughout these exhibitions has been their consistency, in terms of both quality and scale. No other artists that I have worked with have dedicated themselves exclusively to miniature format, while fewer yet have attained the degree of exquisite excellence attained by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist." ~ David J. Wagner, Author of American Wildlife Art and Curator/Tour Director for the Society of Animal Artists [Referring to over fifty paintings exhibited by Dr. Wagner as of 2008]

Siegrist Exhibition at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, Yadkinville, NC

Wes and Rachelle beside their exhibition on display at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, Yadkinville, NC

Our Biography:

Wes & Rachelle Siegrist capture the attention of viewers not with outstretched canvas but with miniature paintings so exquisitely rendered that they are often mistaken for photographs. Miniature art has been in existence for centuries and the current revival in its popularity has given rise to miniature art societies which in turn have given the Siegrists a platform for international recognition among peers and collectors. Their tiny treasures typically measure less than 9 square inches and appear even more detailed when viewed under magnification. Consequently, Wes and Rachelle Siegrist enjoy a dimension of interactivity with viewers that few painters of standard easel-size paintings enjoy. A hallmark of their work is the ability to convey the feel of larger canvases or the essence of the natural world in miniature. It is no small wonder, therefore, that the Siegrists have been referred to as "World Ambassadors for Miniature Art".

Wes and Rachelle Siegrist are members of The Society of Animal Artists, the Miniature Art Society of Florida, the Miniature Artists of America, the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, DC, the Cider Painters of America and the Hilliard Society of England. In addition, they are the authors of the world’s first standard definition of miniature art adopted by the Association of Miniature Artists.

Their book Exquisite Miniatures by Wes & Rachelle Siegrist accompanies a solo museum exhibition, Under the Magnifying Glass: Exquisite Miniatures by Wes & Rachelle Siegrist, which premiered at the prestigious R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport, LA in May of 2010. Their book The World of Nature in Miniature; Paintings by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist accompanied a solo museum exhibition by the same title which premiered at the West Baton Rouge Museum in Port Allen, LA in May of 2010 followed by a tour including the Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure in Salina, KS and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ.

The artists additionally have another museum exhibition tour featuring fifty of their miniature paintings that will run from 2011 thru 2013 and will include the following museums: Dunnegan Gallery of Art, Bolivar, MO; Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX; Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, Yadkinville, NC; Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City, MI; San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, CA; Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV; ArtCenter Manatee, Bradenton, FL and the Museum of the Gulf Coast, Port Arthur, TX. A comprehensive overview of the Siegrists' 2010-2013 nationally touring museum exhibition of their miniature paintings may be viewed by selecting the link to the left: Museum Exhibitions.

The Siegrists are both actively involved in leadership with the Miniature Artists of America Society (MAA), holding several Board Offices between them. In 2010, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the MAA, Wes published the book Modern Masters of Miniature Art in America as a comprehensive overview of the history and modern scope of miniature art.

The Artists regularly exhibit in major wildlife expositions and shows in the United States and currently participate in numerous international miniature art exhibitions. They have exhibited their miniatures in museum venues such as Birds in Art, Art of the Animal Kingdom, the Society of Animal Artists Annual Exhibitions and the Smithsonian Institution. They reside in Townsend, Tennessee beside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Rachelle and Wes Siegrist beside their work in the 49th Annual Art & the Animal Exhibition of the Society of Animal Artists at the Rolling Hills Wildlife Museum in Salina, KS. (2009)

Our Background:

Wes and Rachelle in 1990 in Miami, FL at the Beaux Arts Festival.

We are a husband and wife team that started our painting careers together back in 1990. Actually, it started in 1989 when Rachelle was one of Wes's students at the Highlands Art Museum in Sebring, Florida. Wes was smitten with her from the start and made promises of "teaching her how to paint" if she would simply marry him.
(It's a long and fun story but it will suffice to say that the two are crazy about each other and completely hooked on their careers as wildlife artists!)

We've been full-time artists from the start of our life together. Wes actually started his professional career in 1986 working as a freelance designer, cartoonist and teacher. From 1989 until 1999 Wes was an instructor at the Highlands Art Museum in Sebring, FL and he also taught at various galleries and art leagues. Our paintings featured wildlife, ships and portraiture in subject matter and varied in size from murals to miniatures. (miniatures in the sense of small paintings vs. the technique of painstakingly rendered tiny subjects). We've exhibited in over 670 art shows, galleries and museums thus far in our career and have received hundreds of awards between us .... it's always been a friendly competition!

We started our push into the National/ International Market of Wildlife Art and also Miniature art at roughly the same time (1996-1997). Wes stopped teaching in 1999 in order to devote more time to his paintings. We discontinued doing outdoor art shows completely in 2001 after we found out we could pay the bills without sitting in the 100+ heat and humidity, thunderstorms and even tornadoes!

Wes and Rachelle in 1993 at the Rain Barrel Art Festival on Islamorada Key in Florida.

We primarily paint for two reasons: Foremost, we absolutely love wildlife! Almost all of our work is a reflection of our experiences and interactions with wildlife in nature. Secondly, we love to paint! It's not just our career-it's our hobby and joy. We hope as you get to know us and our work, you'll develop a deeper love for wildlife and the beautiful outdoor world that surrounds us! We're also currently devoted to our cherished art form of "Art in the Little" and hope that our legacy will be our contribution to the genre with our paintings and assistance and inspiration to fellow miniature artists.

We live in Townsend, Tennessee adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Having such a natural treasure in our backyard is a dream come true. We love the hikes in the forest and the times we spend quietly sitting beside the Little River that runs through the Park and our peaceful community.

Our Curriculum Vitae:

CAREER ACTIVITY (Wes unless specified):

Intern for Gospel Publishing House 1988
Designer at advertising agency 1988-1989
Freelance Illustrator 1987-2000 (Rachelle: 1990-2000)
Vice President of the Highlands Museum of the Arts, Sebring, Florida - 1995
President of the Highlands Museum of the Arts and Highlands Art League, Sebring, Florida - 1996-1997
Rachelle: Gallery Manager of the Highlands Museum of the Arts and Highlands Art League, Sebring, Florida - 1995-1997
Moderator/Co-Moderator of The Yahoo Wildlife Art Forum (2001-2003)
Recipient of the AFC/WNAG Conservation Artist Award - December 2006 (Rachelle: January 2007)
Board Member for the Society of Animal Artists 2012 to date
Exhibition Coordinator for the Miniature Artists of America 2007 to 2013
Archivist and Historian for the Miniature Artists of America 2008 to date
Liaison/Committee for the 2016 World Federation of Miniaturists Exhibition 2011 to date
Rachelle: Membership Chairperson for the Miniature Artists of America 2009 to 2012
Rachelle: 1995 State Crawfish Stamp Artist, Florida
Instructor:
Taught college level beginning ceramics 1988
Teacher in various mediums at the Highlands Art Museum and various Galleries (adult and children’s classes) 1988-1999 (Rachelle: 1990-1999)
Demonstrator at the International Miniature Art Show, [MASF] 2003, 2004, 2009 (Both Artists)
Demonstrator at the 3rd World Exhibition of Fine Art Miniatures, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (Both Artists)
2006 Instructor/Demonstrator for the SKB Foundation Workshop
2010 Children’s art classes in conjunction with the World of Nature in Miniature Exhibition venue at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Salina, KS (Both Artists)
2011 Workshop/Demonstration in conjunction with the 5th Annual Miniature Fine Art Show at Artistic Designs Gallery (Both Artists)
Lecturer 1990 to date including:
1999-2001 career day speaker at Okeechobee, FL high school
July, 2010 - R.W. Norton Art Gallery "The History of Miniature Art and the Scope of the Modern Movement"
July, 2010 - West Baton Rouge Museum "The History of Miniature Art and the Scope of the Modern Movement"
August, 2010 - Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure "The History of Miniature Art and the Scope of the Modern Movement"
May, 2011 - Woolaroc Museum "The History of Miniature Art and the Scope of the Modern Movement"
July, 2011 - Ward Museum "The History of Miniature Art and the Scope of the Modern Movement"
September, 2011 - Yadkin Cultural Arts Center "Why So Tiny: The History of Miniature Art and the Challenges of Working In the Genre"
Judge and Juror for various art shows and exhibits 1990 to date including:
2000, 2010 Juror of Selection for the MASF International Miniature Art Exhibition (Both Artists)
2005, 2009 Jury of Admissions for the Miniature Artists of America (Rachelle: 2005, 2008, 2011)
2009 Juror of Selection for the SAA Small Works Exhibition (Both Artists)
2010 Awards Juror for Parklane Gallery’s 18th International Miniature Show (Both Artists)
2010 Awards Juror for the 77th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, MPSGS
2010 MAA America Award Judge (At MASF)(Both Artists)
Webmaster:
American Wildlife Art, 2010 to date
ArtoftheAmazon.com (Richard Sloan), 2001-2002
The Association of Miniature Artists, 2009 to date
Cadescoveart.com (Fred Weiser), 2000 to date
The City of Townsend, TN, 2002 to 2011
David J. Wagner, L.L.C., 2011 to date
The Hilliard Society, Assistant Webmaster, 2002-2011
The Miniature Art Society of Florida, 2005 to date
The Miniature Artists of America, 2005 to date
Paintingsofwildlife.com (Janet N. Heaton), 2000 to date
The Society of Animal Artists, 2001 to date
The Southern Wildlife Festival, 2000 to 2008
The Susan K. Black Foundation, 2004 to 2011
Author (Books)
Exquisite Miniatures by Wes & Rachelle Siegrist, 2008
The World of Nature in Miniature; Paintings by Wes & Rachelle Siegrist, 2009
Modern Masters of Miniature Art in America, 2010
Illustrator (Books)
Big Water, VOL I-IV, 1992-1998
The Realm of the Panther, 1999
Editor/Publisher (Books)
Miniature Artists of America Traveling Exhibition Catalogue, 2008
Art of the Dive/Portraits of the Deep, 2011