Wes & Rachelle Siegrist

"Tiny Treasures of the Natural World"

Monthly Newsletters

PAINTINGS: African Birds Birds of Prey Butterflies Florals Gamebirds Landscapes Mammals Portraits Reptiles Songbirds Reproductions HIGHLIGHTS: Biography Exhibits Statements Resumes Galleries Publications Newsletters Information about Miniatures Awards and Honors Framed Samples Sitemap: Many Surprises! CONTACT: Order Testimonials from Collectors Email us! - siegrist@artofwildlife.com
	Posing by a stream in the Chimney Tops picnic area with our dear friends Jan and Kermit Fetters. Jan was a fellow instructor with Wes at the Highlands Art Museum in the 1990's.
	News: * Wes has changed the layout of the website again to make all the various sections have the same navigation links. This issue of our monthly newsletter has also been changed in format to adopt the same navigation links. There's still several pages that can be accessed only via the sitemap. These pages are more personal in nature or more specific to "inside info" on our business such as step by step paintings and our studio. * We've been juried into several new shows so the exhibit schedule has been updated. Hopefully we'll be adding some more shows soon.
	Rachelle and Karryl, a fellow wildlife artist/ sculptor, try to see who can take the most photographs of a gorgeous toad that we found along the trail.	Wes and Karryl, examine and photograph more of the wildflowers on the Chestnut Tops Trail here in Townsend.
	Interesting Updates: * On the easels: Rachelle is currently working on a pair of doves and Wes is painting a pair of sanderlings. Both of us are trying to build up more inventory for various shows during our "off season".
	Rachelle and Karryl become totally enthralled with their own reflections in the glass at one of the zoo displays.
	Our Adventures: * We've had company stay with us or visit with us weekly over the last month and a half so we've been busy playing tourist and tour guide. In between we've been working in our gardens and yard as well as doing some house projects. (Yes, we're still painting several days each week too or out in the woods gathering reference for future paintings. * Some of our fun activities: Dollywood, The Drive-In movie, a picnic party in Cades Cove with about 25 of our neighbors and friends including a ride around the Loop Road watching wildlife, playing Canasta with our neighbors, hiking the Chestnut Tops Trail, driving up to Newfound Gap, going to the Knoxville Zoo again and seeing the exhibits at the Knoxville Museum of Art. What a treat that they had Himalayan miniature paintings on display!
	Critter Encounters: * Yard Bird List: 90 species. * We've enjoyed having the Purple Finches back at our feeders (see photo). The House Finches are now back in number and our Goldfinches have returned to their brilliant yellow plumage. A special treat this past month was two male Indigo Buntings. * We have Eastern Bluebirds, Song Sparrows, Carolina Chickadees and House Wrens nesting in the yard. We had the pleasure one afternoon of watching our rabbit build a nest inside our raspberry bushes. Wes was also delighted one morning to see a baby chipmunk running around in the driveway. * Yard battle update: The squirrels penetrated the peanut feeder defense system which has now been reinforced. A raccoon also managed to break into Fort Knox (what we affectionately call our buttress of wire and wood used as a compost). Wes spent several hours beefing up the security while still making it easy for us to use dumping scraps and yard debris. We know it's only a matter of time before the entire yard defense is breached by a bear...but until that day we appear to have the upper hand again.
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