Wes & Rachelle Siegrist

"Tiny Treasures of the Natural World"

Monthly Newsletters

MINIATURE PAINTINGS: African Birds Birds of Prey Butterflies Florals Gamebirds Landscapes Mammals Portraits Reptiles Songbirds Larger\|Older Reproductions HIGHLIGHTS: Biography Exhibits Statements Resumes Galleries Publications Newsletters History Awards Framing Sitemap CONTACT: Order Testimonials siegrist@artofwildlife.com	Wes observes and photographs Sea Lions at La Jolla Cove.	Rachelle was not expecting to need to wear her coat in sunny southern California and like the song she found CA cold and damp. We did have a few days of lovely sunny weather...while we were inside during the show!
	(L to R) Gary Johnson, Rachelle, Wes, Lee Kromschroeder, Dennis Curry and Lindsey Foggett. Part of our group that spent the day exploring the San Diego Wild Animal Park and we did have some sun in the afternoon.
	(L to R) Diane Bruckner, Carol Heiman-Greene, (back)Gary Johnson, Rachelle, Dennis Curry, Lee Kromschroeder, and Leslie Kirchner at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
	News Highlights: * Shows: Both of us had works juried into the Society of Animal Artists 48th Annual Exhibition. We'll be adding some additional shows into our schedule over the summer.
	Inside Lee Kromschroeder's studio. Lee is just a tad less organized than we are! (And to to set record straight we saw no chickens while we were there.)	Rachelle with Florence and Gary Johnson inside Gary's studio.
	Interesting Updates: * We have been accepted into several new shows so please check the exhibit schedule for one near you! * On the easels: Rachelle is currently finishing a commissioned portrait and Wes is working on a turkey.
	Wes explores the trails at Torrey Pines State Park.	Rachelle poses with a view of the Pacific Ocean at Torrey Pines.
	Rachelle in Balboa Park in San Diego.	Rachelle playing with Gary's African Grey, Jako.
	Our Recent Memory Makers: • We're an Aunt and Uncle again! This time it's from Rachelle's side of the family with the birth of Tyler Jackson Davis! Way to go Marshall and Alicia! • Highlights From Our Trip to Southern California: DAY 1, Thursday - We arrived to sunny California around noon and spent our first day visiting the Pacific and taking some scenic drives along the coast. We were impressed with all the beautiful flowers everywhere. We drove up to Fallbrook and located a nice nature preserve where we walked around for an hour or so spotting several new birds. DAYS 2, 3 & 4, the weekend - Show set up was easy and fun and a grand reunion with all the friends we had not seen in many months...some years! Our work had arrived safely with a sole magnifier being lost to damage. The show had arranged for us to stay with a host family and we were told that our hosts we're out of the country but we'd be sharing the home with Dave and Carol Rojas, fellow artists...and new found friends. Wow, what a lovely home with a 360 degree view from one of the mountain tops. The air and water were too cold for the pool so we spent our free time talking with Dave and Carol and especially enjoyed birdwatching along the drive each morning before the show. DAY 5, Monday - Our hotel was mere yards from the Ocean with a grand view down to the beach. We went on walks down the beach at every opportunity finding the bluffs just unbelievable. We visited Lee Kromschroeder's studio during the morning before piling into his mini van with Dennis and Gary to meet the rest of our gang at the Wild Animal Park. Thousands of photographs were being taken by us and the gang with tales of the best shots being taken before we arrived. (we were in no way disappointed with those we managed to take!) We finally convinced the guys that it was 4:30 EST time and way past our lunch so we grabbed a sandwich on a veranda under warm sunny skies. That evening many of us went to Jake's in Del Mar to celebrate Lee's wife's, Mary, birthday. The restaurant was located directly on the beach so we all experienced a gorgeous sunset during dessert. DAY 6, Tuesday - This had to be our favorite day with the visit to La Jolla Cove to watch the Sea Lions and spending most of the day hiking the trails and bluffs at Torrey Pines State Park. We had no sooner remarked that we wished we'd see a Roadrunner when one came out on the path directly in front of us! The time went by too quickly and we ended the day visting with Gary and Florence in their lovely home in Encinitas which we capped off with a delicious dinner at Roxy's restaurant. DAY 7, Wednesday - We spent our final day in California at the San Diego Zoo by ourselves. The forecast for clearing skies and warmer temps had us leave the bulky jackets so we nearly froze all day especially in the heavily wooded areas of the Zoo. It was everything we had been told and we were continually amazed and delighted at every new turn. The aviaries had to be our favorites although the insect and reptile displays always keep us busy for a few hours. Right as the Zoo was about to close one of the curators treated the two of us to a sneak peak at the upcoming army ant display. They had only been in their new habitat a matter of hours and had already stipped bare most of the vegetation near their home. We ended the day by walking through Balboa Park. Sadly we arrived an hour too late to take in the museums as we were particularly interested in a miniature display we had been told about during the show. •Our vegetable garden is really growing and we should be eating fresh peas and beans soon. •Card games, bike rides and get-togethers with friends and neighbors happen several times each week and are nice diversions from staring at the easels.
	Our new nephew, Tyler. We're eager to see him in person.	Rachelle enjoys the Pacific Ocean and now understands why the surfers wear wet suits!
	A highlight for us in our career is all the wonderful people we meet that become such dear friends. The CA trip allowed us the pleasure of finally meeting in person one of our online friends, Diane Bruckner.	Diane caught us during a slow time in the show forming a back rub train.
	Critter Encounters: * Yard Bird List: 96. We did add the following birds and critters to our life encounters during our recent trip to California: Birds - Western Grebe, Western Scrub Jay (coastal), Townsend's Warbler, California Towhee, Wrentit, Western Bluebird, California Thrasher, Spotted Towhee, Hooded Oriole, Brandt's Comorant, California Quail, Wandering Tattler, Heerman's Gull, Greater Road Runner, Black Phoebe, Costa's Hummingbird, Western Gull. Critters - California Sea Lion, California Fox Squirrel, Brush Rabbit, California Ground Squirrel, Stink Beetle and several others we didn't have a chance to identify during our hikes.
	Our yard is really enjoyed by the Pileated Woodpeckers who particularly enjoy the old logs we use to line our paths in the woods.	Some of our Azaleas and Peonies in the front yard this past month.
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