Wes & Rachelle Siegrist

"Tiny Treasures of the Natural World"

"Our Artist Statements"

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	Demonstrating our miniature painting techniques to artists, collectors and the public in the International gallery at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (June 2004).
	"The best part of being a wildlife artist is bringing people into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world through my work." WATERCOLORIST RACHELLE SIEGRIST uses her paintings to draw individuals intimately close to the beauty of wildlife in their world. Her passion for conservation stems from an inability to conceive of life without wildlife. She strives to convey the simple backyard beauty around each of us in such a way that no one would again take it for granted. Her efforts are realized each time an admirer walks off and notices the natural beauty rushing up around them. The permeating peace that results from walking down a trail through the woods quietly observing nature in its natural, untouched setting, is to the artist the primary message she desires her work to convey to the viewer.
	"The best part of being a wildlife artist is when I leave behind the hassles of framing, pricing and color choices to step into the serenity of the wilderness. The sounds, scents and play of light in the forest are ever cascading waves of inspiration begging reflection in my work." WATERCOLORIST WES SIEGRIST describes his wildlife paintings as a reflective attempt to capture nature's awesome majesty and intricate details...an effort never to be realized as each observation only reveals more hidden beauty. He strives to record the actual setting and atmosphere of the field inspiration by working from observation and personal photographs. The Artist prefers watercolor for a medium due to it's elusive and often surprising character reflective of nature itself. Both of the Siegrists are able to evoke a response in wildlife enthusiasts through their subtle usage of color, mood and composition to momentarily capture wildlife’s elusive essence. The Artists love to push vibrant color and detail in their work. For the Siegrists "the purpose of our art is twofold; to illustrate our personal wildlife interactions and hopefully inspire similar encounters for our viewers. Our work has merit only so far as one perceives the actual reality behind it." Wes & Rachelle Siegrist travel and exhibit throughout the United States and send their paintings to exhibits internationally. Both Artists are members of The Society of Animal Artists, The Miniature Art Society of Florida, The Hilliard Society of England, The Miniature Artists of America, The World Federation of Miniaturists, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington, DC and The Cider Painters of America. They are both avid conservationists and birders in their personal lives spending equal time in the wild as in the "office". Their home/ studio is located in Townsend, Tennessee where they enjoy vegetable/ flower gardening and spending time in the adjacent Smoky Mountains. Their "family" is comprised of Spike, a cockatiel, as well as numerous tropical fish.
	Rachelle with our friend, Tim Walsh, Senior Herpetologist at the Tennessee Aquarium, playing with a Leaf-tailed Gecko. Tim was one of Wes's airbrush students back in the early 90's. (photo 2004)