Miniature Paintings of African Animals!
By Rachelle Siegrist
This week has brought cold weather, along with perfect conditions for spending time at the easel! While Wes has spent much of his time dealing with SAA website issues, I have been painting away. I’ve started a new series entitled “African Gems” consisting of several miniature paintings featuring various African mammals, measuring roughly only one inch in diameter! Each painting will have the brilliant gold background, lending to the gemlike appearance. Although I’m enjoying painting these wee animals, I’m facing numerous challenges as well, that comes with the territory of painting so minutely! Signing my name has become THE major task with these, and there seems to be a breakdown in communication between my mind and hand when trying to do so . . . Ha Ha!
Painting the giraffe has been particularly fun, as I recall to mind a documentary we recently watched, featuring a small hotel that is home to a herd of Rothschild Giraffes. Now the special thing about this colonial-era mansion is that the giraffes actually stick their heads and long necks inside the windows, in search of treats which are fed by hand! You can also watch and feed them while relaxing on the beautiful patio outside. “I want to go there!” I exclaimed to Wes as we watched it, imagining what a truly amazing experience that would be for a giraffe lover such as myself!
Meanwhile in the real world, the days continue to grow shorter, but I know quite soon they will start growing longer again. So for now when darkness falls outside, on come the Christmas lights inside the house, creating that warm glow that we really enjoy this time of year! Blessed with a beautiful day this past week, we did slip in a short hike to a nearby waterfall. Hiking a little further than normal, we found another small falls after carefully crawling down a steep section of mountainside. Long icicles beautifully framed the falling water, while moss covered rocks totally encased in ice, lay scattered at the bottom! It was a perfectly peaceful place for a banana and a short time away from it all.
~ Fresh off the Easels ~
This week brought more easel time and while I’m currently working on my “African Gems” miniature paintings, I finished this landscape painting of an Great Egret we photographed while kayaking one evening, during a visit to the Outer Banks. This painting will debut at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition this February. Wes is also painting on a composition featuring Bison in Yellowstone and we have a couple of commissions currently at the sketch stage, which we’ll share once the gifts have been given!
~ Learn How to Commission A Painting by Us Clicking Here ~
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Until next time . . .
~ Rachelle
Under the Magnifying Glass 
Such fun to read your blogs! The best for the season and the New Year ahead! Fondly, Linda & Don
I’m so glad you’re enjoying them Linda and Don! Wes and I have had such fun sharing stories about our wonderful evening at your beautiful home!!
We wish you both a very Merry Christmas and a delightful New Year too 😊
Wonderful. The paintings are excellent. I find the painting of the giraffe te most beautiful.
Thank you Annie!! I am having such fun currently painting on the Giraffe 😊