BIOGRAPHY
Although nature is the greatest influence for my art, any subject matter can challenge me and become an inspiration for a painting or artistic expression. I paint in acrylics, watercolor and colored pencil. I also enjoy experimenting and playing with mixed media which can sometimes give me the textural effect I aim to portray in a painting. Although I intermittently paint on a larger scale, I especially enjoy the intimacy and focus on my subjects that for me can best be attained by painting or drawing in minute fine detail.
While working as an editorial assistant in the medical and scientific communities early in my business career, I was exposed to medical and natural science illustration. I joined the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (based at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.), of which I was a member for over ten years; I also studied botanical illustration at the University of California, Berkeley. I attribute this past training in attention to detail for the expertise and passion I have in painting in miniature today.
The inspiration for my subject matter is influenced by my day-to-day lifestyle living in rural Northern California for the last 40+ years--currently living on the rugged Mendocino coast and having previously lived on a small farm in the Sierra Nevada foothills where we still visit frequently. My husband and I try to take several trips a year traveling the back roads of the U.S. and Canada, most often the Western U.S. and the Pacific Northwest, although we have taken several road trips across the US and Canada as far east and north as the northernmost tip of Newfoundland and as far to the southeast as the Florida Keys. Cameras are always in hand whenever we are on the road as I try to use as many of my own photo references as possible. I am also very grateful to the professional photographers who are willing to share some of their extraordinary photographs to use as references with artists, some of which fill in the gaps of places I have visited or sights I have seen but could not capture on camera a particular image on my own.
Travels in the Southwest U.S. have also led me to another passion--Southwest Indigenous Art, particularly studying ancient peoples, their ancestral homes and their pottery. This interest has led me to a hobby of creatively utilizing our own farm-grown gourds--please check out the Gourds page here on this website.
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Professional Memberships:
- Association of Miniature Artists
- Miniature Art Society of Florida
- Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington, D.C.
- Heartland Art Guild
- International Community of Miniature Artists
- Colored Pencil Society of America
Participant in the following Exhibits/Juried Shows:
2025--
- January 19-February 9: Forty-Eighth Annual International Miniature Art Show, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Gallery at Creative Pinellas, Largo, FL.
2024--
- January 14-February 4: Forty-Seventh Annual International Miniature Art Show, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL.
- March 1-March 31: Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, Innova Art Gallery, Mobile, AL.
- March 2-March 23: The Elizabeth Sprecht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery, Mariposa, CA.
- May 4-June 1: The 33rd International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- July 1-July 26: 19th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings and Sculptures Art Show, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola, KS.
- July 3-August 2: 32nd Annual International Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
- August 3-August 4: Art in the Gardens, Juried Acceptance for Participation, Mendocino Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg, CA
- November 1-December 21: Council for the Arts 40th Annual Juried Exhibition Miniature Art 2024, Chambersburg, PA. (Honorable Mention)
- November 8-January 3, 2025: 2024 Winter Show of Small Works, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA. (Special Recognition by Board of Directors)
- November 23-January 11, 2025: The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS) 91st Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, The Mansion at Strathmore, North Bethesda, MD.
2023--
- January 15-February 5: Forty-Eighth Annual International Miniature Art Show, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs, FL.
- March 1-March 31: The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, Innova Art Gallery, Mobile, AL. (Merit Award)
- March 6-March 26: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery, Mariposa, CA. (Second Place, Seascape)
- April 29-May 27: 32nd International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- June 28-August 6: 31st Annual International Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
- July 3-July 28: 18th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings & Sculptures Art Show, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola, KS.
- November 3-December 23: Council for the Arts 39th Annual Juried Exhibition of Miniature Art, Chambersburg, PA.
- November 8-December 31: 2023 Annual Winter Show of Small Works and Miniatures, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
- November 18-January 13, 2024: The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. 90th Anniversary Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature (MPSGS).
- January 16-February 6: Forty-Seventh Annual International Miniature Art Show, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL
- March 1-March 31: The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, Innova Art Gallery, Mobile, AL.
- March 7-March 27: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery, Mariposa, CA.
- April 30-May 28: 31st International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- June 27-July 29: 17th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings & Sculptures Art Show, Paola, KS.
- July 5-July 31: 30th Annual International Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
- September 16-November 4: Council for the Arts 38th Annual Juried Exhibition Miniature Art, Chambersburg, PA.
- November 9-December 31: Parklane Gallery 2022 Winter Show of Small Works and Miniatures, Kirkland, WA.
- November 19-January 7, 2023: 89th International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS). (Third Place Award, Watermedia)
- May 1-May 31: 30th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- June 28-July 30: 16th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings & Sculptures Art Show, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola, KS.
- October 1-November 6: 37th Annual Exhibition Miniature Art 2021, Council for the Arts, Chambersburg, PA.
- November 4-December 31: Parklane Gallery 2021 Winter Show of Miniature Art, Kirkland, WA.
- November 21-January 8, 2022: 88th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS)
- January 19-February 9: Forty-Fifth Annual International Miniature Art Show, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL.
- January 23-February 9: Snow Goose Festival Art Exhibit, Museum of Northern California Art (monca), Chico, CA.
- March 9-29: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniature in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery, Mariposa, CA.
- May 2-30: 29th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- November 1-January 2: Parklane Gallery 2020 Winter Show of Small Works and Miniatures, Kirkland, WA
- November 22-January 9: 87th International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS) (Second Place Award, Acrylics)
- January 20-February 10: Forty-Fourth Annual International Miniature Art Show, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon 'Springs, FL.
- March 2-April 2: Alabama Miniature Art Society's The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, Ashland Gallery, Mobile, AL. (Ashland Gallery Award).
- March 11-31: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery, Mariposa, CA (Third Place Award).
- April 30-June 2: 27th Annual International Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
- May 4-June 1: 28th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- July 1-August 2: 15th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings & Sculptures Art Show, Paola, KS.
- November 17-January 5, 2020: 86th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS)
- January 14-February 4: Forty-Third Annual International Miniature Art Show, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL.
- February 1-28: Sulphur Springs Valley 21st International Miniature & Small Works Show, Art League of Willcox, Willcox, AZ, (People's Choice Award)
- March 1-30: Alabama Miniature Art Society's The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, Mobile Arts Council, Mobile, AL.
- March 5-25: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery, Mariposa, CA.
- May 1-June 3: 26th Annual International Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
- May 5-June 2: 27th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- July 2-August 3: 14th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings & Sculptures Art Show, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola, KS.
- October 4-November 4: 35th Annual North American Miniature Art Exhibition, The Art Gallery of Fells Point on the Avenue, Baltimore, MD. (Second Place Award)
- November 2-January 4, 2019: 34th Annual Exhibition Miniature Art 2018, The Council for the Arts of Chambersburg, PA.
- November 18-January 6, 2019: 85th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C.
- January 15-February 5: Forty-Second Annual International Miniature Art Show, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs, FL.
- February 1-28: Sulphur Springs Valley 20th International Miniature & Small Works Show, The Art League of Willcox and the Willcox Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture, Willcox, AZ.
- March 1-April 1: Alabama Miniature Art Society, The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, Mobile, AL. (Second Place Award)
- March 20-April 2: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery, Mariposa, CA.
- April 6-April 23: Miniature Art Exhibition, Ridge Art Association, Winter Haven, FL.
- May 6-June 3: 26th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- July 3-August 4: 13th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings & Sculptures Art Show, Paola, Kansas.
- October 5-November 5: 34th North American Miniature Art Exhibition, The Art Gallery of Fells Point on the Avenue, Baltimore, MD., (Honorable Mention)
- November 19-January 6, 2018: 84th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C.
- November 3-January 5, 2018: 33rd Annual Exhibition Miniature Art 2017, The Council for the Arts of Chambersburg, PA
- November 19-December 30: Miniatures: “Little by Little”, Waterworks Art Museum, Miles City, MT
- January 16-January 22: 25th Annual Miniature Art Show, MonDak Heritage Heritage Center, Sidney, MT
- January 17-February 7: Miniature Art Society of Florida, Forty-First Annual International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL
- February 1st-29th: Sulphur Springs Valley, 19th International Miniature and Small Works Art Show, The Art League of Will Cox, Arizona and the Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture
- February 25-March 20: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery and the Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures. (First Place, Landscapes)
- March 1-April 1: Alabama Miniature Art Society's The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, Cathedral Square Gallery, Mobile, AL
- April 30-May 30: 25th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC
- May 3-June 5: 24th International Juried Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA
- June 27-July 29: 12th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings & Sculptures Art Show, Paola, KS
- July 23-August 27: Artistic Designs Gallery 10th Annual Miniature Fine Art Show, Brownsburg, IN
- October 5th-30th: 33rd Annual American Miniature Art Exhibition, The Art Gallery of Fells Point, Baltimore, MD.(Honorable Mention)
- November 4-January 6, 2017: 32nd Annual Exhibition Miniature Art, The Council for the Arts, Chambersburg, PA.
- November 20-December 31: 83rd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Engravers Society of Washington, D.C.
- January 18-February 15: Miniature Art Society of Florida, 40th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs, Florida
- March 1-March 28: Alabama Miniature Art Society's The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, Cathedral Square Gallery, Mobile, AL (AMAS Choice Award)
- March 3-March 22: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa, Sierra Artists Gallery and the Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures (Honorable Mention)
- April 28-May 31: 23rd Annual International Juried Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA
- May 2-May 30: 24th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC
- May 1-May 31: 16th Annual National Miniature Art Show, Prairie Winds Art Center, Grand Island, NE (Honorable Mention)
- June 29-August 1: 11th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniatures Art Show, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola, KS
- July 11-August 22: Artistics Designs Gallery 9th Annual Miniature Fine Art Show, Brownsburg, IN
- October 1-November 1, 2015: 32nd Annual North American Miniature Art Exhibition, The Art Gallery of Fells Point, Baltimore, MD
- November 22-January 3, 2016: The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. 82nd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature (Honorable Mention)
- November 6-January 8, 2016: The Council for the Arts of Chambersburg, PA, 31st Annual Exhibition Miniature Art (Honorable Mention)
- January 19-February 9: Miniature Art Society of Florida, 39th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, Florida
- May 1-May 31: 15th Annual National Miniature Art Show, Prairie Winds Art Center, Grand Island, NE
- May 3-May 31: 23rd International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC
- June 28-July 26th: Artistic Designs Gallery 8th Annual Miniature Fine Art Show, Brownsburg, IN
- June 30-August 2: 10th Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniatures Art Show, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola, KS
- July: Featured Artist, Artists of River Town Art Gallery, Oroville, CA
- September: Artists of River Town 2014 Juried Show, Water: Life, Oroville, CA
- October: 31st Annual North American Miniature Art Exhibition, The Art Gallery of Fells Point, Baltimore, MD.
- November 15-16: 26th Annual Lake Wildwood Craft Faire, Lake Wildwood, Penn Valley, CA
- November 23-January 4, 2015: The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS) 81st Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature.
- January 20- February 10: 38th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs, Florida, Miniature Art Society of Florida
- January 12th-February 8th: Members Show, Chico Arts Center, Chico, CA
- March 5-March 24: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa Exhibition, Mariposa, CA (Award: Third Place, Landscapes)
- April 11-April 28: Ridge Art Association Gallery's Miniature Exhibition, Winter Haven, FL
- April 30-June 2: 21st Annual International Juried Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA
- May 1-June 1: Twenty-Second International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC
- July 1-August 3: 9th Annual Heartland Art Guild Miniatures Art Show, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola, KS
- July 13-August 24: Artistic Designs Gallery 7th Annual Miniature Fine Art Show, Brownsburg, IN
- October 4-27: Rehoboth Art League, The Miniatures Show, Henlopen Acres, DE
- October 9-November 3: 30th Annual North American Miniature Art Exhibition, The Art Gallery of Fell's Point, Baltimore, MD
- November 1-January 3: 29th Annual Exhibition Miniature Art 2013, Council for the Arts, Chambersburg, PA
- November 25-January 4, 2014: The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS) 80th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature
- November 29-December 1: The Crocker Art Museum and the Creative Arts League's Crocker Art & Craft Festival 2013, Sacramento, CA
2012 --
- January: 37th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, Florida, Miniature Art Society of Florida.
- January: Annual Members Show, Artists of River Town, ART Gallery, Oroville,CA
- February 27-March 24: Members Show, Chico Arts Center, Chico, CA
- March 1-March 31: The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show, 4th Annual Show, Alabama Miniature Art Society at Cathedral Square Gallery, Mobile, Alabama
- April 28-June 2: 21st International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC
- April 28-May 26: ART Gallery, Oroville, CA
- May 8-June 3: 20th Annual International Juried Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA
- July 14-August 25: Artistic Designs Gallery 6th Annual Miniature Fine Art Show, Brownsburg, IN
- August 17-August 26: Twenty-ninth Annual Juried Art Show for Standard and Miniature Art, the Roswell Fine Arts League/New Mexico Miniature Arts Society, Roswell, NM
- October: The Art Gallery of Fells Point, 29th Annual North American Miniature Art Exhibition, Baltimore, MD
- (Honorable Mention)
- November 19-December 29: The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. 79th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature
- January: 36th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, Florida, Miniature Art Society of Florida
- January: Annual Members Show, Artists of River Town, ART Gallery, Oroville, CA
- March: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniature Show, sponsored by The Sierra Artists' Gallery and Northern California Society of Miniature Art, Mariposa, CA
- April 30-June 4: 20th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC
- May 3-June 7: 19th Annual International Juried Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA
- June 4: Oroville Area Art Tour, display location at the Grey Fox Winery & Vineyard, Oroville, CA
- August 28: Featured Artist, Ishi Centennial Celebration 1911-2011, Butte County Historical Society, Oroville.
- September 24: Salmon Festival, Artists of River Town, Oroville, CA.
- October 22-November 17: Artistic Designs Gallery, 5th Annual Miniature Fine Art Show, Brownsburg, IN.
2010 --
- January: Members Show, Chico Arts Center, Chico, CA
- April: Featured Artist, ART Gallery, Oroville, CA
- May: El Dorado Fine Arts Gallery Annual Juried Miniatures Art Show,
- Colorado Springs, CO
- July: Heartland Art Guild, Paola, KS
- August: New Mexico Miniature Art Society’s Annual Art Show,
- Roswell Museum and Art Center, NM
- October: Oroville 8th Annual Perry Mason Days “Mystery” Juried Art
- Show, Artists of River Town, Oroville, CA
- October: 2nd Annual Little Washington Miniatures Painting Exhibition,
- Washington, VA
- November: Gateway to the Rockies Art Exhibit and Miniature Show,
- Aurora History Museum, Aurora, Colorado
miniart.wordpress.com/The artwork that is identified as miniature has been painted according to the miniart.wordpress.com/Association of Miniature Artists guidelines.
Given the historical foundation of traditional miniature art, I strive to understand it better for the promotion, preservation and advancement of the art form.
Given the perplex multiple definitions of the term Miniature today, I choose to adhere to the following tenets to describe and distinguish traditional miniature work and, when possible, will adhere to them in creating, displaying, and marketing artwork as a "miniature."
Given my concern for the future of the miniature art form I will do my best to educate artists and the public about the historical and current miniature art movement, contribute work to the exhibitions and volunteer when possible with the existing societies, shows and online forums as interaction with fellow artists is key to better understanding and continued advancement of the genre. My membership in the AMA will continue as long as I work in the miniature art genre and adhere with the statement and tenets.
If you are interested in the history of miniature art or just want to learn more about the fine art of miniatures, please check out the website for the Association of Miniature Artists.
Given the historical foundation of traditional miniature art, I strive to understand it better for the promotion, preservation and advancement of the art form.
Given the perplex multiple definitions of the term Miniature today, I choose to adhere to the following tenets to describe and distinguish traditional miniature work and, when possible, will adhere to them in creating, displaying, and marketing artwork as a "miniature."
- Minute in scale vs. life sized (for practicality following the general 1/6th scale for work sent to formal miniature exhibitions and shows.)
- Delicate and painstaking technique that withstands magnification.
- Small in format and size: 25 inches or less for surface area.
- High in quality. The work should exemplify Fine Art ~ demonstrating a mastery of composition, color, values etc.
Given my concern for the future of the miniature art form I will do my best to educate artists and the public about the historical and current miniature art movement, contribute work to the exhibitions and volunteer when possible with the existing societies, shows and online forums as interaction with fellow artists is key to better understanding and continued advancement of the genre. My membership in the AMA will continue as long as I work in the miniature art genre and adhere with the statement and tenets.
If you are interested in the history of miniature art or just want to learn more about the fine art of miniatures, please check out the website for the Association of Miniature Artists.
Please e-mail Diana using the form below or make a note of Diana@dianawylesart.com for whenever it's convenient to just ask questions, want to make a purchase or have artwork commissioned... Thank you for coming by and visiting and come back often as this site is always being updated ... keep an eye on changes and new artwork. Links to related web sites will also be added.