Biography
Although nature is the greatest influence and passion 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 in the medical and scientific communities early in my business career, I became interested in 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 botany and botanical illustration at the University of California, Berkeley. Although I did not become a full-time illustrator (life had other plans), 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 45+ 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.
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:
2027–
January 17-February 14: Fifty-Second Annual International Miniature Art Exhibition, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Dunedin Fine Arts Center of Art, Dunedin, FL.
2026–
- January 17-February 15: Fifty-First Annual International Miniature Art Exhibition, Miniature Art Society of Florida, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs, FL.
- March 1-March 31: The Spanish Moss Miniature Art Show. Innova Arts Gallery, Mobile, AL.
- May 2-May 30: The 35th International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC.
- June 29-July 24: 21st Annual Heartland Art Guild International Miniature Paintings and Sculptures Art Show, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola, KS.
- July 1-July 31: 34th Annual International Miniature Show, Parkane Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
- October 24-November 2: Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers, The Alliston Centre, Cirencester, UK.
- November 4-January 2, 2027: Parklane Gallery’s Annual Winter Show of Small Works, Kirkland, WA.
- November 21-January 9, 2027: The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS), 93rd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature.
The artwork that is identified as miniature has been painted according to the 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.”
- 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 or make a note of dianawyles@yahoo.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. Artwork is available for immediate purchase at Diana Wyles Art Studio (click on link).
Contact Diana by using the form or e-mail dianawyles@yahoo.com. To talk to Diana, call (530) 531-5363.