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beacytan · 9 October 2010, 09:34 PM

These have been kicking around the internet for a while now, but for anyone that hasn't seen them - they're amazing!! Enjoy......

Seen through a microscope, artist Willard Wigan's Betty Boop sculpture is so small that it fits inside the eye of a needle.

Wigan's art requires intense concentration to perform such detailed work on an almost unbelievably small scale. Entering a trance-like meditative state,

Wigan says he is able to slow his heartbeat, reducing hand tremors and allowing him to sculpt between pulse beats. The tiniest movements, even traffic on the streets outside, can affect the details of his art.

Wigan's work is currently on a gallery tour around the US, and will be in Chicago in September and Houston in October. You can also see his work at the My Little Eye Gallery in London, and online.

Shown here is Wigan's Lunar Landing.

Working in such a tiny environment requires specialty tools and unique materials. Using instruments like brushes consisting only of a single hair from a dead house fly and a single shard of diamond attached to the head of a pin, Wigan paints and sculpts with materials including nylon, grains of sand, dust fibers, cobwebs, and human hair.

In The Simpsons, Bart and Homer Simpson are depicted on the head of a pin.

Working on such a small scale brings a unique set of problems to Wigan's art. Noise vibrations and dust particles in the air can interfere with the work. Static electricity is a major problem, and occasionally Wigan has accidents--like inhaling the entire sculpture!

Incredible Hulk breaks through the eye of a needle.

Wigan, now 51 years old, has been creating these miniature works since his teens. Depending on the complexity of the design, a typical piece takes about two months to complete.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party is taken from a scene in Alice in Wonderland.

Little Miss Muffet depicts a scene from the classic nursery rhyme, with an impossibly small spider.

Shown is Wigan's microsculpture of Henry VIII of England along with his six wives.

Shown here is Texas Longhorn Bull, by Willard Wigan.

Wigan has created an itsy-bitsy Oscar. An actual Academy Award statuette weighs about 3.8kg and stands 34.3cm tall, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The artist Willard Wigan works on one of his microsculptures. His work can be seen at the My Little Eye Gallery in London, across from the British Museum.

taken from www.asia.cnet.com

sleddog · 10 October 2010, 02:07 AM

Now that's got to require some skill!!

ParisDakarBmw · 10 October 2010, 02:15 AM

I bet he doesn't drink coffee when he paints those!

Route 66 · 10 October 2010, 02:44 AM

I can't believe that anyone's hands are that steady!

G.D.BeanCounter · 10 October 2010, 04:10 AM

That is truly remarkable. I would think you'd need unmeasurable patience to do this.

Hammer · 10 October 2010, 07:06 AM

What a talent.

Read an article about this guy a while back, I'm pretty sure he said that once he started to become successful he went out and brought himself a Rolex.

So a WIS too.

Art 1 · 10 October 2010, 11:22 AM

Amazing.

Rashid.bk · 13 October 2010, 09:59 AM

That is amazing, his patience and control is impeccable.

Skullring · 13 October 2010, 10:39 AM

Amazing. Thanks for the post.

Numismatist · 13 October 2010, 10:42 AM

Outstanding craftsmanship - what talent!

Demosthene · 14 October 2010, 02:02 PM

I’ve always been a fan of miniaturists, although learning to sculpt between heartbeats is pretty intense.
My own efforts are jumbo sized in comparison!

axxeman01 · 15 October 2010, 09:56 AM

Awesome, I once saw another site and the guy was creating sculptures using the lead in a pencil, really neat stuff too!

JJ Irani · 15 October 2010, 09:57 AM

Amazing stuff..............thanks for sharing.

This kinda work would need the patience of a Saint and the eye of an eagle!!

9 October 2010, 09:34 PM	#1
beacytan "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Watch: Sub-C 116610LN Posts: 26	tiny scuptures. i mean TINY!!! These have been kicking around the internet for a while now, but for anyone that hasn't seen them - they're amazing!! Enjoy...... Seen through a microscope, artist Willard Wigan's Betty Boop sculpture is so small that it fits inside the eye of a needle. Wigan's art requires intense concentration to perform such detailed work on an almost unbelievably small scale. Entering a trance-like meditative state, Wigan says he is able to slow his heartbeat, reducing hand tremors and allowing him to sculpt between pulse beats. The tiniest movements, even traffic on the streets outside, can affect the details of his art. Wigan's work is currently on a gallery tour around the US, and will be in Chicago in September and Houston in October. You can also see his work at the My Little Eye Gallery in London, and online. Shown here is Wigan's Lunar Landing. Working in such a tiny environment requires specialty tools and unique materials. Using instruments like brushes consisting only of a single hair from a dead house fly and a single shard of diamond attached to the head of a pin, Wigan paints and sculpts with materials including nylon, grains of sand, dust fibers, cobwebs, and human hair. In The Simpsons, Bart and Homer Simpson are depicted on the head of a pin. Working on such a small scale brings a unique set of problems to Wigan's art. Noise vibrations and dust particles in the air can interfere with the work. Static electricity is a major problem, and occasionally Wigan has accidents--like inhaling the entire sculpture! Incredible Hulk breaks through the eye of a needle. Wigan, now 51 years old, has been creating these miniature works since his teens. Depending on the complexity of the design, a typical piece takes about two months to complete. Mad Hatter's Tea Party is taken from a scene in Alice in Wonderland. Little Miss Muffet depicts a scene from the classic nursery rhyme, with an impossibly small spider. Shown is Wigan's microsculpture of Henry VIII of England along with his six wives. Shown here is Texas Longhorn Bull, by Willard Wigan. Wigan has created an itsy-bitsy Oscar. An actual Academy Award statuette weighs about 3.8kg and stands 34.3cm tall, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The artist Willard Wigan works on one of his microsculptures. His work can be seen at the My Little Eye Gallery in London, across from the British Museum. taken from www.asia.cnet.com

10 October 2010, 02:07 AM	#2
sleddog TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Rob Location: Nearby. Posts: 24,906	Now that's got to require some skill!! __________________ He who wears a Rolex is always on time, even when late!! TRF's "After Dark" Bar & Nightclub Patron-Founding Member..

13 October 2010, 10:39 AM	#9
Skullring "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Phillip Location: Alabama Watch: Triple 6 SD Posts: 1,720	Amazing. Thanks for the post. __________________ It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. - Antoine de Saint Exupéry

13 October 2010, 10:42 AM	#10
Numismatist "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Chris Location: Camden ME & STT Watch: 116600 Posts: 6,350	Outstanding craftsmanship - what talent! __________________ Rolex 116600 Sea-dweller Montblanc Solitaire Doué Black & White Legrand FP Montblanc Solitaire Doué Black & White RB Montblanc Meisterstück Diamond Mozart BP Montblanc Meisterstück Mozart BP

10 October 2010, 02:15 AM	#3
ParisDakarBmw Banned Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Paul Location: New Haven, CT Watch: 116610 Sub-C Posts: 6,552	I bet he doesn't drink coffee when he paints those!

10 October 2010, 02:44 AM	#4
Route 66 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Steve Location: Burbank, CA Watch: 214270 Mark II Posts: 4,121	I can't believe that anyone's hands are that steady!

10 October 2010, 04:10 AM	#5
G.D.BeanCounter Banned Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA Watch: Sky DayDate 2 Posts: 1,317	That is truly remarkable. I would think you'd need unmeasurable patience to do this.

10 October 2010, 07:06 AM	#6
Hammer "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Real Name: Simon Location: Essex Posts: 530	What a talent. Read an article about this guy a while back, I'm pretty sure he said that once he started to become successful he went out and brought himself a Rolex. So a WIS too.

10 October 2010, 11:22 AM	#7
Art 1 Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florida, Canada Watch: Rol/Seik/Tud/Omega Posts: 30,244	Amazing.

13 October 2010, 09:59 AM	#8
Rashid.bk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dallas Watch: 12800ft = 3900m Posts: 11,172	That is amazing, his patience and control is impeccable.

14 October 2010, 02:02 PM	#11
Demosthene "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Perth Australia Posts: 1,326	I’ve always been a fan of miniaturists, although learning to sculpt between heartbeats is pretty intense. My own efforts are jumbo sized in comparison!

15 October 2010, 09:56 AM	#12
axxeman01 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Real Name: Chris Location: Champaign, IL Watch: 16610lv Posts: 818	Awesome, I once saw another site and the guy was creating sculptures using the lead in a pencil, really neat stuff too!

15 October 2010, 09:57 AM	#13
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,320	Amazing stuff..............thanks for sharing. This kinda work would need the patience of a Saint and the eye of an eagle!!

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