Passion for Precision

Showing posts with label Willard Wigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willard Wigan. Show all posts

Monday, May 4, 2009

THE SUBMINIATURIST



We all like miniature reproductions - they are the basis of scale modelling - but British artist Willard Wigan makes even the tiny Z-gauge (1:220 scale) look mountainous by comparison.

52 year-old Willard uses a microscope and tiny surgical instruments to make sculptures that fit inside the eye of a needle. To paint them he uses a hair from a dead fly (ugh) and the results - such as a Santa Claus and a soccer World Cup trophy - are no more than 0.005 mm (0.0002in) high.

It’s good to know that the painstaking work earns good money for Willard - two years ago sports businessman David Lloyd bought 70 pieces for £11.2 million GBP ($16.65 million USD).