Imagine an artist so talented, and so precise, that they could literally create lifelike sculptures in the eye of a needle. Imagine them creating sculptures from a fragment of a grain of sand, and painting with a hair plucked from a house fly’s back. Imagine them having to hold their breath, and work between their heartbeats as they made the tiniest of moves while working beneath the lens of a microscope.

Sound like fiction?

Well it’s not. This is a real story of an artist named Willard Wigan, who in the late 2000’s sold his life’s work for $20 million.

… Buy why?

Growing up, Willard always struggled in school. He had dyslexia. He couldn’t barely read, or write. He felt insignificant.

The teachers at school made me feel small, sort of made me feel like nothing. I’m trying to prove to the world that nothing doesn’t exist.

- Willard Wigan

To compensate for this feeling of insignificance, Willard began sculpting doll houses for ants. He’s since then set the world record for creating the world’s smallest sculpture ever made by human hand.

He’s created microscopic sculptures of everything from Cassius Clay boxing Sonny Liston, to 9 Camels in the eye of a needle.

I really admire Mr. Wigan’s work ethic, and resiliency. He’s been an inspiration to me, and the art classes I’ve taught for several years. I hope someday that I get a chance to meet Willard Wigan.

Excerpt from an interview with Conan O’Brien: Nov. 6, 2012

(Willard speaking on the process of creating his microscopic sculptures)

Wigan: But sometimes I have to work between the heartbeat. So when the heartbeat stops, then I move. So I have 1 1/2 seconds to move between it. It becomes a nightmare.

Conan: What!… Why are you doing this? I mean that’s the other thing. Do you enjoy doing this?

Wigan: No

Conan: This is unbelievable to me. You don’t enjoy it. It’s extremely difficult…

Willard: I’ll tell you what it is. It’s a nightmare when I start, and a dream when I finish. So I have to look at the dream, before I finish.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHFs-r1TpMk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2Ry_d--4qU

http://blogs.britannica.com/2009/02/art-in-the-eye-of-a-needle-20-million-worth/

https://www.willardwiganmbe.com/