Writing Art History Since 2002

First Title

Karyn Wiggill is set to exhibit miniature artworks on the Investec wall

For the Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2019, taking place from 15 to 17 February, Investec has partnered with award-winning South African artist Karyn Wiggill, who specialises in miniature art. She has created a collection of tiny drawings that fit into a little red dot. While her art might be small in size, it carries weight and depth, and is predicted to be an exciting point of interest at this year’s art fair.

 

©Karyn Wiggill

 

These 52 miniature artworks will be on display on the Investec wall at the walkabout meeting point, for all visitors to take a closer look, using a magnifying glass and Investec’s go-to guide on the art of buying art.

The complexity of all Wiggill’s pieces is astounding. Each miniature represents a fact about the art world, and has been created on 300g hot-pressed acid-free paper, a smooth material conducive to fine drawings and paintings, and watercolour pencils. It would be impossible to use the pencils directly, as they cannot be sharpened to Wiggill’s requirements. The use of a 00000 paint brush with the watercolour mix allows Wiggill to have perfect control over the process, instead of pure watercolour.

Wiggill’s favourite piece is a tombstone. “It might seem unusual, but I love the contrast of the tombstone against the darker background. The tombstone is a visual representation of the fact that a deceased artist’s work can increase in value, especially if their works were popular and in limited supply. I thought that the “RIP” section came out so beautifully, even though it was incredibly small. I was  proud to achieve the small writing so precisely.”

“I think the Investec artworks represent a wonderful and innovative concept,” says Wiggill. “We hope that by using an icon of the art world, we will give people the opportunity to learn more about the art of buying art.”

 

©Karyn Wiggill

 

While Wiggill produces larger works, she spends most of her time working with finely detailed miniatures. The artist explains that miniature painting is not a small painting, but a process of capturing all the details and being able to see the tiny brushstrokes.

Working with a magnifier is not necessarily a requirement, but it definitely assists dramatically in capturing the detail,” explains Wiggill. “For this project, I have used a head magnifier with a 2.3 times magnification, as the drawings are significantly smaller than normal miniatures. I work under a special daylight fluorescent light, even during the day. Each drawing takes approximately nine hours, but this depends on the subject and the amount of detail. A portrait or intricate subject matter may take longer.

 

©Karyn Wiggill

 

Johannesburg-based Wiggill has a Bachelor of Social Science degree, she started drawing at an early age. She has no formal art education, largely self-taught. A member of the Miniature Art Society of South Africa (MASSA), the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa (BAASA) and Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Engravers, Wiggill has won numerous awards and accreditations locally and internationally, and has had her drawings featured in international publications.

 

For more information, please visit the Investec Cape Town Art Fair website, or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top