Artist Spotlight: Paula Wiggins
Being both a painter and an illustrator has given M.P. Wiggins an opportunity to live in many different worlds. She has worked with publishers and art directors to create art for magazines, books, posters, calendars, and CD covers. For 7 years she had a stock illustration site “TheSpiritSource.com”, that provided images from a large group of talented artists for the publishing trade.
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But her first love is painting, although “painting” may not be enough of a word to describe the building up of a canvas with paper, found objects, paint, charcoal, more paint, and varnish. Paula received a BFA from the University of Cincinnati and continued to learn by attending other schools and workshops: the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA.
What is your process for generating new ideas?
Looking through art books, magazines. Sometimes stories I’ve read. Looking at flowers for color inspiration.
Is there a favorite project you’ve done?
I once painted huge panels of landscape scenes for a Nativity backdrop for a church.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Wish I knew!
How do you define success as an artist?
Being able to sell your work without compromising.
How has your style changed over time?
My style has changed a lot over the years. My work used to be much more representational.
What’s the biggest challenge of being an artist?
So many! Besides the obvious financial ones, it’s getting people to regard you as a professional and not a hobbyist.
Something about your background that would surprise people.
I lived in Israel for a year and one of my jobs was preparing boxes of food for the soldiers stationed at the border of Israel and Lebanon.