I have been creative all my life and I loved to draw as child. Early in my adult life I put my pencil down and started making custom jewelry mostly for myself, friends, and family.In the early 90’s I purchased a lead pencil set and a sketch pad and started drawing again, women's faces in particular.I continued to draw and later taught my self several techniques using color pencils. The faces I drew were for personal relaxation not for sale or reproduction.Several years later I taught myself to make my own beads using polymer clay.My art in those days was a pastime effort to relieve the stress of my corporate job.After leaving the corporate life in 2000 I had more time and the desire to get more in touch with my creative side.I kept drawing my women’s faces and took two drawing classes at the local community college.During that time I wanted to create something unique and afro-centric.While living in the Boston area I discovered the Nubian Notion store in Roxbury that sold the most beautiful imported African fabrics I had ever seen.I purchased a yard each of all the most geometrically designed material.I was not sure what I would do with them but 10 years later I am still creating what I describe as contemporary African influenced mix-media artworks.Specifically, they are fabric collages which I incorporate the African fabric with cardstock, polymer clay, other cotton fabric. The primary theme centers on women.My sub-themes are:
Dancing Sister (1 to 5 dancers)
Sister Cut From The Same Cloth
Sister Cut From Different Cloths
Completely Different Sister
Sisters At The Beach
A Single Sister
Talk’n Behind My Back
Conversat’n Sister
Material Girl
Celebration
While I repeat these themes through out my work the choice of fabrics changes making each collage unique.
CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS BY WANDA WIGGINS Copyright 2011 Wanda Wiggins. No reproduction without written permission. www.wandawiggins.com