An Interview with Devon Wigle
MilspoFAN: How did you become an artist?
Devon: Art was something that I could consistently do no matter where we were. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest with a view of Mount Rainier (when it wasn’t cloudy), I had plenty of inspiration. I started with sketching and watercolors. I was introduced to acrylics through various classes. I then tried some cut paper and mixed medium art. When we lived in Louisiana, a local art gallery hosted oil painting classes. I had art hanging in that gallery for a time.
Sometimes location and life situation determines the medium along with the inspiration. Artist/mil-spouse Devon Wigle teaches us that when your usual resources and/or conveniences aren't available, you can still make art, just in a different way.
MilspoFAN: Tell us a little about yourself, your journey as a military spouse, and where you are today.
Devon: My name is Devon Wigle (why-gul); when I first saw the name, I said wiggle, too. My journey with my husband started in high school. We started dating my junior year and his sophomore year. We both went to Washington State University, where I took some art classes and graduated with a BA in Human Development. We married during spring break of his senior year, since I needed to be on the orders for us to move together. We have since been stationed at Fort Benning, GA, Fort Polk, LA, Fort Sill, OK (2x), and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. I have worked odd jobs or volunteered for most of those years. He is just over halfway to his 20 years.
oil painting of jellyfish on foamboard
MilspoFAN: Describe for us your creative work and the aesthetic of your painting.
Devon: I like realism. I like to find ways to make my art seem a little more real. I designed, drafted, transferred, and painted my children’s growth sticks. Each animal was carefully selected to be around that height in real life. Baby giraffes are a little under six feet tall when born; an adult male emperor penguin can grow to be nearly four feet tall.
Acrylic on sealed wood. Three growth sticks with realistic animals painted at the animal's represented height. The left contains from top to bottom: baby giraffe, plains zebra, emperor penguin, tiger wolf, meerkat. The middle is a grizzly bear, red kangaroo, Caribbean flamingo, African painted dog, ocelot, raccoon. The right is a giant panda, Greater Kudu, Silverback gorilla, peacock, jaguar, and Cotton-Top Tamarin.
The emperor penguin can grow to be nearly four feet tall! Taller than a tiger at the shoulder. Acrylic on sealed wood.
A close up of the grizzly and kangaroo. The grizzly is my other favorite painted animal. Acrylic on sealed wood.
Close up on the gorilla and peacock. The peacock is one of my favorite animals I have painted on these growth sticks. Acrylic on sealed wood.
MilspoFAN: How has your role as a military spouse impacted your work as an artist- creatively, logistically, or otherwise?
Devon: I have had a chance to see so much more beauty in the world due to our PCS moves. I did not paint much when we were in Japan, since paints were expensive and I was told I couldn’t send mine. I would never have touched oil painting if I had not lived in that small town in Louisiana. I am the sum of my experiences. My current house doesn’t have space for me to leave things out to dry, not when I have three kids between six and three. So, I sketch and do small watercolors here.
Pencil on paper, staged Dungeons & Dragons scene
Chesapeake Bay Blue crab - watercolor on paper
charcoal and graphite on paper, a braided sheet that is starkly lit from the bottom
Ink pen on cardstock
MilspoFAN: How do you cultivate your creativity?
Devon: I like to look at clouds and be ready when the feeling hits me.
MilspoFAN: How do you meet other artists or plug into the local arts scene when you PCS?
Devon: I don’t typically meet others. I try to go to art galleries and other venues of that sort. But, kids wanting to touch everything makes that a bit difficult at times.
MilspoFAN: What’s next for you?
Devon: We will be PCSing soon. I will teach the kids some more about art and just see where life takes me from there.
MilspoFAN: What is the most practical piece of advice that you would give to other artists?
Devon: Just try it. You never know if the outcome will be great or not.
Find Devon Instagram at: @devonwigle
Cut paper military styled cover