Timothy Woodhouse
Drawing perfection in all that is imperfect.Drawing beauty in all that is flawed.Drawing simplicity in all that is complex.I started drawing 30 years ago to cope with a world out of control. I had a blind ambition to do one thing, and do it well.I taught myself how to draw and through repetition, dumb luck and persistence I could see a distant perfection attainable. All my initial attempts at drawing made me disgusted. The outcome of all the intense attempts to at least look like what I was drawing…repulsive. So I took a ruler, the original and a blank page and measured very precise dots. I connected the dots, and with practice…the art part started coming through. The results were immediate and drastic. And, flawed. By getting the outline, I felt like I was cheating. To this day… this is still true. However; I understand now that a lot of people do this, and have done this. This is why I do not consider myself a ‘real’ artist and pursued art only as a hobby.Things haven’t changed in these 30 years…except technology. Instead of going dot by dot, I make a copy of the original, place the future drawing over it and get an outline. From there, experience takes over…and luck as always, is welcome.My art tools were always just those everyday things around me. Brillo pads…turns out they are not just good for the sink. Toothpicks…can clean your teeth and make deep lines in a drawing. Carmex is helpful for dry lips as well as mixing pastels. Cosmetic items used for make-up…indispensable. Baby powder works for your feet as well as softening charcoal and graphite.I have shown at the Ft. Worth Public Library in April of 2001 for a theme of sexual abuse. I have also shown at the Trinity Arts Guild. In 2007 I got lucky and won an International art contest sponsored by Christiania Arts Foundation and had a billboard of my winning drawing in Manhattan…(see http://www.whisperofthewild.com …scroll down 5). 1100 people from all over the world entered, and I won. I tasted recognition. The sweat of practice. Sweet!After 30 years of drawing, I know I will always only be a student of Art…never a ‘master’…never, arriving. Never accepting my flaw, but always appreciative thereof.
