Artist Statement
Suffering from insomnia and related depression, I find solace and comfort in channeling my daily torment into art. With a constant struggle to stay awake, to stay alert and to be engaged, I deliberately surround myself with bright and vibrant colors. My work is the opposite of me: simple, positive, full of movement, crisp and vivid.

Bio
Born in 1981 and raised in the wine country of Northern California, Timothy Teruo Watters (TTW) has been oil painting for over 17 years. While taking a few art classes in college at the University of California at Santa Barbara, TTW is effectively self-taught, only receiving very slight guidance from his artist grandfather, Teruo Iyama. TTW has exhibited is work mostly in small art shows and galleries from Santa Rosa to Los Angeles to Kona to even tiny St. George in Utah. For as long as TTW can remember, he has always been creating some form of art and oil painting is as much a part of his life as breathing is. Painting is soothing for the soul and TTW hopes his work can positively touch his viewers.

Some of TTW’s collectors include Manny Pacquiao, Bruno Mars, Travie McCoy, Ice Cube, Nas, Damian Marley, Slash, E-40, Snoop Dogg, Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Cornell, P. Diddy, Pitbull, Lil’ Jon, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Timbaland, Baron Davis, Too Short, Matt Barnes and DJ Skee. TTW also is a graphic artist having worked for Warner Bros., Karmaloop, SkeeTV and Clear Channel.

From AMMO Magazine Article:

What’s’ your AMMO?

Timothy Watters: My daily inspiration is to never stop, to never peak—to always create something from nothing. Routine can be very boring and I want no part of that. I have struggled my whole life with insomnia and so I constantly look for things to do so I don’t fall asleep. That’s why I love bright colors, strong presentation, bold layout and details! Also, I like to keep the company of other artists so you can experience their view of the world and be inspired to share your own view…

Your work has a detail oriented feeling with a street artist edge, how did you find such a great medium between the two styles? Has art always been your passion?

T: As a kid, I was always drawing in my sketchbook or writing short stories—I was always creating. I found out early on, that when I don’t create something, I don’t feel right or balanced. I’m also very observant which further fueled my creativity as I was more aware of the smaller details and soon found a big appreciation for those details. And fortunately, like a lot of great things, my style was completely by accident and just naturally evolved to where it is now. My grandfather just told me to put paint to canvas and see where it takes me. I think my art reflects my old school training and fascination with new school flavor.

Are you inspired by other artist? If so who & why?

T: Despite the look of my style, I am a huge fan of the old school. I grew up watching my grandfather paint beautiful impressionistic paintings of old Europe, flowers and boat scenes, so my appreciation for the past masters was built in. The impressionistic style was based in large part on depicting modern everyday life scenes and that simplicity always felt natural to me. The artwork was the art, not the story of the artist or the political message. I love artists like Van Gogh, Monet and Maurice Denis, but at the same time I get inspiration from Justin Bua, Shepard Fairey. I have exceptional love for the old Japanese Ukiyo-e artists like Hokusai, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi for their interpretation and expression of everyday scenes and their use of lines and patterns.

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