William Houston was born in Montgomery, Alabama. However, being from a military family, he spent most of his childhood in Southwest Idaho, where he held handlebars, B.B. guns, and snowballs more often than crayons or paintbrushes. His first interest in art was spawned by a most common motivation… sibling rivalry, after seeing his older sister win a junior high drawing contest for her delicate pastel rendering of a bunny. Though it started as a endeavor of envy, his relationship with art has since matured into an essential and unending journey with many starts and stops, diversions, excuses and moments of triumph, doubt, eureka, and humility.
Even though Mr. Houston earned a BFA in painting and illustration from Boise State University, his professional work has not always been related to the fine arts. However, he has been lucky to have experiences that have proven that art is his mirror, telescope, life-jacket, and soap box. William was blessed to work as a caregiver and personal assistant for a Seattle family for 11 years, and because of their kindness and love, he is currently able to focus all of his time and energy into living an “Art life.”
After living and painting on Maui, Hawaii for several years, life has brought him back to his equally inspiring and beautiful home state of Idaho. His work can still be found at Viewpoints Gallery, in Makawao.