FOLLOW THE ART

The Creative Journey of Tom Woodruff

Follow the Art is a cinematic documentary that explores the life and art of Tom Woodruff. As a teaching artist, he found a way to share his love for art and adventure through storytelling and interactive art projects with students throughout Michigan schools. This film traces his life journey from being a street artist, sailor, and merchant seaman, to a stained glass artist, muralist, children's book illustrator, and art educator of 35 + years. This documentary is his way of giving thanks to those who have inspired him, and the many he has inspired along the way.

Latest News on Follow the Art Film

Follow the Art — Adventure Update

For the last few months, I’ve been deep in the edit—bouncing between Michigan and Colorado, wrapping up interviews and sorting through the archives. I’ve been moving out of storage units, digging through boxes of old photos and tapes, and pulling everything together for the film. Dad and I have also been finishing the last conversations for the project. I took a few solo trips downstate to interview some of his former students and gather the final pieces. Recently, we headed

Tom Woodruff Retrospective

Thank you all so much for making our grand opening such a special evening! We have tons of photos and videos to go through, and I’m...

Father-Daughter Road Trip to Key West! | Documentary Updates & Art Show |

Here is our latest update video on Follow the Art! In this video, we highlight our journey to Key West, capturing the highs and lows...

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“This movie will share an adventure that has compelled two generations of a family to head out into the world and share their discoveries, and the people we met along the way,” she said. “Together we are uniting our skills of filmmaking and art education in this collaborative father-daughter project. Our goal is to celebrate those who have changed or enriched our lives in immeasurable ways. We want to share the importance of art in education and encourage others to follow their passion, collaborate with others, and share their unique gifts with the world.”

Lydia Woodruff - Daughter/ Director/Producer

“It has always been a dream of mine to create a documentary about my dad's life! It all started with a timeline I created when I was in fifth grade that detailed his life in photos and text. Throughout the years I’ve captured his stories, videos, and candid moments on camera knowing that one day it would all come together. Now is that time. It's incredible to see what he has accomplished in his life, and how much of an impact he has had on the world around him. He is an inspiration, and we are so excited to share his journey with you all!"

Follow the Art

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