W. Tucker
Artist Statement
The work begins unplanned. Line drawings, markings, painted strokes and scribbles are made with numerous mediums including oil, lumber stick, resin stick, charcoal, graphite and ink. I work on either simple wood panels or choose from a collection of found materials – old tabletops, cabinet doors, wood blocks wrapped in canvas, and old book covers.
The drawings/markings are created with my non-dominant hand. The use of my left hand allows me to draw in an unpracticed manner, with less control and intention, and without forethought.
More recently the work has expanded from 2 dimensional work to installations that include wall drawings, books, and standing boxes. The wall drawings are transient, painted over when the installation is dismantled, having a beginning and an end. Books are either created or have been adapted from existing books – images are either added to the pages, or pages are removed and new pages are stitched in. The boxes are an exploration of the work in 3 dimensions, of interior and exterior – a comment on what we present to the world and what we may choose to hide.
Over time I have realized that in the finished work I see aspects of our human condition – vulnerability, frailty, kindness, anger, frustration, humor, curiosity, and relationship. As well as glimpses of stories, moments, dilemmas that may represent how we approach or walk through life.
W. Tucker
(b.1959)
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama in 1982, Tucker moved to Los Angeles in 1985 to pursue acting. Upon moving to Los Angeles, he discovered chalk, oil pastels, and large drawing pads left behind by a previous roommate, sparking a curiosity for creation. In 1990, Tucker’s acting pursuit ended after being slowly overtaken by his desire to paint and draw. A self-taught artist, Tucker embarked on his artistic journey after attending a weekend writing workshop hosted by his friend Lucia Capacchiona, a psychotherapist and registered art therapist. In an effort to create a dialogue with their inner child, Capacchiona had attendees write while alternating between their dominant and non-dominant hands.
Leaving the workshop, Tucker felt a greater sense of appreciation for this part of himself. Using his non-dominant hand not only created more space between the thinking mind and the canvas but channeled an honest and clear voice within. His work reflects a strong relationship between the found and discarded materials of which he creates on, and the subject he depicts on their surfaces. Being largely guided by his intuition, Tucker does not preplan his compositions. Piece by piece, a story evokes. From people and animals to inanimate objects – whether it is a coffee mug, ship, or scribble – these simple characters parallel the world we live in today. However mundane these entities may appear, they serve as key ingredients to Tucker’s masterpiece – symbolizing the everyday encounters and shared experiences we all undergo in every walk of life.
all these things filled his head - in the end he knew they meant nothing
ink, resin stick, charcoal, water color, graphite on paper
sold
different
charcoal, resin stick on paper
8" x 5 1/4"
sold
discarded
ink, charcoal, resin stick, paper on book cover
8 5/16" x 13 1/2"
sold
to be alone in a quite moment
charcoal on book cover
8 3/16" x 11 1/4"
$600
we need many sails
ink, charcoal, graphite, texture paste on paper
9 7/8" x 7 5/8"
$850
help
resin stick, graphite on book cover
7 1/2" x 10 1/2"
sold
how'd they figure it out, was there any figuring it out
ink, charcoal, graphite, fabric, resin stick on book cover
5 1/4" x 8 1/4"
$550
it was the only thing he could do, weather the storm
resin stick, ink, charcoal, paper on box
5 7/8" x 3 1/4" x 2 1/2"
$500
later on we shall see
ink, charcoal on paper
10 3/4" x 8 3/8"
$500
what you saw
ink, charcoal, graphite, texture paste paper on book cover
6 3/4" x 10 1/16"
$500 sold
one issue
china marker, charcoal on book cover
7 3/8" x 5"
sold
quite ship in the middle of it all
ink, charcoal, graphite, resin stick on paper
9 15/16" x 7 5/8"
$850
The Dream I Had
resin stick, china marker on book cover
7 1/2" x 4 13/16"
sold
Elephant Sunset
resin stick on book cover
5 1/8" x 7 1/2"
sold
8000 + no
charcoal, texture paste, ink, graphite on paper
15 5/8" x 8 5/16"
$600
a special bird braves the storm
charcoal, resin stick
7 1/4" x 4 7/8"
sold
ACTION: I am (the one) always excited by life
charcoal, resin stick, arrow stickers on book cover
7 7/16" x 10 5/8"
$600
at times the light seemed far removed
ink, resin stick, paper
7 1/8" x 4 7/8"
sold
battle of the selves/ could he win
charcoal, resin stick on paper
4 1/2" x 9 1/8"
sold
bird flies (through good thing or bad thing)
resin stick on book cover
5 3/4" x 8 1/4"
sold
bird no eat house
ink, charcoal, graphite, acrylic paint on wood
28 1/2" x 13 1/2"
$1800
bird with yellow hair
charcoal, watercolor on book cover
7 11/16" x 10 5/16"
$600
black clouds with bird head
ink, charcoal, resin stick
12 9/16" x 12 9/16"
$900
car & red bush
watercolor, charcoal, resin stick on book
7 9/16" x 10 3/8"
$600
doing the right thing
ink, tacks on wood
60 1/4" x 7 15/16"
$1800
head of a fool (#1)
ink on paper (cardboard/album)
12 11/16" x 12 3/8"
$800
head of a fool (#2)
ink on paper (cardboard/album)
2 9/16" x 12 9/16"
$800
how is a home a home
resin stick, color pencil on book cover
5 7/8" x 7 5/8"
$500
snake
resin stick on book cover
6" x 7 7/8
$600
Fix Your...
ink, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
9" x 6"
sold
baby elephant #37298
graphite, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
5 7/16" x 4 3/8"
sold
how to make it
ink, resin stick, graphite on paper (album cover)
12 3/8" x 12 1/2"
$800
if only we'd listen
ink on metal
14 3/4" x 40 5/16"
$2600
mink (ain't got nothin' to do with nothin')
ink, acrylic paint, charcoal, graphite on wood
17 3/8" x 11"
$1400
Mrs. Smith
ink, graphite, resin stick on paper
6 1/2" x 4 1/2"
sold
Ms. Cook
ink, charcoal, graphite on paper
5 7/8" x 3 1/2"
$400
my Mother said, your actions are your only truth
ink, resin stick, staples on wood
48 3/4" x 61 1/2"
$3600
official 25 footer (fuck the NRA)
resin stick, charcoal, ink on paper
9 1/4" x 7"
$500
once upon a time
resin stick, china marker on see saw (plastic, metal, bolts, paint)
18 5/8" x 52" x 13"
$3200
one step one step one step
ink, charcoal, resin stick on wood
18 1/4" x 20 3/4"
$1800
past / future
charcoal, resin stick on paper
7 9/16" x 5"
sold
red at night sailor's delight
resin stick on book cover
7 5/8" x 5 1/16"
$550
red bird just above the chaos
charcoal, watercolor on paper
6 1/2" x 4 5/8"
sold
round and round
ink, charcoal, resin stick, graphite, paper on book cover
5 3/4" x 7 5/8"
$750
she danced regardless
ink, resin stick on book cover
5 1/2" x 8 1/16"
sold
she drove into the blue & the birds followed
charcoal, ink, watercolor, paper on cardbaord (monopoly board)
19 3/8" x 19 3/8"
$1800
ship/ plane/ FIG. 5
china marker, resin stick, acrylic paint on paper
4" x 7 3/8"
$500
simple
ink, acrylic paint, string on wood and metal
50 7/8" x 26 11/16"
$2800
The Woods
charcoal, resin stick on book cover
5 3/4" x 8 5/16"
sold
School of How Not to School Oneself
ink, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
7.375" x 6.313"
sold
flying black headed bird
ink, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
4 7/8" x 7 3/8"
sold
some day the light will overwhelm the darkness
ink, charcoal, acrylic paint, lumber sticks, nails, staples, screws on wood
$3600
sun
ink, resin stick, china marker, tape on paper
26 1/8" x 10"
$700
the sky was all there was
charcoal, resin stick, texture paste on clayboard
12" x 12"
sold
the sun will come out
ink, resin stick on paper
9" x 4 1/2"
sold
the world of wildlife
ink, resin stick on paper
9 1/8" x 4 1/2"
sold
they were right with the sun
ink, charcoal, graphite on paper (pressed paper)
7" x 9"
$600
two boxers
resin stick on book cover
8 1/4" x 12 1/2"
sold
two heads better (gloves off)
ink, acrylic paint, charcoal on plastic; foam
21 1/4" x 63"
sold
under a dark moon
ink on leather (glove)
8 1/2" x 4 3/4"
sold
we continue counting
charcoal, resin stick on book cover
5 5/8" x 8 5/8"
$550
where we are at this moment
ink, charcoal, resin stick, paper, metal on cardboard
11 3/4" x 14"
$800
whose to say
oil, resin stick on book cover
6 3/16" x 9 1/2"
$650
yellow (the light)
ink, charcoal, resin stick on paper
7 1/4" x 8 1/2"
sold
yellow flowers for all
graphite, charcoal, resin stick on paper
15 1/4" x 9 7/8"
$600
and only I know what I know
ink, watercolor, graphite, paper on book cover
6 5/8" x 9 3/4"
$1150
blue ship on blue ship
charcoal, resin stick on book cover
5 1/8" x 7 9/16"
$600
car with yellow on blue/green
charcoal, resin stick on book cover
5 9/16" x 8 3/16"
$550
in nature, sitting
ink, graphite, resin stick, fabric, paper on book cover
8 1/8" x 5 5/8"
sold
listen, listen
ink, resin stick on book cover
6 1/8" x 9 1/4"
$650
inside out
ink, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
12 1/4" x 9"
$1350
move through it
charcoal, resin stick on book cover
4 7/8" x 7"
8 1/2" x 11" framed
$800
the happy happy hat
resin stick, graphite, ink, charcoal on paper
7 3/4" x 5 1/2"
sold
really long animal
ink, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
6 3/8" x 9 1/2"
$600
the big house with horse
ink, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
7 7/8" x 5 7/8"
sold
burnt coffee cowboy
ink, charcoal, watercolor, color pencil on paper
8 7/8" x 6 15/16"
$850
black snake
ink, resin stick on cardboard
3" x 8 1/4"
$500
livin' the dream
ink, charcoal, watercolor
7 3/4" x 5 1/4"
sold
woman, bird
resin stick, charcoal on book cover
7" x 8 3/4"
$650
how he walked through life
watercolor, charcoal, graphite on paper
5 7/16" x 7 1/2"
$850
owl
resin stick on book cover
8 5/8" x 5 11/16"
$600
snake with orange
ink, charcoal, watercolor on book cover
7 1/2" x 10 1/2"
$700
sex without fear
ink, resin stick, charcoal on book cover
8 1/2" x 6 1/4"
$650
car below clouds
ink, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
7 3/8" x 5 5/16"
$650
another day of fighting nature
charcoal, texture paste, resin stick on masonite
3" x 6 13/16" x 5/8"
$600
any time!
ink, charcoal, resin stick, graphite on paper
8 1/2" x 10 7/8"
$600
for better, not worse
ink, paper on paper
9 1/16" x 6"
$600
hello my name is ... (#3)
resin stick, ink on paper/sticker
4 3/8" x 3 1/2"
$250
in the end- the same the same the moment was the moment
charcoal, resin stick, oil, fabric, wood on slate chalkboard
16 1/4" x 10 15/16"
sold
is there something wrong
ink, charcoal, china marker, resin stick on book cover
14" x 9 9/16"
sold
it's always the same, boxing in his box
resin stick on (partial) box
2 5/8" x 3 1/16" x 3/8"
$650
liquidos
ink, graphite on paper
6 3/4" x 4 7/8"
$500
me, as clown
ink, charcoal, graphite on box
3 1/16" x 3 1/16"
sold
sleep now (#2)
charcoal, resin stick on book cover
8 1/2" x 5 3/8"
$600
tell me
ink, resin stick on book cover
10 7/16" x 16 5/8"
$750
the bird was teaching how to fly (to tread lightly)
ink, graphite, resin stick on book cover
10 1/2" x 20 1/4"
$950
the puzzle may be too deep (unwind)
oil, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
4 5/16" x 8 1/16"
$650
the same the same the same
ink, charcoal, resin stick on book cover
5 1/2" x 8 3/16"
$600
these days
resin stick on book cover
9 1/8" x 6 1/8"
$750
to make it through the darkness
resin stick on cardboard (flattened box)
4 7/8" x 4 13/16"
sold
two black birds
ink, china marker on sanding disc
3 1/4" x 3 1/4"
sold
under the blue sun
charcoal, graphite, resin stick on paper
10 7/16" x 7 7/8"
$600
white ship in the middle of the middle
oil, resin stick, charcoal on book cover
9 1/16" x 12 1/4"
$750
sperry-sun
ink on match box
1 7/8" x 3"
sold
a life's totem
ink, resin stick, charcoal on book cover
11 5/8" x 9 1/4"
sold
playing in the landscape of "others"
ink, charcoal, resin stick, paper on book cover
10 1/2" x 16"
sold
lighten my heart lighten my tongue lighten my hearing
resin stick on book cover
12" x 7 3/4"
$650
lion
ink, charcoal on book cover
6 13/16" x 7 5/8"
$650
they were one (#1)
ink on book cover
12 1/8" x 8 3/16"
$700
when colors don't matter (fear of who)
ink, resin stick, charcoal, graphite on book cover
11 5/8" x 17 3/4"
sold
can you see me
ink thread on fabric
5 1/2" x 3 1/2"
sold
that hair
ink, acrylic paint on cardboard boxes (watch parts box)
3 1/4" x 1 3/4" x 3/4"
sold
a big bird
ink on paper
5 3/8" x 2 1/4"
$400
a life #2
ink, resin stick, charcoal on album sleeve
10 5/16" x 10 5/8"
$750
a life (#2a)
resin stick, charcoal, color pencil, ink on paper
10" x 7"
sold
a moment
ink, charcoal, resin stick on paper (envelope)
5 1/4" x 2 7/8"
$400
a word to parents
ink, charcoal, resin stick on paper (envelope)
5 11/16" x 10 1/2"
$600
borrowed cat
ink on paper
5 1/2" x 4 3/16"
sold
horse & rider with hat
charcoal on paper
10 1/4" x 14 3/8"
$650
king
ink, resin stick on paper (album sleeve)
10 1/8" x 10 1/8"
$650
man, moon, flower
ink on paper
5 3/8" x 2 1/4"
sold
some sunny day
ink, resin stick on match book
3 1/4" x 2 1/16"
sold
totem, all is one
ink, graphite on cardboard tube
17 1/2" x 1 1/4"
$750
counting the ways to happiness
ink, charcoal, acrylic paint, screw on wood
69 13/16" x 24"
sold
elephant & snake
resin stick, nails, ink, paper, wood on wood
10 5/8" x 10"
$800
lady elephant, she help him with happy
ink, texture paste, graphite, acrylic paint on wood
10" x 9 7/8" x 1/2"
$2400
untitled (red)
3" x 3" x 1/2"
ink on box (cardboard)
$400
1933
ink on paper
5 7/16" x 5 1/2"
sold
black bird flies above
ink, resin stick on paper
10 15/16" x 8"
$850
scaredy bear
ink, graphite on paper
5 1/2" x 3 3/4"
10" x 8"
sold
it's always the same, boxing in his box
resin stick on (partial) box
2 5/8" x 3 1/16" x 3/8"
$650
lady elephant, she help him with happy
ink, texture paste, graphite, acrylic paint on wood
10" x 9 7/8" x 1/2"
$2400