Tucker Smith
2013 Artist
2013 Artwork Coming Soon
About the Artist
Tucker Smith was born in Minnesota and raised in Wyoming. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in mathematics and a minor in art. He now lives in western Wyoming, surrounded by wildlife and the mountain atmosphere that he enjoys. Most of his work depicts contemporary scenes, putting great importance on sense of place. He has exhibited at most of the major art shows in the U.S. and won the prestigious Prix de West Purchase Award in 1990. In 1999, he won the Thomas Moran Memorial Award for Painting at Masters of the American West. In 2007, he won the Autry National Center's Trustees' Purchase Award. In 2008, he received the Governor's Art Award through the Wyoming Art Council.
Artist Questions
What artist inspires you? Why?
So many artists have inspired me that it would be impossible to list them all. The ones that come to mind come from the same time period - the late 1800's and early 1900's. Artists like John Singer Sargent (1856-1925); Carl Rungius (1869-1959); Frank Tenney Johnson (1874-1939); Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla (1863-1923); English horse painter Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959); German animal painter Heinrick VonZugel (1850-1941); Taos painters Herbert Dunton (1878-1936) and Ernest Blumenschien (1874-1960). The Russian Impressionists known as Itinerants were also from this time period. At that time, painting, painting education and materials had evolved to a high level. Impressionism had torn down artistic stereotypes. And the camera came into wide use. It was a tool for the artists, but more importantly, it freed the painter from the job of being the only visual recorder and illustrator. This allowed the artist to approach his composition from a different perspective.
How do you come up with an idea for a new piece of artwork?
If I knew the answer to this, painting would be a whole lot easier.
Where is the most inspirational place you've visited lately?
I have enjoyed painting other places and countries, but my interest always comes back to the West.
Past Artwork (Since 2012)
