Artist Statement

"I am in awe of this life and this world.  It is overwhelming.  It's obviously a miracle.  This is God's creation and his gift to us.  No artist can come close to duplicating the beauty or even the feeling we may have as we behold the scene before us, but it is enjoyable to attempt to convey to others with our painting and share our own insights, or to capture the moment of  our own feelings and appreciation of what we are experiencing."  - Luke Buck

THE ARTIST

With a loving eye
And a master's stroke
Many memories of my youth
The artist invokes

A shady lane
That catches his eye
The old general store
That time passes by

He captures the spirit
That we knew so well
Of the little country church
That sat in the dell

Working with shadows
And space and form
He pulls us all back
To where we were born

Down country roads
Where we all like to go
Life is much easier
And the pace is slow

As he travels around
America's highways and byways
Its easy to believe
He must have went my way

Paul K. Buck, 2000

Artist Biography

Luke Buck, a native "Hoosier", grew up in Indiana with a love for life, art, and nature that is evident in his nostalgic paintings of Americana landscapes and American wildlife.  He was raised in a family of artist with not only his father, but also his Mother, one Sister, and three Brothers, all of who were blessed with artistic talents from fine arts, to music, and poetry.

Most of Luke's art education and influence came from training he received from his artist father Harold Buck, whom he shared a studio with  for many years.  Earning a scholarship while attending Arsenal Technical High School, Luke studied figure drawing at the John Heron Art Institute, both in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He majored in art here at "Tech" High School, and received a Vocational Certificate in Commercial Art upon his graduation in 1960.  This launched Luke's art career with the schools job placement program and employment as an illustrator at the Herff Jones Co. in Indianapolis, IN.   In 2012 Luke was honored when the Arsenal Technical High School, Alumni Association, presented him with the "Alumnus Of The Year" award for his continued success in his chosen vocation.

One of Luke's favorite quotes is by one of his favorite artist, Clark Hulings; "An artist who says he is self-taught and draws from his own knowledge, is depending on a limited resource, and runs the risk of repeating himself."  We all can learn from the knowledge of others, and then work to enhance this knowledge with our own efforts and imagination.  To this Luke credits his advanced training and education to his father, his colleagues, and artist friends whom have generously shared their knowledge and expertise with him through the years with on the job training.

Luke’s father had once advised him to paint, not to please others, but to please each artist toughest critic; Himself. “Satisfy yourself with a painting, if you’re happy, others will be happy too.”  Remembering those words, when Buck is content with a painting, he always adds a personal final touch to it in an inconspicuous place - his fingerprint.

Luke's artistic talents have won him numerous honors and awards through the years.  His work has been exhibited in major invitational and juried art shows and events, including this partial list:

     ● America in Miniature, Gilcrease Museum,  Tulsa, OK
     ● American Miniatures, Settlers west Galleries, Tucson, AZ
     ● Art of The Animal Kingdom, Bennington Center for the Arts,  Bennington, VT
     ● Birds in Art, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
     ● Cashiers, NC, Art on the Green, Plein-Aire Paint-Out, Invitational
     ● Florida's Forgotten Coast,  Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, East Point and Carrabelle, FL,
        America's Great Plein-aire Paint-Out, Invitational
     ● Florida Wildlife Art Expo, Orlando, Lakeland, & Sarasota, FL
     ● Germanton NC Gallery, Painting North Carolina Plein-Aire Paint-Out, Invitational
     ● Hoosier Art Salon,  Indianapolis, IN
     ● Indiana Artist Club, Indianapolis, IN
     ● Indiana Artist, Past & Present, Brown County Art Gallery, Nashville, IN
     ● Indiana Heritage Arts Exhibition,  Nashville, Indiana
     ● Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibit,  Henderson, KY
     ● Masterworks in Miniature, Gallery One, Mentor, OH
     ● Masterpieces in Miniature, Picture This Gallery, Alberta, Canada
     ● Missouri Wildlife Art Festival,  St. Charles, MO
     ● Nature Art Festival,  Jamestown, N.Y.
     ● Naturework's Wildlife Art,  Tulsa, OK
     ● Plantation Wildlife Festival, Thomasville, GA
     ● Small Painting Society of Brown County, Waldron Gallery, Nashville, IN
     ● Southeast Invitational Miniature Show, Germanton Gallery, Germanton, NC
     ● Southeastern Wildlife Expo.  Charlestown, S.C.     
     ● Southern Wildlife Art Festival,  Decatur, AL
     ● The Disney, "Festival of The Masters",   Lake Buena Vista, FL
     ● Waterfowl Art Festival,  Easton, MD

Luke's inspiration comes through the encouragement and confidence expressed from his partner in life and work, his wife Coleen.  When not at their lakefront home and studio in southern Indiana, Luke and Coleen travel the blue highways and byways of America capturing its beauty with his palette.  One of his goals, and near completion, is to visit and paint a scene from every state in the USA.