Meet Tuke

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tuke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tuke, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk is a funny term to me.. because generally if I feel apprehension around something I’m creating then I’m on the right path. When I was younger I had a different interpretation of risk and leaned into it as much as I could for adrenaline, I’ve since had a different approximation of what risk is. For instance for many years I didn’t take risks in my work because I felt adhering to a certain style or trend was necessary. I eventually began to realize that I was holding myself back. When the risk is being accepted I personally feel that I’m inhibiting my own work. I’ve felt similar in life in general and found the things that resist the status quo feel more empowering and free. So if taking risk means being comfortable enough in yourself to know what you are capable of there’s really nothing holding you back except yourself. Taking chances on yourself in my opinion leads to self discovery and growth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I can’t say what sets me apart from other artists as that’s a relative term.. I can say that my work ethic, attention to detail, and desire to push myself to new frontiers keeps me constantly evolving. I’m proud to be doing what I love for a living and to be able to share my gift and inspire others. I’ve been pursuing my art career from about my 20s on.. it wasn’t easy at first as what got me into mural painting was doing illegal graffiti. At that point in time during the 1990s graffiti style wasn’t really accepted and street art as its known now didn’t really exist. Initially I was discouraged and drifted a bit from my path. Once I finally realized that there wasn’t much else I wanted to do with my life i returned to the fold so to speak. I began trying different styles to test myself and also so that when approached with different jobs I would be more versatile. Along with this I began creating worlds of my own for my subjects to live in. I enjoy this process very much and I’d say it’s an integral part of my work and a great way for me to keep inspiration flowing. As far as overcoming challenges I think thats just a part of life.. what’s gotten me through the ones I’ve encountered is doing my best to remain grounded and authentic to what’s most positive and productive for me at that time. I’ve been at points where I needed to accept every job I could to remain afloat and others when Ive turned down large jobs because I know my self worth finding the balance in between is the sweet spot. No matter what kind of “work” you do its going to be exhausting and overwhelming sometimes however if you feel good about what you’re offering the world around you its worth it in my opinion. I’ve learned over time that the best thing you can do for yourself is remain flexible, resilient and professional. My story is one of perseverance in my craft and presenting the best product and experience for my clients and viewers as possible. I take pride in drawing from nature and surroundings to make cohesive work that enhances and creates immersive spaces.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well its rare I get a week off but if I did.. I’ve hosted many people in Denver and always had wonderful times. My friends are generally other painters so a lot of our time is usually spent beautifying the city. I spend my time in the same way in other cities and this forms a particular lens of experiencing the city at its rawest. However I will say that an all time favorite and something all should experience is a good show at Red Rocks amphitheater. Furthermore I’m a cyclist and have always enjoyed exploring the paths and multiple routes through the city. Lookout mountain and Chatfield reservoir are a couple of favorite rides. There are plenty of wonderful stops throughout the city for great food and drink. I particularly like Rino Beer Garden, Ace eat and serve, and Angelo’s. But there are plenty of other spots sprinkled throughout the city that offer culinary delights. I always dedicate a part of a visitors tour to driving around the city looking at art as Denver has so much to offer it’s a fun way to spend sometime together and give some history about the city. And lastly I prefer either getting out of the city or spending time in a closer setting.. nearly all the parks in denver offer beautiful views and a cool respite during the summer. Our state is beautiful in a diverse capacity and I love exploring it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would first like to shoutout my parents Kim Kori and Jahn Baker as both are artists as well and created this crazy journey for me. Beyond that I would shoutout every creative that I’ve encountered on my path.. you all have inspired me in some way and I’m eternally grateful.

Website: Tukeone.bigcartel.com

Instagram: @tukeone

Facebook: Tuke DF Crew

Image Credits
For portrait photo please credit @dittlo or Dittlo Digital