John Buck | Wood Sculpture

Carved Wood Sculpture
Buck says, "For the past several years, my work has focused on wood panels or constructions composed of laminated wood. The surface is carved by hand using large chisels and gouges that give a rippling effect almost like water. The surface can, in turn, be carved into again to make textures and flat surfaces that are painted or drawn upon. Throughout the compositions the handmade quality of the wooden objects and images within the construction gives it a visual continuity that has warmth to it unlike other materials.

The carved surfaces of the panels are reminiscent of Pacific Northwest and Native American architectural frontispieces. The rigid nature of the wood panel also allows me to cut holes in the surface with saws to create shadow boxes and niches that, once painted, create an ambiguous space into which other objects can be placed that can be sometimes graphic and sometimes contemplative. Specific images within these spaces offer up random as well as specific kinds of association. The organic nature of the material is complemented by contrasting brilliant and somber painted colors."

Carved Wood Sculpture


TRIO, 2009
Jelutong wood
52 x 21 x 7 inches
$28,000.



THE PERFECT FIT, 2008
Jelutong wood
72 x 36 x 9 inches
$28,000.




UNTITLED #1, 2007
Jelutong wood
100 x 29 x 12 inches
$26,000.




BLUE PALETTE, 2002
Jelutong wood with acrylic paint, 101.5 x 67 x 12.5 inches
$35,000.


Details of BLUE PALETTE



Carved Wood Wall Panels


Click on any image to enlarge:

LONGVIEW, 2008
Jelutong wood
143 x 48 x 4 inches
$50,000



JUNGLE BREEZES, 2007
Jelutong wood
48 x 96 x 3.75 inches
$45,000




CATACOMBS, 2004
Details of the sculpture:

Carved jelutong wood with acrylic, 72 x 72 x 3.5 inches
$28,000.




INDEX, 2003
Wood panel with acrylic
48 x 48 x 2.75
$23,000.




TAJ MAHAL, 2003
Detail of the sculpture:

Carved jelutong wood with acrylic, 48 x 48 x 2.75 inches
$23,000.




THE LEVEE, 2003
Details of the sculpture:

Carved jelutong wood with acrylic, 48 x 48 x 2.75 inches
$28,000.




TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, 2003
Detail of the sculpture:

Carved jelutong wood with acrylic, 48 x 48 x 2.75 inches
$23,000.






THE CZAR, 2004
Details of the sculpture:


Carved jelutong wood with acrylic, 48 x 48 x 3.5 inches
$23,000.




THE CASTLE, 1997
Carved jelutong wood with acrylic, 36 x 38 x 3 inches
$16,000.


Details of THE CASTLE




Installation view of BLACK SANDS, 1997 and CASTLE, 1997
Carved jelutong wood with acrylic, 36 x 36 x 3 inches each
$16,000. each

The artist writes:
"For the past several years, my work has focused on wood panels or constructions composed of laminated wood. The surface is carved by hand using large chisels and gouges that give a rippling effect almost like water. The surface can, in turn, be carved into again to make textures and flat surfaces that are painted or drawn upon. Throughout the compositions the handmade quality of the wooden objects and images within the construction gives it a visual continuity that has warmth to it unlike other materials."

"The carved surfaces of the panels are reminiscent of Pacific Northwest and Native American architectural frontispieces. The rigid nature of the wood panel also allows me to cut holes in the surface with saws to create shadow boxes and niches that, once painted, create an ambiguous space into which other objects can be placed that can be sometimes graphic and sometimes contemplative. Specific images within these spaces offer up random as well as specific kinds of association. The organic nature of the material is complemented by contrasting brilliant and somber painted colors."