By Morgan Mizell

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Archie Tucker III learned about drawing from his older brother, Javarous Thomas, at the age of 5.

“I did not start taking any art classes until I got to third grade,” Tucker said. “I learned about some different forms of art then and also started painting.”

As Tucker aged, his talent was just something cool he was doing, and by the sixth grade, he was learning the techniques of pencil drawings. Although he has taken some classes in other mediums of art, pencil drawings remain his favorite.

“Portraits are my favorite,” Tucker said. “They draw a lot of attention, and people like to have their pictures drawn or that of their family or famous people.”

Some of his works include pencil portraits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Janet Jackson and Muhammad Ali among others. Most of his work focuses on the subject from the shoulders up on roughly 11 x 14 drawing paper; however, he has done much larger works that were more involved.

“I did a backdrop of ‘Soul Train’ for a family,” Tucker said. “They used it for a backdrop during a family get-together they were having.”

Before this large piece, Tucker had not charged for his work. A family member from the gathering offered him something for the “Soul Train” piece anyway and allowed him to see his gift could also be used as a way to support himself.

Tucker found art to be therapeutic and helpful at a time in his life when he needed something. Between his junior and senior year of high school, Tucker’s father, Archie Tucker, Jr., passed away.

“I had not been focusing on art that much before that time,” Tucker said. “Every time I would think of him, I would draw and feel better.”

After his high school graduation, Tucker enrolled in Copiah-Lincoln Community College and studied welding.

“I think my drawing skills really helped me to excel as a welder,” Tucker said. “I graduated at the top of my class.”

Tucker believes his gifts are of God. Today, he has dreams of taking his art to new heights and eventually opening a building to help other young artists in the area and in other areas. He especially wants other young men to know there are possibilities in the area of art.

“Go for it,” Tucker said. “If you think there is a chance, go for it. No matter what you do, someone out there is going to like it and even if someone doesn’t like something, take the criticisms and learn from them. They are only making you greater.”

Tucker said his work usually takes him several hours of continuous work. He is currently looking into other mediums, but he seems to remain fond of the black and white effect he creates with pencil work; however, he is looking into a more realistic, almost photographic, medium called dry pencil art.

Tucker says he is always ready to do more work and he is going to make his dreams of owning an art studio a reality, even if they do not happen here.

“If things don’t go like I want here with getting a building, I will go back to Minnesota,” Tucker said. “I will link up with some people there and maybe from there I will get to come back to Mississippi and have some places here, too.”

Anyone wishing to contact Archie can do so by emailing him, archietucker20@yahoo.com.