ROB TUCKERMAN 

EDUCATION

1973-1977    Trent University, Peterborough BSc (Hons) Biology

1979-1981    Trent University, Peterborough MSc Biology

        1979, 1980 Ontario Graduate Scholarships

        Thesis: Breeding behaviour and life history of a northern population of the spring 

        peeper Hyla crucifer

1983-1988    University of Toronto PhD Program Zoology (to be completed)

        1983, 1984, 1985 Natural Science and Engineering Research Council Scholarships, 1986 U of T Open Fellowship

        Major: Animal Behaviour

        Minors: Population Genetics/History and Philosophy of Science Victorian Classification Systems

        Thesis: Bionomics and development of a sociality in the primitively eusocial bee Seladonia confusus

2007-2010    Associate Scholar, University of Toronto Institute of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology

ARTWORK AND ILLUSTRATION

1980        Illustrated  The North Atlantic Coast, A Sierra Club Field Guide by Michael and Deborah Berrill (85 illustrations)

1984        Illustrated Farley Mowat book Sea of Slaughter (21 illustrations)

1986        Illustrated David Suzuki book Looking at Insects (16 illustrations)

1987        Illustrations in Ontario Bird Breeding Atlas (16 illustrations)

1988        Illustrations in On the Brink (6 illustrations)

1988        Jaguar Cars Canada and World Wildlife Fund Canada Commission for the campaign to advertise Jaguar Reserve, Belize

1989-93    Artwork and design used in World Wildlife Fund Canada Guardian of the Rainforest Campaign

                Artwork and design used in WWF Canada Endangered Species Illustrations used in various other WWF Canada Campaigns.

1992-95    WWF Schools for the Rainforest. Designed, wrote and illustrated various educational materials for schools.

1995-96    Taught part-time in Faculty of Forestry at Sir Sanford Fleming College, Frost Campus, Lindsay, Ontario.

                 Developed course on drawing for biology students which was then taught each semester for the next 10 years.

1999-00    Collaborated with Hopscotch Interactive Inc. to develop education software and print material (University of Toronto)

2004-08    Received contract from University of California Press to write and illustrate the book, Darwin’s Orchids: The Story

                 of how Darwin’s research on orchids and their insect visitors shaped evolutionary biology.

                 Recreated Darwin’s experiments and dissections, producing hundreds of colour and pencil illustrations. Text and illustrations complete.

- Present    Writing and illustrating proposals including children’s book series All the Little Live Things and The Other Wasps and Bees.

DESIGN AND WOODWORKING

1971-1981    

• Apprenticed during construction of 50 foot traditional sailing ketch, Bluegum, at Bronte, Ontario (subsequently boat surveyed to Lloyds 100A1 construction rating)
• Built 3 flatwater kayaks, restored rowing skiff and several traditional Peterborough canoes.

to Present    

• Current projects are Oughtred Humblebee lapstrake 8 foot dinghy plus an Australian TK1 marathon race kayak.
• Run a small shop using a mix of machine and hand tool techniques.
• Good knowledge of native woods, traditional hand tool use.
• Cut, harvested and milled own hardwood lumber.
• Maintain a small leather working shop using traditional techniques and tools, hand stitching.

BLUEGUM DESIGN INC.    www.bluegumdesign.ca  Instagram@bluegumdesign

2010         Founded design company. 

• Researched interior design history of Trent University, which for a brief time had the best and most comprehensive collection of original Canadian mid-century             design.    
• Designed, built and marketed a line of furnishings including leather safari and lounge chairs, side and coffee tables, inspired by some of Trent’s original furniture.
• Furniture featured in articles the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Chatelaine, Dwell, Trent Alumnus Magazine and Universities Affairs.
• Produced all the technical drawings and designs and templates for wood and leather components.
• Designed, built and marketed “Bookmule” knock down book cases.
• Restored and built furniture for a number of clients including building a complete suite of common room furniture (chairs, couches, coffee, side and tea tables)             inspired by Trent’s early downtown colleges.

2014-16    

• Designed a project that garnered the support of the Dalglish Family Foundation to restore the Trent University Champlain College former Senior Common Room, now used as a student cafe space. Restored all existing furniture, plus built over two dozen pieces from original plans.
• Organized an exhibit when the room was featured in Ontario Heritage Trust Doors Open 2015.

YELLOW LINE RULE        www.yellowlinerule.com    Instagram@yellowlinerule

• Design and manufacture line of classic veg tan leather cycling accessories     (wallets, tool rolls) for cyclists. Construction techniques are a blend of production             machine and hand work. Wallets are all hand-sewn and finished).
• YLR products have sold to over 20 countries and corporate clients such as Shimano, Pearl Izumi and Peloton magazine.

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Experienced with film (darkroom) and digital. Designed/built numerous pinhole cameras.
• Did photography for Bluegum and YLR websites and social media.