Life has handed Amanda Luck Baltzell the opportunity to marry her greatest passions by capturing her love of wildlife through the eye of a lens, then bringing it to life in her talents as an artist.  Living at a remote Salmon Hatchery allows her to spend much needed time around the wildlife she photographs and paints. 

Each pastel painting starts with the eyes, "Because they put the life in the painting". She starts with a pencil sketch of the eyes, then finishes them by blocking in the colors and moves out from there.  Details are finished as she moves throughout the painting.  Each animal comes to life through her finger-blending method that she says blends colors and softens hard edges.  A work is complete when the colors and detail have brought back the memory of seeing the animal in person.

Amanda is honored to have won many awards for her paintings.   Some of these include Peoples Choice and Judges Choice awards in national juried shows.   In 2005, she received a 5^th place award in the Pastel Journal’s 7^th Annual Pastel 100 Competition, Animal and Wildlife Category.  She was included in their Best Art of 2005 issue.

Amanda’s work is represented by Grand Teton Gallery, Jackson, WY and Pitzer’s Fine Arts, Wimberley, TX.