Amanda was born in Philadelphia but grew up inside Washington DC.  One of her first memories is visiting the Natural history Museum where she remembers the life sized wooly mammoth, large blue whale on the ceiling, and playing on the triceratops sculpture out side.  She remained a city person until the age of 25, when she took up working trail crew for the Forest Service in Northern Idaho. Since then, she has lived in New Mexico, Utah, Michigan, and now, happily, Bozeman, Montana.
Amanda’s first art teacher was her grandmother, a ceramic artist, who taught her that art making is a process. Her focus is still on the process while working in encaustic.  She works in encaustic because of its possibilities for experimentation, such as using metal leaf and incising into the wax. Visually, she can create many layers, preserving the many steps that make up her unique work, such as layering a painting over a drawing.
Despite the fact that all artists are self - taught, she has been to College. Before becoming a full time artist, she also taught for 10 years on the college level as an adjunct professor.
When not making artwork, you can find her remodeling her home, recreating out side and spending time with her family. 
She welcomes commissions and would be delighted to create a work of art just for you.

www.amandwilner.com