Nigel and Lily embracing at sea print by Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake Portland

Amanda Blake lives and works in Portland, Oregon. She received her BA in fine arts from the University of Oregon, studied watercolor in Siena, Italy and oil painting and print making at the Chautauqua Art Institute in New York. Inspired by religious and literary symbolism, art history, superstition and found photography she works to create narratives that are at once familiar and mysterious. Her paintings often features groupings of figures; families, couples, siblings, friends, both to explore the dynamic that can be created in a piece through small gestures and glances and to create a narrative people can identify with emotionally. Current obsessions and inspirations include imaginary friends, consumerism, superstition, fortune telling, wildflowers, places she's never been or ever plans to go, the colors of faded Polaroids, and other people's family snapshots.