My artistic life began in childhood. I was born and raised in New York City. I was encouraged by my family, and I learned to appreciate art by visiting galleries and museums and by education. This imbued me with an aesthetic sensitivity that has informed my life and work. I graduated from the High School of Music & Art (now the High School of Music and the Arts). I attended the Maryland Institute of Art.

I moved West, and after living and working in the San Francisco/Bay Area for several years, I continued my education and graduated from the University of California Berkeley with degrees in the Practice of Art, and Psychology, and my Masters in Social Welfare.

From 1990-2003 I worked as a psychotherapist (LCSW) In Quincy, California. I now live and have my studio in Dayton, Nevada.

My paintings are both abstract and impressionistic in style. I work on large canvases in oil paint and other media. Lyrical Abstraction, Neo-Abstract Expressionism-spontaneous, colorful, painterly gestures, emotive and personal would describe my style of work.

My pastel/watercolor drawings have an interpretive whimsical quality. Please visit my website amyhwachtel.com.

SELECTED AFFILIATIONS AND SHOWS

1990’s: Artist-member-Plumas County Arts Commission (CA) selected shows

            Lake Almanor Arts and Crafts Show, Lake Almanor, CA

2005-2007-Member Nevada Artist Association, Carson City, NV

2007-the Lyon County(NV) Dayton Gallery-solo show May 11, 2007

2015—16 Liberty Fine Arts Gallery, Reno, NV-

group shows

2015-Friends of Nevada Wilderness-Reno, NV group show

2020—present-Member Nevada Artists Association-

January 2021-New Years Show-Featured Artist

2021 Just the Right Size Show 

2021 Spirit of America Show 

2021 Nevada Day Show 

2022 Spring Has Sprung Show 

Gallery@Prism, Minden, NV

2021-Winter-group show