Chuck Black's upbringing in the outdoors provided him with a passion for nature ever since he can remember. What he remembers most is always trying to capture his time spent outside on paper. He has always loved to draw, but somewhere in his heart, he knew that wildlife conservation was what he really wanted to devote his life to. After high school, he attended the University of North Dakota where he received a degree in wildlife biology. For the next seven years thereafter, Chuck traveled to work for national parks and wildlife agencies across the country. Even though Chuck loved working in the field, his painting began to grow more and more as a part of his life. After relocating back to Montana in 2015, he took the leap to pursue his passion for art full-time after his artwork had recently been selected for both the California and Colorado state duck stamps. Over the next 10 years, Chuck sought to progress both his work in oils and the connections shared with his subjects, eventually leading him to winning the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Contest. At the same time, Chuck's work expanded into his true love of capturing the wilderness and our intimate experience within it. He is devoted to furthering his message of conservation storytelling through art and his mission to leave a positive impact on natural resources. Art is how I communicate my connection to the outdoors. My paintings are built from time spent in wild places, observing how land, wildlife, and weather exist together. Through this work, I aim to reflect the way these places are experienced over time.