Tom Balderas was born in Torrance, California. Living only a few miles from the ocean helped to instill in him a passion for the outdoors as well as a profound respect for nature. Drawing, painting, photographing and filming his surroundings from an early age have proven the creative life to be a certain fixture in his destiny.

After graduating from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in film production, Balderas worked several years, primarily for NBC, in the production of many made-for-TV movies. As a director and production manager for a network that specialized in antique auctions, he devoted all of his non-working hours to an obsession with drawing and painting which remains to this day. He is an Artist Member of the California Art Club.