Mike Gerra
Art is my passion and primary creative pursuit since leaving a successful IT consulting career 5 years ago. My journey to full-time artist began as a black and white photographer, followed by owning and operating a contemporary art gallery, with my wife. This immersion in others' works inspired me to take the leap into creating my own art. I gravitate to the abstract. I am absolutely fascinated with fluid art, which allows paint to flow, sink, rise, mix and repel based on color density, viscosity, medium and substrate. For each work I carefully plan my composition, select my palette and layer and move colors independently and/or together, which allows the paint to take on a mind of its own. The result is an organic, fluid work with subtle hues, gradients and shapes. I primarily use acrylics on canvas, wood and aluminum panels. I make all my stretchers and large canvases (I am a competent self-taught carpenter). I subscribe to Camus's view: We have art in order not to die of life.