B I O G R A P H Y Gerard Mortier’s work takes the viewer on an intimate tour of the country he knows and loves best, the Opal Coast of France, a seaside stretch of land on the English Channel from Calais to Etaples. Considered to be the “ambassador of the Opal Coast”, Mortier brings to life the region’s beaches, farms, fishing boats and winding village streets. Ambivalent weather and ever-changing light are captured through his masterful use of broad strokes and vibrant colors. Traversing the region with his easel, Gerard paints as the light of the moment inspires him. The soft mauves and blues of the skies and the luminescent immaculate white facades, blue shutters, and brilliant orange rooftops of the region’s houses are typical of Gerard’s work. Using a thick application of paint with a palette knife and brush, impasto style, and large vertical and horizontal planes of brilliant color, he makes palpable the power of the wind and sea that characterize this part of France. When not traveling, Gerard also finds subjects to paint in the tranquil garden of his rustic country home in the northern part of his country.