Artist Profile: Mike Flora
Mike Flora
5287 Foxridge Drive
Mission, KS 66202
Bio:
As a painter of landscapes I employ color, value and edge treatment to help transform a two-dimensional surface into one that portrays the illusion of space and time drawing the viewer in, encouraging pause and reflection. Not because this is an image never before seen, but instead evoking a retained experience similar to that which I’ve depicted. By calling forth a memory where they have experienced these same conditions of mood, lighting and temperature I’m hoping to engage with the viewer. This one natural moment in time and space becomes a shared experience between the viewer and painter. My part in these communions is to serve as archivist, capturing the impression left behind so we are able to experience the moment time and again. Working on location is a very important part of the process because of how much more informed the observer becomes when experiencing the natural world first hand. Working in open air allows the painter to take in so much more because of the heightened sense of observation presented by all that surrounds and feeds your senses, resulting in a more proficient response. While photos can later serve as an effective aid, they will never provide all of the information gleaned from working in the open air.