Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1964, Gerardo Diaz was raised in New York where he was exposed to the fine arts at an early age. He decided to start drawing after seeing his neighbor’s son’s comic book art which were extremely good. After that, Diaz would steal away to visit museums in the city and practice drawing all the time. During high school and back in Puerto Rico he studied for a short time at the Puerto Rican Cultural institute drawing and painting and later completed studies in architectural drafting in the Lyceum of art and technology in San Juan. From that time to the present Diaz has made it a task to put himself through a complete art school curriculum teaching himself basic drawing, charcoal, pastels, watercolours, acrylics, goauche, colored pencils, pen and ink, and oils. It took him about 20 years to accomplish and he is still studying techniques from the old masters. Among his favorites being Degas, Singer Sargent, Lord Frederick Leighton, Frank Frazetta, and Norman Rockwell to name a few. He has always considered himself a representational figure painter and although he paints every subject matter, his passion is still the figure and portraits.

Later in his life he moved to Beaufort South Carolina where he has had the opportunity to grow as an artist and be exposed to the arts of Savannah Georgia and Charleston South Carolina. In 2000 he won the People’s Choice award in the Beaufort Art Associations Spring Competition, in 2012 he was awarded 2nd place in the Charleston Piccolo Spoleto’s juried competition. His latest achievement was receiving awards for 1st place State and 1st Place National juried art competition for the Church of God ministries in 2014. Also in July 2014 edition of Celebrate Hilton Head and Bluffton an article was written about his artistic endeavors in the Low Country.

Diaz is currently living in Ft. Lauderdale Florida.