KICKSTARTER Campaign a SUCCESS!

I want to SHARE with all the aspiring and even established artists reading this blog that I have had an EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE with KICKSTARTER. For those who may not be familiar, KICKSTARTER. Is a crowd-sourced funding agency for a vast array of projects, including publishing (that's me!) and a wide range of artistic projects. I launched my campaign in the last week of November and it is terminating tomorrow. The good news is...I have successfully reached my funding goal !

The Cover Art for Book 2 of my trilogy writing project...the object of my KICKSTARTER Campaign.

KICKSTARTER is a world leader in the crowd-source funding industry. If YOU have a great idea for a creative project that requires funding, I highly recommend you take a shot at a KICKSTARTER. Campaign.

However, here is a warning that you really should take to heart. There are many bottom-feeding predators who will offer you the deal of the century in helping you reach your funding goal. One of the worst offenders in that unsavory business is a nefarious company called MONSTER SOCIAL MARKETING ( BOO HISS! )that got through to me about half-way through my campaign. Despite their glowing promises they delivered absolutely nothing in terms of contributions but were happy to take my money.

The takeaway? You really should have a solid network of family, friends and business colleagues in place if you decide this is something you would like to tackle. Oh yeah, a fabulous, compelling, brilliant idea wouldn't hurt either.

Take a look at my KICKSTARTER Campaign in its final hours...here is the link.

Usually, the very best paintings are the ones that you do for your own pleasure, such as "Amethyst Mountain". 

One of the most dynamic "REWARDS" that I offered in my campaign was...for every contribution of CA$500 or more, I will create an original work of art, based on the contributor's favorite photo or idea! This concept EXPLODED, with 5 takers!

Another recent favorite..."The Magic Cup". Would it surprise you to hear that both of these were SOLD to an art collector?

Visit my website at www.mrgaudet.com to read more and to purchase Book 1 of the trilogy, called "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality". If you have already read Book 1, I would invite you to leave your impressions in the comments below. Good, bad or ugly, all comments are welcome. Just remember, play nice!

With the "Dancing..." banner at The Watrous Manitou. To purchase please visit www.mrgaudet.com .

Kickstarter Campaign a SUCCESS at 121% w 66 Hours remaining!

On the theme of GRATITUDE...

On the theme of "gratitude", I would be remiss not to mention my gorgeous bride and soul-mate, Sharon. Here we are on our wedding day with my mom and step-father.

My heart and spirit are brimming over with gratitude this evening as I ponder the excellent fact:the Kickstarter Campaign that I created to usher in the launch of Book 2 of my writing trilogy is a SUCCESS at 121% w 66 Hours remaining!

My beautiful mom and I on my wedding day.

Called: "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved", book 2 has now officially generated advance sales of 100 copies. It just goes to show you, with an authentic heart and proven track record of success, there is nothing you cannot accomplish if you set your heart on it, and work your butt off.

One of the things that I persisted in doing over the brief flare of the campaign was to post regular "updates" that were made available to all of my generous contributors, as well as anyone else in my social media networks who cared to dive in.

Now, in the final hours of the campaign, I am happy to post one of the final updates.

It is a tribute to my loving, generous and highly intelligent mother.

Please click here for the tribute. I love you Mom!

Sprinting to the Finish Line w Kickstarter

Dear Readers,

After the successful launch of the 1st book of my trilogy (please visit my website www.mrgaudet.com for much more on this) I am now working hard to publish the 2nd book...called "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved".

My goal with this is to sell 100 copies in advance, to establish a built-in fan base when it comes out in the spring of 2017. Just to let you know, the book is completely finished and now, I am going through the manuscript with a fine tooth comb to weed out any small typos and to polish it up for its imminent publication.

My appeal to you is to visit my Kickstarter Campaign ( Here is the link to the Campaign) that I have created to usher in the launch. At this moment, I have reached 63% of my target goal of $5000.00, with 11 days to go!

To communicate the meaning of the Campaign, I created a video for you all to watch:




This video (above) is short and sweet...less than three and a half minutes.

Now, there are a few details of the Campaign that I would like to share, though when you visit you will see much more. 

Every Canadian contributor of CA$50.00 or more will receive not only a hand-signed copy of the book in the mail, but also YOUR NAME will be printed with GRATITUDE under the "ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS" section in the front of the book. You will see your NAME in PRINT when you receive your copy!

Spoiler Alert: I have opted to use a very powerful photo of this artist at the height of his career, working on the finishing touches of the truly monumental mural that this bog is dedicated to: The March of Trinity at Sacred Heart Chaldean Catholic Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Should you question the voracity of this statement, I would invite you take a sneak peek at the cover design...of Book 2 of the trilogy:

Cover Art for Book 2 of the trilogy, "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved".

In case you have not the 1st book of the trilogy called "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality", I would like to offer you a FREE SAMPLE of the 1st 90 pages! Click on this link...it will whisk you away to the free sample of the 1st 90 pages...that will take you right into the thick of the story.

Sometimes life and career does a complete 360 degree turn, or in other words, comes around full-circle! That is indeed, what happened in the case of my beloved, charmed "Trinity" design. What do I mean by this statement, you ask? Well, in 1981...a full THREE DECADES before the creation of "March of Trinity" at Sacred Heart, I was commissioned at the age of 23 to design and paint a mural that I called...in a precognitive moment..."Trinity 1981". I would like to show you  pictures of this early, seminal mural:

Working on the early phases of "Trinity 1981" at age 23.

I was truly blessed at the age of 23 to be the recipient of a "vision" that resulted in the commission to design and paint the mural :"Trinity 1981". I go into lucid detail in Book 1 of the trilogy...the thought process and all of the machinations behind this pivotal work of art. This commission launched my career as a painter of monumental murals, and 30 years later, was pivotal in my bid to paint the most monumental mural of all: The March of Trinity.

My beautiful mother Shirley Gaudet stood with the late Archbishop James Hayes and I after the official unveiling of "Trinity 1981" at St. Mary's Basilica.

After the completion of "Trinity 1981", there was an official unveiling attended by not only the late Archbishop James Hayes, but also many family and friends, including my beautiful, loving mother, Shirley Gaudet.

The finished mural "Trinity 1981".

Readers of "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality" will understand the significance of the timing and importance of this mural in forging ahead with my career as a painter of monumental murals. Also, they will appreciate the artistic reasoning that fueled the project.

I created a triangular version of the "Trinity" mural that was widely circulated. I sent a copy to the Vatican that, incredibly for a young artist, elicited an official response on the Vatican stationary.

Now, in that "twist of fate" that I referred to earlier, I would like to show you the mural that I was commissioned to paint 30 years later. It is the "March of Trinity" at Sacred Heart Chaldean Catholic Church. The reason I take such pains to point this is out is because...in a similar fashion that "Trinity 1981" was described in Book 1 of the trilogy, "March of Trinity"...which is on a much more monumental scale but was in fact preceded conceptually by the mural at St. Mary's Basilica... a deeper and more informed description in a literary setting unfolds in Book 2.  

The finished "March of Trinity" mural at Sacred Heart Chaldean Catholic Church in Saskatoon.

Please take a minute now to visit the Kickstarter Campaign that I described earlier. The widget below will take you directly to the Campaign. I will reward you with my deepest gratitude and as described at the top of this post, your NAME will APPEAR in PRINT as a sign of my gratitude along with, of course, a signed copy of Book 2 delivered to your mailbox in the spring of 2017, about 6 months from now. Finally, it would mean the world to me if you would deign to SHARE this with your friends and colleagues. THANKING you in advance, TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS.

God Help Us Reach the Target!

Well, I am seriously delighted to say...at over 50% home-free with the Kickstarter Campaign that I created to usher in Book 2 of the trilogy, I believe that I will succeed with raising my target goal!

Cover Art for Book 2 of the Trilogy

With 15 days to go, I am cautiously optimistic that this campaign will be totally successful! This can only happen with YOUR help though, so please take a look to see what all the excitement is about. Kickstarter has provided me with option of generating a live widget for you to visit the site. I think that is a lot more interesting than just a link, don't you? OK, stand by and I will generate it...


There it is...above. When you click on the widget, you will be transported directly to the campaign. How cool is that? Just remember, there are many rewards coming to you when you contribute, as you will see!

Seriously, Over 50% There!

Well, I am seriously delighted to say...at over 50% home-free with the Kickstarter Campaign that I created to usher in Book 2 of the trilogy, I believe that I will succeed with raising my target goal!

Cover Art for Book 2 of the Trilogy

With 15 days to go, I am cautiously optimistic that this campaign will be totally successful! This can only happen with YOUR help though, so please take a look to see what all the excitement is about. Kickstarter has provided me with option of generating a live widget for you to visit the site. I think that is a lot more interesting than just a link, don't you? OK, stand by and I will generate it...


There it is...above. When you click on the widget, you will be transported directly to the campaign. How cool is that? Just remember, there are many rewards coming to you when you contribute, as you will see!

Working on Book 2 of Trilogy

When you click on this widget , it will take you directly to the Kickstarter Campaign that I have created to usher in the launch of Book 2 of the trilogy...

W

A Better picture of the cover art of "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved" :

Cover Art of Book 2 of the trilogy.

As you can see by the widget above, I have reached 31% of my funding goal within about the 1st week since launching the campaign. Thank so much to all of the early contributors. My expectation, with the widget, is that it will inform you, in real time, of the advance of the campaign. How cool is that?
 

Kickstarter Campaign to Usher in Book 2

Hello friends and allies...I am excited to announce the creation of the Kickstarter Campaign to usher in the imminent arrival of Book 2 of the trilogy...called "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother saved".

Here is the cover art:

Cover Art for Book 2 of the trilogy!

Please click through to this link to visit the Kickstarter Campaign. And also, if the spirit moves you...please SHARE the link with your friends. Writing is my PASSION PROJECT...please help support this with your contribution. Thank You!

Also...truth be known, we are JUST getting started with my 1st book "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality"...with several hundred copies sold worldwide. Here is the cover art for "Dancing...":

Holding "Dancing with Rejection" in front of the official banner.

Please visit www.mrgaudet.com , where you will find all 3 formats (Hard-cover, Paper-back and EBook) available.

This is do or die for me as a Dialysis Warrior of 32 months with no end in sight. Stay well...

And remember...please SHARE this link: 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/993552549/a-work-in-progress-the-life-my-brother-saved

DISQUALIFIED from Sask Book Awards

"The Art of Michael R. Gaudet has generated 54.882 views to date..."

How ironic! The Saskatchewan Book Awards has REJECTED my application for the 2016 "First Book Award". For my part, I innocently decided to pay my hard-earned money for a revision round with my publisher, which sadly resulted in a long, agonizing delay in getting the shiny new version in my hands...thanks to a screw-up from my publisher. This unprofessional mess resulted in my
disqualification. 

So, I must console myself that "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality" relies on the fact that it is enjoying grassroots support and success with hundreds and hundreds of copies being purchased and read by you. On that note, THANK YOU for all of your continued support. It is EXTREMELY gratifying that you appreciate all of the energy, passion and love that I have poured into this writing project. 

As a Dialysis Warrior...it's going on 32 months with absolutely no end in sight!...it is vitally important to me that I MUST carry on with my writing. God only knows if I will survive long enough to publish book 2 and book 3 of the trilogy. There are NO guarantees whatsoever that I will ever be the recipient of a 2nd "Gift of Life", as you know very well. This is my appeal to go over the heads of the Saskatchewan Book Awards, who in their wisdom have disqualified "Dancing with Rejection" from an award. Please help prove them wrong with your continued support. 

This is a rallying call for all of my friends and supporters to rise above this temporary setback...please visit www.mrgaudet.com where you will find all 3 formats of "Dancing..." available, including of course the EBook version. I would certainly appreciate if you SHARE this with your friends...together we can continue with the groundswell of good will and support for my Passion Project. When you visit my website, you will see some very high power endorsements from several amazing supporters. ((Mind Blown!!)) Can you help out...you will NOT be disappointed. This book is like a "life support system" for me, and my most valiant and authentic effort to earn my "mark" on the world while I still have the energy...albeit flagging as dialysis drags interminably on and on...to carry on.

About the Artist/Author:

Dialysis: A case of "Do Or Die"...for the indefinite future...


Will You Love My Book?

All-Inclusive Spa/Painting Retreat Weekend

Please stay tuned in the coming days for the skinny on an "All-Inclusive Spa/13-Step to a Finished Painting Retreat Weekend". In this day and age of rushing from one activity to the next, it might be very refreshing to set aside an entire weekend to pamper yourself at the world-famous "Manitou Springs Mineral Spa".

I checked in with the manager of the Spa and she very graciously sat with me to create a price list for both single and double occupancy, that includes meals and soaks (in the zero-gravity mineral waters that attract hundreds of thousands of people every year!) that will beautifully compliment my offering of the "13 Steps to a Finished Painting" Workshop.

After 3 very successful workshops this summer and fall, I felt it was time to up the ante with an all-inclusive weekend. I really believe that the combination of benefits with the super-relaxing soak/float along with nice meals and the workshop will make for excellent results ( re: the painting) and the participants will be thrilled with the finished piece that they may subsequently hang in their homes with pride and self-satisfaction.

Participants in a recent "13 Steps to a Finished Painting" Workshop with their completed paintings.

It gives me a lot of satisfaction and pleasure to witness the delight of the participants when they see how rewarding the 13-steps technique really is! I have heard time and time again from my "peeps" how delighted and surprised even, they are when they complete a vivid, gorgeous painting in the allotted time. I carefully guide them through all the technical steps...nothing flim-flammy in my process! Actually, I create an atmosphere of total trust. With hands-on step-by-step demonstrations, I thoughtfully carry the group through all of the specific 13 steps so that each and every one of you comes out the other end of the (total of) 8 hours over two days. All that I ask is that everyone follow along with every step, so that you are guaranteed to arrive at a strikingly beautiful, original work of art! 

Lest you need a bit more convincing, Manitou Springs Mineral Spa has been the recipient of multiple awards over the past few years. This workshop will be a REALLY good time!

Now, before I sign off, go ahead and check my website to get a feel for my qualifications as one of Canada's leading "painter of monumental murals". Over the years, I have perfected and streamlined my painting technique...thus I can offer this expedited, accelerated "13-Step" workshop with 100% confidence.

As stated earlier, I will follow this post up with a "W-5" (Who, What, Where, Why, When) poster. Spoiler Alert: The workshop will take place on the weekend of November 12-13, 2016.

Stay tuned...over and out for now.

Beyond Mural-Painting...the Art of Writing

 Even as a painter (of some repute in Canada) of monumental murals... the writing and publication of my first book was a daunting task...perhaps the most challenging project ever!

After a (wildly successful) kidney transplant that sustained me for over 34 years, I arrived full-circle back on dialysis in mid-May of 2014.

One of the 1st things I did after returning to dialysis was to purchase a laptop. I wanted to put my time to good use and this is what I have done. After a long simmering process of writing and thinking, I decided that there was much more urgency to finish and publish my book. After all, if I didn't do it, it would NEVER get done and that was simply not an option!

Within about one year my ambition was honored by the universe and I was treated to the thrill of holding the first "copy proofs" of (what we'll call) Book 1 in my hands. There are a lot of moving parts to a project of this magnitude so I am sure you can imagine what a huge rush it was to finally materialize such an ethereal pursuit! "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality" was squeezed out of the ether and into the material world.

Now, the 1st book of the trilogy is out and receiving VERY positive reviews from some highly respected sources. Check my website to see for yourself. Point your search engine here for that.

I wish I had boundless energy to convince you to pick up my book...to join the hundreds of readers who are part and parcel of a growing, vibrant world-wide community. Last week, for instance, readers from California, England, Nova Scotia, Ohio and Ottawa acquired a copy! 

Daniel Bushman of the Watrous Manitou Newspaper photographs the artist, standing with the official banner trumpeting www.mrgaudet.com.

Not to put too fine a point on it...however it must be said that certain acts of creativity can be achieved through the "art of writing" that are pretty impossible in any other medium. Even as an accomplished visual artist (of some repute) I can say with all honesty that the nuances, color, contrast and vividness of "magical realism" in writing has the power to evoke subtle changes in the emotional make-up of the reader. I'd even go so far as to suggest, when done extremely well, the impact can be PROFOUND!

Here, I am going to share a link with you...the 1st 90 pages of "Dancing..." This will carry you right into the thick of the story, so hang on for the ride!

Homage to the Humble Bumble-Bee

With all the buzz in our global media about the near and present dangers facing the ubiquitous bumblebee, I thought it was a fitting tribute to portray one of these magnificent creatures in a work of art. Fittingly, my Facebook feed popped up a painting this morning from 2012 called "Homage to the Humble Bumble-Bee".  Take a look:

"Homage to the Humble Bumble-Bee" painted in 2012.

This painting was posted on my Facebook feed just after I finished it and it created quite a buzz! In fact, the very same day, it was snapped up by a dear old friend in Nova Scotia. I quite like the vivid colors of the flower that are nicely offset by the soft focus, imaginary background. But the star of the image is the humble bumble-bee, one of my favorite of Mother Nature's creations.

About the Artist/Author:

Posing with Daniel Bushman of the Watrous/Manitou Newspaper with my book and banner "Dancing with Rejection"

Will You Love My Book?

A Visual Prayer for Every Dialysis Warrior

In 1979 at age 19 I was admitted into the ER at Sunnybrooke Medical Center in Toronto. The diagnosis was "End Stage Renal Failure". Without emergency "dialysis" treatment I would be dead in a matter of hours. It was a full-blown "Near Death Experience". It was hastily decided that I would require surgery to initiate a "Shribner Shunt" that would allow immediate life-saving dialysis. It was do or die!

Emergency surgery to initiate a "Shribner Shunt" allowed immediate life-saving dialysis therapy.

Despite the gravity of the situation, it was the best news I could have hoped for that day. Sure beat the obvious conclusion of any further procrastination. It would NOT have been pretty.

Once I was feeling marginally better a couple of months later, I designed and painted a mural called "Recovery 1", which I donated to the hospital that saved my life. Talk about grateful. My desire with the mural was to inspire everyone who saw it to strive toward their own recovery in whatever form.

"Recovery 1" designed and painted at age 19 in Toronto.

Only 7 months after being admitted (though admittedly if felt like an eternity) my brother Steven stepped up with incredible courage and generosity to donate a kidney to me. This Gift of Life sustained me for over 34 years, a longevity record in Western Canada! It was in mid-May of 2014 that my transplanted kidney finally gave up the ghost and I was obliged to return to thrice-weekly dialysis treatments.

It was a glorious time. Other than twice annual check-ups and diligent compliance with my anti-rejection medications, it seemed like an ordinary, healthy life. Having said that, the contrast between living dialysis free and dialysis dependent could not be more marked! 

I decided at the time of my Near Death Experience...at age 19...that I would not leave this planet without creating a lasting impression of my time here. The concept of mural-painting as a way to accomplish this was rather self-evident...so mural-painting it was! This link will steer you to my mural-painting portfolio.

Three times a week for 4 hours each time...dialysis is a life-saving intervention as I await a 2nd Gift of Life.

Fast forward to 2015. Once I realized that my fate was sealed to return back to dialysis, I began to contemplate a revised design for my notorious "Recovery" motif. Thus, "Recovery 15" was created. This time around, I specifically included a kidney embedded into the lower right abdomen of the final figure on the far right and that figure is striding energetically off the canvas. My vision for this latest mural is for it to stand as a powerful "Visual Prayer" for my own (eventual, God willing) second "Gift of Life" aka a second kidney transplant! I also want this image to be a source of inspiration for EVERY dialysis warrior who is on that challenging quest for a "Gift of Life". 

In "Recovery '15, the figure on the far right strides off the canvas with the "Gift of Life".

As another bid for "immortality" I was compelled to write my memoir that would chronicle my Near Death Experience and my triumphant kidney transplant. The book would also track my rise to become one of Canada's most successful painter of monumental-scale murals. The book explores the bohemian times of the 60's through to the 80's in cities across Canada. Titled "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality", please visit www.mrgaudet.com to read more about this project and to purchase a copy. It's only one click away.

It was a natural, organic decision to incorporate the image of "Recovery '15" as the cover art for my 1st book. What better way to spread the "Visual Prayer" across the globe to be a catalyst for the millions upon millions of dialysis warriors to continue on their harrowing quest for that elusive Gift of Life that has the potential to lead to a healthy, robust life, freedom from the machine? 

"Recovery '15" was the natural choice to become the cover art for "Dancing with Rejection..."

I decided to add this image to my Fine Art America portfolio so now, it is readily available as a museum-quality replication. Steer your search engine here to see all of the available formats. I am doing my part with this image to continue, as a working artist, to raise awareness of kidney health. It is an undertaking that looms large in the world, as millions of everyday people...your brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, loved ones and friends...continue to grapple with kidney disease and its fallout every day. God help us all.