Don't be a Hero, Papa !

In April 2014, my daughter Ilara told me in plaintive tones, "Don't be a hero, Papa. Forget about 'setting a World's Record'  for longest kidney transplant! Just get started with dialysis soon, before you have a stroke or worse with all the toxins in your blood! I don't want to lose you! Promise me you will not wait much longer. Promise!"

A Work-in-Progress... my beautiful daughter Ilara comes to life on my easel.

This heart-felt appeal, voiced with such urgency and poignancy... was a big part in my decision to agree with my doctor's equally urgent admonition.

Of course my wife Sharon had a lot to say about it... really, we KNEW the time was near, so we undertook to travel between Saskatchewan and my home province of Nova Scotia. It is 4287 kilometers each way, and we drove the distance TWICE each way in 2012 and 2013! In rough figures, that was 17,148 kms of driving all told.

Of course I DID return to thrice-weekly dialysis treatments, or else I would be long-gone.

Dialysis: Do or DIE!

There is a saying, "Dialysis: Do or Die!"

It is with all of this and more in mind as I proceed through each day... and week, and month.

I have no time or desire for a 'pity party". At all.

I will keep on writing and painting, loving and caring about the heaped-on blessings of LIFE and a LIFE WELL-LIVED.

It is a with a deep well of GRATITUDE for my energy levels that allow me to stay HAPPY and PRODUCTIVE.

About the Artist/ Author

Please visit www.mrgaudet.com to read more about Michael, his artwork and writing projects.

"The Secret Wish of Dragon H" Kickstarter

I am writing to congratulate my talented daughter Ilara Stefaniuk-Gaudet on the success of her Kickstarter Campaign . Ilara has created a compelling illustrated "Children's Book", as the theme of her Kickstarter called  "The Secret Wish of Dragon H".

The author holds one of her original illustrations from "The Secret Wish of Dragon H".

The author's goal with the campaign was to pre-sell 100 signed copies of her book and she has successfully accomplished this in the 1st 5 days of the 30 days she has allowed. 

Now, she will carry on to hopefully generate additional funds from worldwide contributors (that would be YOU) to offset some of the hefty production costs. 

In addition, Ilara has created several STRETCH GOALS aimed at raising awareness of the LBGTQ community. To read more please visit and support her Kickstarter Campaign.

Please visit this link to find out what all of the buzz is about. 

Illustration from "Secret Wish of Dragon H"...

This is the time for social change and enlightenment, and I am proud to say... that this project has the power to nudge ahead with this goal.

This post is not only a CONGRATULATIONS to you, Ilara, but also ENCOURAGEMENT to keep YOUR EYES on the PRIZE... I hope that your campaign will continue to flourish and that also, your excellence will be celebrated and appreciated by "those that matter". 

Now, I am launching a special appeal to all of my readers to please SHARE this POST with all of your friends. 

SHARING is CARING :)

About the Author/Artist: 

Michael R. Gaudet stands in front of the "Dancing with Rejection" banner, holding one of his books.
To read more, please visit www.mrgaudet.com 

'65 GMC Truck Painting

One of the "rewards" that I offered in my recent "Kickstarter" campaign... created to pre-sell advance, signed copies of my 2nd book (called "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved") was... for every contribution of $500.00 or more, I would create a painting based on the photo or idea of your choice!

Four individuals opted for this reward during the course of the campaign.

Here is a picture of one, that is finished:

Painting of '65 GMC truck, for a "Kickstarter" campaign reward, in return for a contribution of $500.00 or more.

I wanted to post this to let you all know that indeed, I am busily fulfilling my obligations to the generous contributors to my Kickstarter campaign, even as I carry on with the #1 goal of finishing the manuscript for Book 2... and also, bringing it closer every day to the ultimate goal of publication!

About the Artist/Author:  

To read more about both my artwork and writing projects, please visit www.mrgaudet.com

A Visceral, Mystical Painting Experience to Share

Yesterday morning, I was working on the manuscript for my 2nd book in my Trilogy Writing Project called "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved" and the chapters that described the "Visceral, Mystical Painting Experience" aka "Vision" was in my cross-hairs. The writing projects back to the year 1992.

It is a very emotional chapter, as it describes the hands-on approach that my dearly departed blood-brother Douglas Severight took during the painting process. Not to give too much away, however it can be said that this was an experience like no other in my long painting career!

I felt the powerful energy that Douglas poured into the painting, as he hovered over my hand as I worked, imparting a current of energy into my brushes.

The end result looked like this:

After many joyous days of painting "under the influence" of Medicine Man Douglas Severight, we had created this!

The "Vision" painting went on to earn a fair bit of notoriety, as it was replicated to become a fund-raising mechanism for a "Community-Building" project. This project aimed to bring together the various cultural groups of the area (Eastern Saskatchewan in 1991) with an emphasis on sharing the wisdom of the 1st Nations Elders. By and large it was very successful, as you will read in my upcoming book "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved" , scheduled to be released in the spring/summer of 2017.


L-R: The late writer Joan Elyofson-Cadham, myself, CTV host Elizabeth Popowich, and Douglas Severight with the "Vision" painting shortly after its completion. (1991)

These images will appear inside the pages of Book 2, just wait and see.

About the author:

To read more about my writing and artwork, please visit www.mrgaudet.com You can purchase Book 1 of my trilogy writing project called "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality" at this link. Join the worldwide community who have read this book!

Nostalgic Painting (from "down on the farm")

Now, after the brief departure to SHARE some GOOD NEWS for PLANET EARTH, how about getting back to GaudetArt?

Here is a recent painting... created in 2017...that recreates a "nostalgic" image that hearkens back to circa 1950. My wife Sharon showed me this photo that pictures her nervously holding the family rooster, named "Chico", in her outstretched hand.

"Chico" was so heavy that Sharon's grandmother can be seen stage right...helping bear the weight.

"Chico" was too heavy for Sharon to hold up on her own, so her grandmother can be observed helping her. Or at least, her hand protrudes into the picture frame from the right.

I enjoyed painting this whimsical image, based on the vintage black and white photo furnished by Sharon. I think her mom gave this, among others, to her. Or possibly, Sharon raided the family photo album. I'll have to ask her about that.

About the Artist: 

Thrilled to finally hold the 1st Proof Copies of "Dancing comwith Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality" in my hands. Click on this link to purchase your copy today in your choice of 3 formats.