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A SPECIAL GRACE FOR THANKSGIVING

It is very dangerous to foster a spirit of unsatisfaction and then to be found grumbling in this Holiday season. And in the last few months I could find many reasons to grumble but I have decided to choose thankfulness. Grumbling statements come from the abundance of discontent in our heart. Then it comes forth from our words like a penetrating sword.

But is all complaining grumbling? I have discovered that some complaining isn't a bad thing, because others wouldn't know if we were having difficulties if we didn't partition them or even stand up for what is right. Still, grumbling is very different than making a complaint. It comes from a deep change in the heart towards unbridled anger that lashes out at another. And we will be responsible for the repercussions of that.

After being asked to join the North Light Gallery about 15 years ago, Most everyone knows that I was recently asked to pick up my paintings and to leave. And although I do not want to go into all the ugly details that led up to being asked to leave that gallery, I will say it did have a lot to do with an art sale with one of my patrons that I sent to the gallery and ultimately unkind grumbling that revealed the gallery owner's heart towards me.

After almost a week of being in the dark about the sale, I finally called and talked with Marsha Donahue personally to see where we were with the transaction. To be truthful, I called just to see if I could be of any help aiding things along. But to my surprise, she was particularly annoyed that I called as she implored me, "Do Not Come To The Gallery! I have set up an appointment with your patron and will show her all your work! Let me handle this!" and quite sarcastically she added, "This is what I do! I represent artists!" She was a very different person than when I first contacted her about the possible sale.

The worst kind of grumbling an artist can receive is from a gallery owner who is representing their work, is for that gallery owner to say to you that you are not welcome to the very gallery that you have provided paintings for in the last 15 years. This made me very suspicious and unsettled me. The rest was my attempt to complain about the way I was treated which led to a no sale and ultimately my dismissal from the gallery.

I share this true story because our words can give grace or they can grieve the Spirit that the artist relies on to create. Julia Cameron in one of her books of The Artist Way, once made a statement that stuck with me and illustrated this very type of wrong attitude. She said something to the effect, that "everyone would love to have an original Vincent Van Goah in their house; but very few of us would want to have him over for dinner." She was indicating that it is wrong to separate the art work from the artist no matter how reckless, embarrassing or challenging they might seem to us.

The truth is, no one can sell their paintings better than the artist. You see this all the time in cooperative galleries. The one artist sitting in the gallery, usually sells their own work over the others who are absent. And so it was true with Marsha in the end, whom sold her painting to my patron. It might have been a different story if I were there.

I am at peace with all of that now and am actually excited to see what's next. And I have learned that it isn't even that an artist shouldn't even be in a gallery owned by another artist. It is all about the graceful support that gallery owners can give the artist that they are representing. Grace should make things abound in an artist's life.

During the Holidays let us remember this. Let us remember that we should have nothing to grumble about, but instead, allow our words to be those of thanksgiving that come from a heart that is grateful. I have found I have so much more to be thankful for these days. There is a grace for us all this Thanksgiving Holiday and that is something that we all need. It's there to not only saves us as creative people, but to truly keeps us.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Michael E. Vermette

30/30 HOLIDAY PAINTING SALE

My 30/30 Holiday Auction Style Sale has begun. I have been listing painting on eBay once again and for the next 30 days I will put 30 paintings on eBay as I offer a huge savings for my friends and students who supported me this year. I will include both watercolors and oils and each painting will have a starting bid of only $125.00! If you want to purchase them outright by using the "Buy It Now" option then they will each go for 1/3 the price usually sold in galleries or $162.50.

This is my attempt to thin out my inventory and offer an affordable price for those who may not be able to afford my paintings at full price, particularly during this festive season. So in the spirit of thankfulness and giving, I will be putting up to 30 small paintings online right up to the end of the Holidays, Cheers!

MY WATERCOLOR FIGURE CLASS AT BANGOR HIGH 

My watercolor figure class at Bangor High school was a huge success. I decided early on to paint the assignments right along with the students and became very motivated by the quality of their work. Hopefully We'll be seeing some of these excellent works in future exhibitions and shows. My watercolor can be found on Saatchi Art. The paintings below are a series of paintings that go from portraying the image from black and white monochromes to exploring the Low Key and High Key palettes. 

My next classes that I will be teaching in the Spring session at Bangor High School begins in February. They are: (a new class) "Painting Animals in Watercolor" and once again, "Impasto Oil Painting". I hope to see you there. More information to come.