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Quote of the month
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Where
the spirit does not work with the
hand there is no art.
Leonardo
da Vinci
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If you read my last newsletter or if you've visited my web site recently, you probably noticed that I keep referring to this massive new project I'm undertaking this year. A few things have changed since my last newsletter, and the timing has been brought forward - which means that I will start this project next month. I'm really excited about it, but I'm also getting really nervous.
As my career as an artist grows, I feel it's time for me to give back to the community. For the longest time, I've been thinking about doing my part in the fight against cancer. My sister was a victim of this heartless disease when she was only five. Because of cancer, I never had the chance to meet her.
I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I knew I wanted to do something big. Something that would show that fighting against cancer doesn't just happen in one day - it's a constant battle over time. I call my battle the Matt LeBlanc Art for Life Campaign.
The whole idea behind this campaign is to complete a difficult task in a specific amount of time. The difficulty of the task itself will hopefully generate interest in the cause and raise a significant amount of money for cancer research.
The project can be summed up in one sentence - I'm pledging to create 200 paintings in a 6-month period. That's an average of 1.1 paintings a day for 184 days. Each painting will be sold, and all profits will be donated to the Tree of Hope Campaign, which is an annual event of the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont Hospital Foundation. My goal is to raise over $25,000 with this project.
Obviously, creating 200 paintings in 184 days will consume my life over the next six months. I plan to document the whole experience on my blog, in my newsletter, and with weekly videos. I've dedicated an entire section on my web site to this project. It will feature my videos, and there will also be a specific section where you can see and purchase the paintings for this campaign. Please click HERE to see the pre-campaign video.
Hopefully you can join me on my journey
starting on March 24, 2010.
I can guarantee you it will be a fun ride!
Sincerely,
Matt
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Featured painting of the month
This large 36" x 36" painting has two smaller paintings mounted on the main canvas, giving the artwork a unique 3D effect. Buy this painting for $400 + shipping. |
So you're thinking about renovating?
by Pierre Martell of Martell Home Builders
Maybe you are ready for a change, want to increase the value of your home, or you're looking to do some much-needed upgrades to make your home more energy efficient.
Whatever the motivation, there are a few key factors to take into consideration before renovations begin.
Firstly: Determine what your overall budget is going to be, keep track of quotes and projected costs, and give yourself a "buffer zone" by making sure you have a contingency budget to cover unforeseen costs.
Secondly: Who will do the work? Will you hire a professional or do it yourself?
If you are handy at all (or have a very generous & handy friend), this is a cheaper route for you to take. But you need to do your homework, know which vendors to get supplies from, and educate yourself on what permits you need. If you are mainly giving your home a bit of a facelift (painting, installing laminate flooring, etc.), then doing it yourself isn't a bad idea. You will certainly save money this way to put towards that new 42" flat screen TV.
Keep in mind that if you will be doing any electrical or plumbing changes, such as new light switches or moving a sink or toilet, you need to hire a professional! And in most municipalities, you need permits before this work can be done. If you do not have the proper permits for this type of work, you could face some major problems if an inspector gets wind that work has been unlawfully done.
Thirdly: Find out about federal, provincial, and municipal programs that offer subsidies or tax credits for certain renovations. In New Brunswick, there are great energy efficiency incentives and loans available.
And mainly, don't get too stressed out during renovations,
they can actually be a lot of fun, and the end result will be worth having to
live out of your laundry room for a few months!
Pierre Martell, President
Martell Home Builders
http://www.themartellexperience.com/
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Win this painting ...
Do
you feel creative today? I want to give you the chance to win this
16"x16" painting just by submitting a name for it. The only two rules
are (1) the title must be one word only, and (2) you can only submit
one title. All entries must be received by Feb 21, 2010. The winner
will be selected by three independent people. Just drop me an email or write your entry in my Facebook group. Good luck everyone!
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In your home ...
I have received many pictures of my paintings hung in your homes.
I'll feature a
picture from a client in each newsletter. Keep them coming !!
This picture is from the new Hypotheque Metro Mortgage 2nd location at 164 Collishaw Street in Moncton.
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Previous newsletters
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