Michael Gaudet is a well-established professional artist who specializes in large-scale murals, portraiture, landscape and historic paintings.

Portraiture

Another specialty is the very challenging genre of ‘portraiture’. Gaudet has drawn and painted hundreds of portraits over the years and has now reached the point with his expertise where he is fully capable of rendering a very convincing likeness of the physical attributes of his subject. The challenge now is to go beyond a mere physical resemblance to the model in search of the more elusive ‘feeling’ of the person. He insists that a truly successful portrait must not only ‘look’ like the model but must also ‘feel’ like the person. In other words, his best work reflects the deeper spiritual and psychic essence of the model.

Paintings

Gaudet is on a life-long painting adventure. His paintings are rich in color and detail that explore the everyday things around him with a concentrated fascination. Gaudet studied at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with New York figure painter Eric Fischl and Dutch color field painter Jan Andriesse. This exposure to international art and artists continues to exert an influence on his work to this day. He paints with acrylics in the European style of the old masters, using multiple transparent glazes to achieve rich, jewel-like colors and vivid contrast.

Writing

In late 2015, Gaudet published the first of three books called Dancing with Rejection: A Beginners’ Guide to Immortality. A Memoir, “Dancing…” traces his story as a designer and painter of monumental murals as well as a life-time of “Kidney Ailments”. He unflinchingly reveals his struggles but also his triumphs in this book. You may purchase your own copy at www.mrgaudet.com or a signed copy directly from the artist when you visit G-G’s Gallery and Gifts.

After the success of his first book of memoirs, Michael published the second of his trilogy titled A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved. Gaudet was blessed with a second kidney transplant in 2014, after enduring over five years of life-sustaining dialysis therapy.

Location: 602 Mclaughlin Ave. at Roy Street corner, Manitou Beach, SK.

Ph: (306) 946-8884
Email: mrgaudet@gmail.com
Website: mrgaudet.com

Click on the pictures below for an enlargement / slideshow.

Murals

Gaudet’s murals are meticulously researched to achieve a high standard of accuracy and design. The muralist is kept busy designing, painting and installing permanent archival quality productions for a diverse clientele including towns throughout Saskatchewan, private businesses, organizations and the Church. In 2011, he designed and painted the “World’s Largest Free-Standing Mural” at Young, SK. (see below). This massive mural (20′ high x 80′ in length) was installed in the summer of 2017 facing highway #2 just south of Young, SK.  Also in 2011, the artist created the “March of Trinity” mural at Sacred Heart Chaldean Catholic Church in Saskatoon. This mural dominates the sanctuary of the space. In 2019-2020, Gaudet designed a large stainless-steel public artwork with partial funding from Heritage Canada to help commemorate the centennial of Manitou Beach. This monument is situated just east of Relics overlooking Little Manitou Lake.

He continues to design and paint his “monumental” murals along with his writing and also co-operates the seasonal “G-G’s Gallery and Gifts” with his partner Sharon Gibson. The couple are excited to announce that they are in their 14th year of operation. Commissions accepted year-round.  Please visit mrgaudet.com to read more. 

Manitou Reflections Project: Michael’s early design concept went on to secure 50% funding from Canada Heritage to create the installation at Manitou Beach. He worked with two local artists in collaboration: Darrell Baschak and Robert Thibeault. The project was unveiled July 1, 2021.