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Born on May 30, 1853 in the south of The Netherlands, Vincent van Gogh was the oldest child of a Dutch Reformed pastor and an amateur artist. Intense and moody from an early age, he received public, private and home schooling before dropping out at the age of 15 to assist with the family finances. With the help of an uncle, young Vincent got a job as an apprentice at the internationally renowned art firm of Goupil and Cie. After a clerkship in The Hague, he was promoted to sales representative, working successively in the London and Paris offices. Although initially happy, van Gogh's argumentative personality and strong opinions about all things artistic and religious eventually led to his dismissal. After a series of short-term jobs as a teacher and bookstore clerk, Vincent decided to follow in his father's and grandfather's footsteps and pursue the ministry. Although he took preparatory courses in Latin, Greek and Theology, he failed to gain entrance to the university. Undeterred, he sought opportunities to teach and preach as a part-time evangelist in the coal-mining district of Belgium. So fervent was his commitment to his work that he insisted on living under the same deplorable conditions as the miners-giving away much of his money, clothes and food. After six months, the local church hierarchy, who seemed as alarmed by his zeal as by his declining physical and mental health, urged him to consider another calling. During this period, van Gogh had begun sketching the local peasants, and with his brother, Theo's, assistance decided to pursue art full time. Eschewing formal art education, van Gogh was largely self-taught, but over the course of a 10 year career he amassed a body of work that includes 864 oil paintings, 1,039 drawings, 150 water colors, 10 lithographs and 133 letter sketches, many of which are considered to be among the world's great masterpieces, several selling in excess of $100 Million USD. Tom Willett (1950- ) is an American musician, author and entertainment industry executive. He toured and recorded extensively as a bass player during the '60s and '70s, worked in Nashville as booking agent and manager for numerous artists in the '80s, and served in Los Angeles and New York as an Artist & Repertoire and Marketing executive in the '90s. In the '00s he co-founded a fully-accredited artists' colony on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, MA where he and the staff mentored more than 1,000 college-aged musicians and entrepreneurs. Willett was Adjunct Professor at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business for Nashville's Belmont University before becoming Music Business Instructor, Director of Education and finally President at Dark Horse Institute. He currently entertains fantasies of a restless retirement in Montmartre-on-the-Cumberland, Tennessee.
""An intimate and insightful look into the personal thoughts of one of humanity's most noted creative geniuses."" ""Some of Van Gogh's most insightful reflections on art paired with gorgeous reproductions of his artwork."" ""Willett does a masterful job of story-telling by allowing van Gogh to speak for himself through his beautiful art and truly mind-melting words and ideas."" ""The quotes and color reproductions are profound and judiciously chosen. Endlessly rewarding."" ""Easily digestible and guaranteed to deepen your appreciation and understanding of this wonderfully complex artist."" ""Beautifully, smartly and sensitively put together. Perfect to sit down with first thing in the morning to jump-start one's day, or simmer down in the evening with stunning art and provocative words."" ""Willett's careful curation of these incredible morsels is clearly a labor of love.""
