rich lighting ? Sort of Caravaggio lights and darks . I spend a lot of time with figures . It ’ s a difficult thing to do , to paint figures and tell a story in the painting . So , that ’ s what I do , and I enjoy it .
MJ : And you do it beautifully . I understand you also teach both music and art . Where do you teach and what age range do you work with ?
Vemer : I teach art , at the Oregon Society of Artists . We have 25 instructors and approximately 30 classes . I teach adults and kids , mostly ages eight to 18 .
I have also been teaching violin , at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral for the last three or four years . They have a choral music program there and the director of music thought it would be nice for the kids to learn instrumental music too . We currently offer violin and piano classes .
I also recently taught “ at-risk ” fifth graders at a public school for an entire year .
MJ : So , what was it that finally allowed you to play again ?
Vemer : I worked with a neurologist using highly targeted Botox injections into the hand , and a hand therapist utilizing “ mirror ” therapy . Along with retraining , I am now able to play the violin again .
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