This is such a passionate and sweet account by Churchill. I know I'm going to return to reading passages of it again, because the sentiment is so spot-on. There is an abundance of beauty in the world — and his talk of appreciation of simple pleasures and the immersion of trying to render the essence of a landscape, or capturing a moment, representing the colors, and a time a space, are what great art and great living are made of.There's so much heart in his words, and a joy of living. I'd recommend this to anyone, painter or not, as a guideline of spirit to apply to their life. This book is precious. In the 1965 edition edition I have, thirty two pages of Painting as a Pastime are from Winston Churchill's pen. The other pages are from his brush, images of his paintings, which are pretty competent, and are what I'd say are close to the Bloomsbury School. This is a great little book by a great mind. I broke into a smile a lot reading Painting as a Pastime. Churchill approached painting as he would a battle. I don't mean he will 'paint them on the beaches'. He states "One begins to see, for instance, that painting a picture is like fighting a battle; and trying to paint a picture is, I suppose, like trying fight a battle. It is, if anything, more exciting than fighting it successfully. But the principle is the same". And nobody gets hurt. If only armies faced off with easels instead of weapons. Churchill's personal nature had him half way there to being a good painter before he ever started picking up the brushes. Ol' Winston instinctively knew one thing, be decisive with that brush, be confident and stand your ground and don't give up.Painting as a Pastime is eloquently and elegantly written, and in a positive spirit.
What do You think about Painting As A Pastime (2002)?
of course only churchill can describe starting to paint with oil thusly ...
—cindy
Lovely reflection on how Churchill found the love and the courage to paint.
—akkoh
Very short but inspiring and beautifully written.
—Justsmile
