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| Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life |
"Just to paint is great fun. The colours are
lovely to look at and delicious to squeeze out."
WINSTON CHURCHILL
The 'pressing my books into service' series is my little contribution in blogland to help create community in isolation. A little bit of 'normal' in abnormal times. If you are arriving in this series mid-stream, you will find earlier posts by clicking HERE or on the Tab above: Press My Books Into Service.
I am so desperate for colour these days. Our corner of the world is still in late winter snow pile brown. As you know, we've had spring bulbs coming up in pots in the garage, and we've been bringing them in and setting in our front window. They've been a real boon these past few weeks. Even so, mine eyes and soul doth feel colour deficient. I am so ready for a crayon box filled with shades of spring green, apple blossom pink, hyacinth blue, jonquil yellow, lilac, peony, and fuchsia. Just to name a few.
Sir Winston Churchill was a man who appreciated his colours. In his forties, he took up painting with 'gusto', partly to deal with the black dog of depression that hounded him; partly to relieve his mind from the many pressing political issues of his day; and mainly, I want to think, because he was passionate about playing with colour. He considered painting a 'joy ride in a paintbox'. I'm not a painter, but I just love the imagery of that! I totally feel the creative response to a childlike delight in colour....let's just roll the windows down and head into blue-skied sunshine.
"A heightened sense of the observation of nature is one of the
chief delights that has come to me through trying to paint."
WINSTON CHURCHILL
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| Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life |
Go out into the sunlight and be happy with what you see."
WINSTON CHURCHILL, Painting as a Pastime
Churchill published a delightful volume in 1948 entitled Painting as a Pastime. It includes his delightful essay and a small selection of his paintings. When hubby and I visited Churchill's beloved home Chartwell a few summers ago, I found a print of the oil painting titled 'Mallows'. I have it on display on my desk.
The book was recently republished, so if you're interested in it, you can find it HERE.
April 8th
Painting as a Pastime (1948)
by Winston S. Churchill
"I must say I like bright colours. . . .I cannot pretend to feel impartial about the colours. I rejoice with the brilliant ones, and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns. When I get to heaven I mean to spend a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so get to the bottom of the subject. But then I shall require a still gayer palette than I get here below. I expect orange and vermilion to be the darkest, dullest colours upon it, and beyond them there will be a whole range of wonderful new colours which will delight the celestial eye."
* * *
"I do not presume to explain how to paint,
but only how to get enjoyment."
WINSTON CHURCHILL
💙
Wishing you a beautiful day. Stay safe!
Heart Hugs,
Brenda
I found that little book by WC quite inspiring. I do like his thoughts on colors, especially his wanting to get to grips with all colors in the sweet hereafter:) I love the print you have of his picture Mallows, evokes childhood memories of our grandmother's garden, lovely!
ReplyDeleteThat book by WC looks really interesting, even to me who am not a painter. I visited Chartwell with my daughter once and I think that was the first I knew that he painted!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this about Winston Churchill. Makes me admire him even more. Quite touching and whimsical his plans for eternity! I just got in from a walk with my husband. It has been unseasonably springlike here in Michigan and bulbs are coming up. This is rare, but much appreciated I think by everyone. So good for all of us to get some fresh air and exercise. xo Deborah
ReplyDeleteI am more than ready for color. Bright colors lift my mood, and oh how I need that these days.
ReplyDeleteDelightful post, Brenda! Inspiring to learn of Mr. Churchill's fondness for color and painting. It has me wanting to pull out my sketchbook and create.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post and thoughts from you. Color is such a vital part of my life, and I am thankful to have some color in my garden here considerably farther south than you. :) I love the painting on your desk and appreciate Sir Winston's thoughts about color in heaven... unlike him I love all the colors -- even the browns -- but am in complete agreement that color in heaven will be on a whole different spectrum. Thanks for this lovely post.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a "color" person, Brenda....the brighter the better. Pink is my favorite, however. So wonderful to see colors everywhere! Susan
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