How Winston Churchill Got Me Painting

September, 2011 by Matt Laughlin

Few worries fail to lift after an hour of playing music, painting, or occupying one's hands in an artistic way. As Carl Jung wrote, "Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain."

But it wasn't the famous Swiss Psychoanalyst who got me to act on my appreciation of the arts. It was Sir Winston S. Churchill, arguably the most extraordinary Statesmen of the 20th Century.

Exposing oneself to the writings and biographies of truly honorable and inspiring figures has a way of dominating one's consciousness. What started as a research project into great historic marriages for a book I am writing for couples has widened in scope to influence my life and psychotherapy work with individuals.

You know how it goes...

You paint your house blue and for several weeks you spot dozens of blue houses around town that previously escaped notice. Reading about Churchill's life, and especially his love of painting, has called to my attention as a therapist the absence of the arts in the lives of many of the clients I work with, not to mention recent neglect in my own life.

The arts, in all their expressions, seem to be valued less in today's world. I have no data to back up this observation, but in my own life as a self-employed business owner I struggle to give time to the arts. It is as though I must overcome a tension between two seemingly opposing aspects of mind.

There is one aspect of mind preoccupied with the usefulness of an activity as it relates to time or the fulfillment of a duty. Is this a productive use of my time? Will this further my professional skill? Is this generating revenue? Is this serving others?

And then there is another aspect within that seeks to do things for its own sake, simply for the joy of it. Consideration of personal monetary gain, duty or service isn't part of the equation.

Obviously various stages and conditions of life influence how much time one may devote to the arts. To escape from life's responsibilities into purely artistic activity is its own problem, and another article in itself.

In Churchill's case it was only ill health or War which pulled him away from the arts completely. During World War II, Churchill, normally a prolific painter, only finished one painting over the course of several years.

Barring extreme circumstances, even with a full workload Churchill recognized the rejuvenating value and joy of devoting time to artistic activities that call to you most.

On rejuvenation he writes...

"Change is a master key. A man can wear out a particular part of his mind by continually using it and tiring it, just in the same way as he can wear out the elbows of a coat by rubbing the frayed elbows; but the tired parts of the mind can be rested and strengthened, not by merely rest, but by using other parts... Many men have found great advantage in practicing a handcraft for pleasure. Joinery, chemistry, bookbinding, even bricklaying, if one were interested in them and even skillful at them - would give relief to the tired brain."

And, on painting for the joy of it...

"Look around these walls! We see reflections from hours of pleasure, hours of intense creative enjoyment, bottled sunshine, captured inspiration, perennial delight."

We all have an inner Muse seeking joyful expression. Almost every client I ask about the arts acknowledges a creative activity they enjoy, even if neglected, or at the very least they express a desire to take up something new.

Thanks to Churchill I am finally acting on a long time attraction to take up Oil Painting and signed up for a course beginning at the end of September. I already notice a deeper appreciation for the quality of light, color and beauty on my morning and evening walks with our dog, quietly wondering to myself just how great Artists capture such shimmering beauty on their canvas.

Churchill once declared that "Ill fares the race which fails to salute the arts with the reverence and delight which are their due."

To reverence the arts is to reverence the presence of light and beauty within. Far from detracting from the responsibilities of daily life, devoting time to that which lifts your spirit not only calms the mind but in a real sense allows you to come to know yourself more fully.

But enough with philosophizing. My class starts Sept 28th. How about you?

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References
Churchill, A Life. By Martin Gilbert
Visionary. Statesman. Historian. By John Lukacas
Painting as a Pastime. By Winston S. Churchill
My Early Life. By Winston S. Churchill
The Wit and Wisdom of Winston Churchill. By James C. Humes

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