Painting as a Pastime, by Winston S. Churchill (small HC, 1965, $4, which is 1/3 the internet price.)
Did you know Churchill painted? He always considered himself an amateur painter, and hardly ever signed his work, but his paintings are still collected, and not just because he was the one painting them. He started painting after being forced to leave the Admiralty.. He first experimented with his children's watercolors, but soon changed to oil. He loved it. He writes, "Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end, or almost to the end, of the day." This book contains 18 color prints of his paintings.
Interestingly, an unknown painting by Churchill was just discovered in someone's attic. It had been painted in 1934, and passing through various hands, ended up with someone who thought it ugly, and exiled it to his attic for 30 years. According to appraisers, the painting is amazingly not worse for the experience.
Look for this book on the new non-fiction table, avail. 3/14. (event- art)
