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Some jobs are so demanding that there is not a free moment to
do something else than to recover and rest. Most physicians have great difficulty
starting or even maintaining a hobby. But there are exceptions.
Take Menno Baars for instance. He works full time as a cardiologist(心脏病专家)in a hospital in Holland. "Full time"
might still be an understatement-as a cardiologist he spends about 60 hours a week
in the hospital. However, after a long day of work,
he likes to come home
and spend hours doing what is his great passion: painting.
How can he find the time and energy to live a life that few others
can pursue?" "Actually it is quite simple. If you like what you do, you
will find a way to do it. Don't get me wrong. I love cardiology, but it is not a
very creative profession," says Baars."It is a specialty that is based
on strict treatment guidelines, without much room for your own ideas and creativity.
That is why painting as a hobby is so wonderful. There are no rules and I can do
whatever I want."
Although there are no rules in painting, for Baars it is still
some sort of a custom. The only thing that reminds the painter Baars of the cardiologist
Baars is his white coat and his surgical gloves which he wears every time he is
painting." I sometimes start at 10 at night and can continue working until
4:30 in the morning and still make it to work on time that same day," says
Baars."That is the advantage of my training as a medical specialist. I get
used to making crazy hours and long nights."
You would think that someone who is so driven by his passion
for painting was already fascinated by art as a little kid." Not at all,"
says Baars unexpectedly." I never dreamed of becoming a painter. My parents
expected me to finish college and pursue a professional career. I only realized
my passion for painting after having completed medical school. Once I was attracted
by a painting of Miro, but could not afford it. So I decided to paint myself. I
just started painting lines, but within minutes a beautiful dove was on the canvas.
I suddenly realized this is what I want to do."
A successful doctor. A successful painter. It seems unfair to
have the two identities in one person. What do his fellow cardiologists think of
his passion for painting? "They accept it and actually appreciate
it as well. You see, if I was a cardiologist who provided suboptimal(未达最佳标准的)care for his patients，they would not agree. My chairman told me
a few years ago in the hospital that he would rather see me reading cardiology books
at night than see me holding a paint brush."
"I used to pack a lot of ideas into each painting-different
shapes，colors and so on. I still have tons of ideas,
which is not the problem.
But I do strive for more simplicity. To depict a simple idea clearly is my goal.
Also my technique has improved over time. When I started out,
the paint would sometimes
flake(剥落)if the basis was not good,
but that doesn't happen
anymore these days."
Menno Baars never has any doubts when he is painting. However，he does like the response he gets from the
most important woman in his life. His wife is the first to see each newly-finished
painting." Sometimes when I finish a new painting in the middle of the night,
I wake her up to see if she likes it. She doesn't always like to be woken up, but
she always gives an honest answer.
Even if she doesn't like it, for me the painting is finished.
I won't change it afterwards. It is more of the feeling that once my wife has seen
it, it is ready to be presented to the rest of the world."
