25 Jan 2017 A hobby of healing: Charles Gilpin serves as Unity Health Ambassador

by Hannah K. Robison

How does a hospital staff become a family? How does the loss of a loved one inspire the rebirth of a talent? How does a woman from Germany end up with a man from Indiana?

Charles Gilpin of Searcy, a retired veteran who served in the U.S. Army, has an unlikely story that has led to an unbelievable life.

During his time in the service, Gilpin was based in Germany for 16 years. In the small city of Baunach, Gilpin met his wife Rosalinde, kindling a love for her and celebrating life among the beautiful scenery of Europe.

Later in life, the Gilpins moved to Searcy to care for Charles’ parents. It was after their move to Arkansas that Rosalinde was diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout seasons of on and off remission, she was treated at Unity Health Oncology inside the Cancer Center of Excellence and through the Advanced Care Hospital.

Having enjoyed art since childhood, Charles spent periods in and out of painting and even built a studio attached to their home in Searcy. In the process of finishing the homebuilding project, Rosalinde received her diagnosis, and his hobby experienced a halt. When times were tough, she would always encourage him to escape to the studio to express his emotions. “She would say, ‘go paint,’” Charles said. “It takes you away from the reality going on around you.”

When Charles lost Rosalinde Nov. 1, 2013, he decided to redesign his own life. In the time following her passing, he was unable to return to his passion. “I went months without picking up a paintbrush,” Charles said. Rosalinde desired to be buried in her homeland, and Charles’ return to Germany brought a resurgence to his art.

“I knew I had to go to her hometown,” he said. Charles chose to depict a piece of the German city, placing immense emotion into a rendition of her beloved home, Baunach. “I felt it was what I needed to do to show appreciation to the staff who took such good care of her. Since then, I have not stopped painting.”

Associates of Unity Health became a safe haven for Charles. He donated the painting of his wife’s hometown to Dr. Stacie McCord at Unity Health Oncology, and it hangs in the facility today. “They are my family, that’s the only way to describe it,” Charles said. “Their care was unbelievable. I love every one of them. The compassion they have is overwhelming, and the service they provide is just fabulous.” Charles still keeps in touch with his Unity family when he is home in Searcy, visiting them multiple times a year.

Art is proven to help improve one’s physical, emotional and mental health. Charles experiences the healing abilities of his talent and allows his canvases to provide transformation and expression. He loves to portray landscape scenes of fall, filled with vibrancy and life.

His art continues to bring him a sense of solace since Rosalinde’s passing.

Picking up his paintbrush again has led him to pursue numerous adventures, presenting his pieces in shows and selling them in both America and Europe. Through “experimentation” as he calls it, Charles has explored working with his paintings in watercolors, oils and acrylics. “As I work more, I have learned I can paint differently and make my paintings come alive. Everything we do in life is a learning experience, and that is one of my major motivations. We are learning something new every day.”

Though life changed drastically for Charles, he never lets his passion fade for sharing his love of art and painting. “Expose yourself to different types of art and styles,” he reminds artists and observers alike. “You will be able to create your own style. You can’t make it, it just happens.”

He knows that every painting is distinct and no two that he creates are identical. His pieces mirror life. “You can’t copy, but you can get inspired by what someone else does.” Charles Gilpin experienced encouragement and inspiration from unique sources, but has found a home and family in nurses, painters, places and his own gift of art.