Watson No Longer Painted Into the Smokers’ Corner

Mike Watson has many interests. Smoking is no longer one of them, thanks to his three years of participation the Wisconsin Smokers’ Health Study.

The Madison resident is an accomplished oil painter who has exhibited throughout Wisconsin. He often bases his work on song lyrics he has written or the compositions of others. John Prine is a favorite muse. Watson is also devoted to Vincent Van Gogh’s talent. In tribute, he painted a rich-hued, Daliesque landscape with images of Van Gogh floating above. At a recent gallery opening, that painting was hung and, as part of a musical performance, Watson sang Don McLean’s “Vincent” as he strummed the guitar. (To see Watson’s paintings, click here.)

Mike Watson has more time to focus on painting now that he quit smoking.

Watson’s day job is a mortgage loan officer for Home Savings Bank. Since he no longer sustains his 25-year practice of smoking, Watson can fully concentrate on both his career and his artistic expressions. He can cite many other benefits of being smokefree, “I can run three to four flights of stairs in a parking facility. My clothes don’t stink like smoke. Food tastes better.”

In August 2007, he decided to quit for good. "I was sick and tired of it. It’s a rotten thing to do. I wanted to improve my life. Also, I was out of breath all the time.” The study made a difference. “Your treatment was ‘where it’s at.’ My counselor, Chris (Ripley), was wonderful and very supportive. The systematic approach was very helpful and also I think it helped that I was ready to quit. That’s the key, I think. It’s hard to quit if you aren’t ready to give it up.”

Watson says he now finds himself a cheerleader for the tobacco-free life. “I was just talking with a friend who wants to quit. She was going to try lasers. I said, ‘Wait, call their (UW-CTRI’s) number first.’ I recommend it to many people. I don’t preach about it, but when the opportunity comes up, I recommend.”

For more on getting help to quit smoking, visit our Smokers section. To access our news story archives, click here.