I drew down by the harbour yesterday, sketching one of the boats still in dry dock and then the lifeguards hut along the Prom. It was busy with sauntering couples, families and dogs. So many dogs. (There was one – one of those toy breeds, bald and with long hair about its ears – who’d been dressed up in a t-shirt and shorts. Bless it, it looked utterly ridiculous.) One of the lifeguards, in a red towelling gown, asked me if I was drawing and wanted to see. Cool, he said. Can I take a picture of it when I get back? (He was off to do some surfing.) And then, further along the Prom just by the Crepes stall, a man I know from old also called out to me. Is it a Turner or a Monet? before walking over to look. Oh, he said, disappointed, you’re drawing that man over there. And then promptly went over to him and told him. For all the busy-ness I liked being out there, people were having a nice time (though the sun was a liquidy-thing). On my way home I picked blackberries.
