Over the last weekend Liz treated me to a painting/sketching couple of days around Bexhill on Sea, because in a few days it is my birthday. On the Monday we ventured into Hastings and the area around the old fishing huts, where the small sea craft are beach launched and landed. The weather was perfect for water color painting; warm in order to dry the work quickly, but not to hot to be unpleasant.

Strolling around, these two boats caught my eye, so I sat on the shingles and out came my paper, pencil and brushes. The simplicity was caught with a few very loose water-colour strokes, which were tightened up with a water soluble HB pencil; a very quick way of working. Now it is not intended as a great piece of art, it's not, it is but a sketch, or a quick impression. The whole thing took less than ten minuets to produce, it was all about spontaneity and how I felt. I was enjoying the sun, surroundings, painting and the people whom I met.

Over the morning several folks stopped as they passed by, watched me painting, then chatted with me. First it was a local fisherman, then a lecturer from some Australian university, a few tourists and finally a local character on a mobility scooter; he was brave to drive that thing over the shingles, I wonder how often he gets stuck and needs dragging of the bank. Five sketches were produced and several conversations enjoyed in about an hour and a bit; all because I paint! 

Now that is what I call a pleasant hour or so!