I took this photo of a man standing painting the landscape. He had two or three completed canvases at his feet. All his paintings were watercolours and all were realistic representations of his surroundings as he saw them. This was on a sunday afternoon in the busy port area of Cassis but he was completely absorbed in his painting. I was taken by both his absorption in the middle of such busy-ness but also something which has struck me before about people who stand in busy public areas painting at their easels. It seems quite typical that the artist in question comes across as quiet and somewhat detached but surely it also takes a lot of self-confidence to stand in a crowd and exhibit your act of painting.
One more thing…..as is often the case with a photo, once you look at the photo you notice something you didn’t see at the time. Why’s that man got a number SEVEN on his back??
Heroes Not Zombies 
Interesting points Bob.
http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/104-all-about-flow
Perhaps by his immersion in art for arts sake doubt and fear of criticism can be suspended? Look at the comments on the above link about half way down relating to Martin Hayes the brilliant Irish Fiddle player.
I am convinced that engagement in an activity likely to engender ‘flow’ is a necessary component in moving away from chronic health problems (and perhaps is a factor in why so few people step out of the situation)
Perhaps it was a shirt from last Christmas, 7 swans a swimming or a famous Cassis footballer ….strange …..
Had he just finished running a race?
I’m amazed by people who can see things NOT as they are (or, more clearly, who can see the potential in things). My husband, for example, can look at a blueprint and see a finished room. I, on the other hand, look at a blueprint and see a bunch of lines. I don’t tend to think in three dimensions – I can’t even imagine what a room would look like were it painted a different color. I mark that as a failing of mine…
Bob, another interesting observation leading to questions and wonderings…. how you capture the imagination with your art.
xx, A
irish artwork…
Interesting stuff!…