At the weekend I went to Southend-on-Sea and Clacton-on-Sea to paint something for the Threadneedle Prize. I was most excited and planned it for weeks. This over planning was the beginning of the as yet unseen problem. In my ferment I had it all done it in my head first before checking the places out. I wanted it all too much. Like the child that gets too excited about going to a party and ends up being sick 10 minutes after arrival and has to be taken home.
Well i got to Southend-on-Sea at 8.30 am on Sunday and quickly I became a mess. My Mojo completely deserted me and my pencil and paint went on strike. I was left wondering around eating chips and drinking tea out of a plastic cup. Defeated I decided to try Clacton-on-Sea for inspiration. I bet no one has said that before.
I got lost on the way and it took me two hours to get there. Clacton-on-Sea was worse than Southend-on-Sea. An empty well!
Near the pier there is a Wetherspoons which was packed full of Sunday locals having cheap beer and food. It did not take the smokers outside and their children long to notice me. I occasionally get mistaken for a vagrant when i sit in the street drawing. Well here I don’t think they thought i was a vagrant but I just didn’t look like them. One girl of about 12 shouted “hey! You look like a twat” Her father guffawed with savage approval and her friend continued, a podgy whelp she was “Nice outfit!”. On it went while I was trying to draw. Dozy cider slapped faces idly gazing on, I was the only interesting thing to look at I presume.
I decided to go over to a shop window and draw me (more laughter) if only to see what the fuss was all about. I have not surprisingly a sad face and I do look different from them I suppose. I feel however “twat” was rather harsh.
My life feels like an Alan Bennett short story. In fact as I read back what I have written I can hear his cosy northern brogue. ‘Ohh what will Mam say?’
To lick my wounds I decided to paint some of my Sardines. Satisfying to do. The trick is to get them looking shiny. Il have another, calmer go at the Threadneedle Prize next week.
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2 comments:
I LOVE this story….left England in1980 for the USA but what memories of people hanging around pubs in grubby seaside places like Clacton you have evoked…I was one of those little kids who used to get left outside with lemonade and a bag of crisps while Mum and Dad were inside having a Guiness and a Babycham all the whilee keeping one watchful but distant eye on me as if I were tethered to the pub steps by their frowns.
By the way Liam…how do you get the sardines to look shiny in watercolor??? I want to try it with the local trout here in Upstate NY.
Hi Carol.
Glad you liked it.
It got a bit scary there to be honest. Many of those people were genuinely hostile just because I did not look like them. That said, I will go back one day. In better weather.
here are some tips on painting fish.
I hope it helps.
https://www.liamofarrell.com/2015/04/painting_fish_pets_at_home_magazine/
regards
Liam