A few weeks back I was on holiday in Honfleur, (Northern France). We stayed in a flat in the centre of town which meant it was easy to walk to the market or down to the harbour to do some sketching. 

I’m still not comfortable with my plein air expertise so I take the opportunity whenever I can or my confidence allows.

I usually find a less busy space and hide myself away so I can sketch without prying eyes making me feel self conscious. This isn’t always possible so I’ve been working on my ability to work with people around, peering over my shoulder and passing comments. In general people are kind and say positive things even if I know what they are looking at is sub-standard.

On one particular day I set myself down on the harbour edge in Honfleur where I had a good view of the waterfront restaurants. I had my sketch book, an ink pen and a water brush. I started my sketch.
As often happens people spot me drawing and casually meander in my direction so they can check me out. Any conversations are usually brief as we are in a strange realm of not wanting to disturb but curious enough to have to ask. For me it’s I don’t want to break the creative flow but will happily use any excuse to stop.

After I’d been sketching for an hour or so two French mothers and their young offspring approached. The kids must have been aged between three and eight, six in total. Unlike the adults they had no restrain in approaching me and wanting to see what I was drawing. More they crowded round me from all sides the older ones sitting down next to me so they could get a better look. The mothers checked that this was okay and then stood apart chatting together.
My French isn’t brilliant and their English was about the same but they made their curiosity plain. I handed my sketch book over and the eldest took charge in leafing through showing the others. Every now and then they stopped at a particular sketch they recognised and passed comment, thankfully in french, as one thing I do know is kids will unwaveringly speak their minds saying if they love or hate a thing.

It was one of the happiest drawing sessions of my life. I think it may have even cured me of my reluctance to sketch in public.

My sketchbook scrutinised it was handed back to me. Then the youngest made it clear she wanted a demonstration of my artistic ability. I returned to my sketch of the café’s but that didn’t meet with approval. I flipped the page and looked around for something else to sketch. A seagull, perfect. A quick outline and some rough shading, done. That lit the fire. A barrage of requests followed where I was asked, politely, to draw everything from a portrait of one of them through to Mickey Mouse. I spent maybe half an hour trying my best not to disappoint my little crowd. We had fun trying to translate their requests from French to English then for me to somehow conjure up an acceptable drawing. When I got things wrong they looked disappointed when I got it right they clapped and laughed. At one point I handed my materials over to them and each took it in turn to do their own drawings. Brilliant.

When the mothers decided they had made good use of the free distraction they gathered their children and led them away. Thanking me for my time.

It was one of the happiest drawing sessions of my life. I think it may even have cured me of my reluctance to sketch in public.

Sean Briggs has spent 30+ years working in the publishing world. He now makes a living as a traditional and digital artist.