Not all those who wander are lost
Date published 24 October, 2019
Quick on the Draw
Playa del Palma, S'Arenal, in Mallorca, is a nicely lively place to spend a while. It has decent beaches, lots of small shops, but is free of some of the more noisy aspects of resorts like this - with the exception of just a few weeks a year.
Just out of season, in late September, it seemed to offer up the ideal balance. Everything was still open, but the number of people there was less. That is what you want - great beach, great facilities, but less people!
I thought it was in the evening, though, when the magic happened. Still warm, and still bustling, and still interesting. The bay takes on a curious light with the combination of the falling sun and the lighting on part of the beach, as shown above.
There was one attraction that really stopped us to watch, though. It was this chap. Amar Amarni .
Amar is an artist. He sings (worth a listen), he makes films and he draws portraits. He draws them live, on the promenade at Playa del Palma, in the failing light of the evening.
It takes him about ten minutes to knock out a portrait. Less if you want a cartoon version of yourself. It is worth the ten minutes just to watch him do that. He has a mesmerising technique, and the results are stunning, and alive. He works quickly, and with sweeping arm movements, and the picture emerges from his paper gradually. Just a few moments from the end the finishing touches make the image move up a gear. I watched him each evening we were there. Mostly, a small crowd had gathered, and he earned a decent round of applause each time.
Don't be nervous. He is grateful if you pay for your own portrait to be done, but you are allowed to watch. There is no bullying. There is no hard sell. It is safe!
Amar was born in Algeria in 1973. He has an interesting back story. He is passionate about stuff. I liked him. I like him so much I have put this blog together to make sure I remember him. He certainly added value to my evening strolls in S' Arenal.
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