It surprises me how many spies seem to be authors or painters. With painting I almost wonder if agencies seek out painters, or even train agents to paint, because painting gives agents an excuse to sit in public and observe a location for a long time. The Israeli agent who blew up Ali Hassan Salameh (along with multiple bystanders) was standing in her window, painting, when Salameh's car drove past the bomb that had been planted in a parked car below. Reportedly she either pushed the button herself, or gave the signal.