The protagonist in Margaret Atwood's "Surfacing" reflects on a man whose drawings lack originality, suggesting they are mere copies of existing rock paintings. This man seems to engage in this activity more as a casual hobby, perhaps as a way to pass time in retirement rather than as a pursuit of serious artistic expression. His lack of professional ambition indicates a sense of comfort in amateurism.

Furthermore, the text implies that if he had been truly passionate about rock art, he would have dedicated himself to exploring and documenting these works more rigorously. Instead, he remains an enthusiast whose efforts are marked by a sense of nostalgic longing for relevance, capturing the notion of an "old man's delusion of usefulness" in his art endeavors.