Went to the Rex on Queen Street West last Wednesday to draw with Harvey Chan. There was a jazz band playing real loud and Harvey was sitting up front when I arrived. This is a drawing of Harvey. We traded drawing tools right away. I was trying out my new brush pen. It's a Copic. It's a bit blunt. Harvey's brush pen was awesome. Fine tipped and long. I'm going to find out what brand it was because I loved it. We're going to draw again tonight at the Rex. Harvey has some really serious chops as a drawer. I love his sketches from life, of his friends and family,
musicians, bars, and all the places he's traveled to. It's really exquisite stuff. Very fresh. When I first saw his work online I was sure it was done with a paintbrush and ink. But it's a brush pen and he uses a very small book to draw in. We both work small. It was great fun to hang with Harvey.
I'm not sure how much I like drawing from life with a brush pen though. I usually use fine lined pens or pencils that I can make light lines to rough things in first before committing to darkening and thickening things up. This brush pen approach is pretty unforgiving. You get one shot at it. That's why I'm so impressed with Harvey's work. It's spontaneous and gutsy.
