In April 2019 Manchester-based illustrator Oliver East and Toronto-based artist Jon Sasaki undertook a collaborative drawing project akin to a three-legged race. Both primarily solitary artists, and having never met previously, they attempted a series of drawings made by both of them at once; one marker held by two hands, responding to their disparate inputs and amalgamating them into a combined third path. And no talking. Just tactile communication between two people trying to render the same scene. A simple premise but easier said than done when you consider different sensibilities, skills, editorial filters, draftsmanship processes, and the two egos involved.
The process was competitive, antagonistic and frustrating, and would remain that way to varying degrees throughout the project, resulting in a series of plein air drawings documenting an unlikely road trip.
This project was made possible by the kind support of Koyoma Press.
