I was fortunate to have the opportunity to see John drawing at a convention in the UK. I was both awestruck and also broken by seeing him use a Biro to draw/express himself so wonderfully.

I myself had previously tried to sketch with a Biro (not intentionally, just that it was the only thing that had been available.) I was already critical of it before the first mark! As a result I negatively latched on to ink glooping from hesitation, as well as not knowing the weight/sensitivity of the lines. Meaning my lines screamed in places where I should have whispered etc. So I cast it aside happily.

Watching John use it so freely, his line had bounce and enthusiasm and vitality... a real joy to watch. I saw that it was not the instrument, it was me!

That was a hard pill to swallow for a kid, so full of himself. 

But it was one of a hand full of amazingly fortunate mirrors that have been held up to me over the years and I am so grateful for it.