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Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey #3
Trait pour trait - Tome 3
美大を卒業したあと、就職せずに宮崎に帰った明子。日高先生に再会し… 少女まんが家を夢みたあの頃を描くドラマチック・メモリーズ第三弾！
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2014
5 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 15, 2023
I was so unsure if I would enjoy this series and honestly almost stopped after volume two because it was much heavier than I expected (maybe if it hadn't been a hectic three days with sick kiddos I maybe wouldn't feel that way, but nonetheless I still did when reading). However, I told myself to pick up the next volume because I know at least three people who said this series is in their all-time favorites and felt I HAD to read this series to completion because of knowing that.
Obviously, I'm only on volume three, but this volume hit a lot differently than the previous two. I feel maybe more of her creative journey was more relatable to me personally, especially when she shares when you are completely at your limit, that is when you then MAKE time to pursue your dream/passions. Not only that, but I think the reflection that she had in having to choose what to pursue really resonated with me as well.
I'm a little nervous to continue because I felt myself almost starting to tear up at the end and since have heard MULTIPLE people say they cry, I know I'm not ready to yet. LOL!
A very good volume!
Obviously, I'm only on volume three, but this volume hit a lot differently than the previous two. I feel maybe more of her creative journey was more relatable to me personally, especially when she shares when you are completely at your limit, that is when you then MAKE time to pursue your dream/passions. Not only that, but I think the reflection that she had in having to choose what to pursue really resonated with me as well.
I'm a little nervous to continue because I felt myself almost starting to tear up at the end and since have heard MULTIPLE people say they cry, I know I'm not ready to yet. LOL!
A very good volume!
January 26, 2020
This series just keeps improving with each volume. Akiko struggles to find and assert herself after graduating college as her parents and old art teacher push her in career paths she is sure she does not want to take. Equal parts autobiography and tribute to the power of mentorship.
April 26, 2021
Really enjoying this series now. Motivated to see it through.
April 12, 2022
看到作者回憶準備出社會的尷尬，真是心有戚戚焉。
p.5 「去讀美術、藝術大學的傢伙們……全都是滿腦子風花雪月、患有嚴重的彼得潘症候群的廢人。」想到TW在世界上經濟條件也不算太好，所以早年要唸美術大家都會去師範體系謀生路；1980年代前只有藝專沒有藝大，到現在也只有3間藝大，術科考生中進師範體系的比例還是最高吧（雖然早就沒有公費鐵飯碗了）。
p.7 「以前的我，早就下定決心要在讀大學時出道成為少女漫畫家，但現在都要升大四了，卻完全沒畫過漫畫」
p.10 「人家說，目標應該要說出口來……三年來完全沒採取行動的我，在那天以後終於開始嘗試行動了」
p.18 作者爸媽算大學四年的花費給她聽，說要900萬日圓。
印象中我大學時學費每學期2萬多新臺幣，宿舍一學期7000元，生活費每個月大約 8000元（當時市面上還有50元便當），這樣算來比起日本負擔算是輕許多吧（雖然收入也完全沒辦法比）。
p.26 變裝秀畢業典禮，哈哈，想到我們學校的畢業典體還不如高中熱鬧。（而且我也沒去。）
p.70 麥金塔電腦，真懷念啊……以前我們上大學時還沒有被淘汰（暴露年紀）
p.71 作者說他不知道電繪老師出的課題是要他們畫啥，但我好像略懂：老師出這個課題應該是要做那種可填滿的網頁background圖吧……（暴露年紀again）
p.77 「人這種生物，唯有在走投無路、極度疲憊的時候……才有動力逼自己朝夢想跨出第一步。」
p.81 「如果我當時很順利地成為那所高中的美術老師、如果我當時從事的是能夠發揮我在美術大學所學專長的工作的話，說不定我現在就不是漫畫家了。」
p.133 原來作者老師期許她走安德魯．魏斯（Andrew Wyeth，1917-2009）的路線喔！
p.135 「妳畫的圖還不是很好」作者的素描及油畫等專業繪畫能力難以應用在漫畫……難怪很多美大畢業的漫畫家畫風看起來都那麼「天然」。
p.147 「畫圖的人似乎都有很強的影像記憶能力。」真的，大學玩翻撲克牌記憶遊戲總是輸給同學，畢業後發現自己是整間辦公室唯一能正確記憶小學國語課本封面插畫風格的人。
p.5 「去讀美術、藝術大學的傢伙們……全都是滿腦子風花雪月、患有嚴重的彼得潘症候群的廢人。」想到TW在世界上經濟條件也不算太好，所以早年要唸美術大家都會去師範體系謀生路；1980年代前只有藝專沒有藝大，到現在也只有3間藝大，術科考生中進師範體系的比例還是最高吧（雖然早就沒有公費鐵飯碗了）。
p.7 「以前的我，早就下定決心要在讀大學時出道成為少女漫畫家，但現在都要升大四了，卻完全沒畫過漫畫」
p.10 「人家說，目標應該要說出口來……三年來完全沒採取行動的我，在那天以後終於開始嘗試行動了」
p.18 作者爸媽算大學四年的花費給她聽，說要900萬日圓。
印象中我大學時學費每學期2萬多新臺幣，宿舍一學期7000元，生活費每個月大約 8000元（當時市面上還有50元便當），這樣算來比起日本負擔算是輕許多吧（雖然收入也完全沒辦法比）。
p.26 變裝秀畢業典禮，哈哈，想到我們學校的畢業典體還不如高中熱鬧。（而且我也沒去。）
p.70 麥金塔電腦，真懷念啊……以前我們上大學時還沒有被淘汰（暴露年紀）
p.71 作者說他不知道電繪老師出的課題是要他們畫啥，但我好像略懂：老師出這個課題應該是要做那種可填滿的網頁background圖吧……（暴露年紀again）
p.77 「人這種生物，唯有在走投無路、極度疲憊的時候……才有動力逼自己朝夢想跨出第一步。」
p.81 「如果我當時很順利地成為那所高中的美術老師、如果我當時從事的是能夠發揮我在美術大學所學專長的工作的話，說不定我現在就不是漫畫家了。」
p.133 原來作者老師期許她走安德魯．魏斯（Andrew Wyeth，1917-2009）的路線喔！
p.135 「妳畫的圖還不是很好」作者的素描及油畫等專業繪畫能力難以應用在漫畫……難怪很多美大畢業的漫畫家畫風看起來都那麼「天然」。
p.147 「畫圖的人似乎都有很強的影像記憶能力。」真的，大學玩翻撲克牌記憶遊戲總是輸給同學，畢業後發現自己是整間辦公室唯一能正確記憶小學國語課本封面插畫風格的人。
January 30, 2020
Hayashi graduates from art school and is faced with looking for work. She's put no effort into her job search, so ends up back home with her folks, working at a call center (poor girl!) during the day, and assisting at Sensei's studio in the evening and on weekends.
It was good to see Hayashi finally wake up to her passion for creating manga. I won't spoil how her submission to Bouquet magazine goes, but as usual it's awkward and funny. The situation with Sensei is getting more painful, as a combination of obligation and respect makes her unwilling to admit to him that she has no real interest in continuing with fine art.
Higashimura's got the uncertainty, the guilt-inducing errors of omission, the love-craziness, and occasional absurdity of young adulthood down to a T.
It was good to see Hayashi finally wake up to her passion for creating manga. I won't spoil how her submission to Bouquet magazine goes, but as usual it's awkward and funny. The situation with Sensei is getting more painful, as a combination of obligation and respect makes her unwilling to admit to him that she has no real interest in continuing with fine art.
Higashimura's got the uncertainty, the guilt-inducing errors of omission, the love-craziness, and occasional absurdity of young adulthood down to a T.
July 28, 2020
I feel like she’s maturing. The author working on her second manga with her her family is so cute. Glad she finally started!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2019
This series continues to be raw and real and fascinating. I love it.
November 25, 2020
4.25/5 stars
As graduation nears Akiko needs to figure out her future plans.
I always find Blank Canvas reviews challenging to write because I consistently feel a bit exposed after reading a volume. This volume in particular illustrates how someone can say the right thing at the right time and have it affect one’s entire future. I also find Akiko relatable in that she is most successful/motivated when she is most busy, and I can sympathize feeling like there’s a choice between leaving your loved ones behind and pursuing what you love. That Higashimura so perfectly captures this feeling really adds to the melancholy air the series is building, and gives me the impression that the next two volumes are going to be very emotionally impactful.
An aspect of this story that I have enjoyed throughout this volume and the ones that precede it is Higashimura’s storytelling. I really like that the narrative includes snippets of present day, and that we’re able to see how some of the people of Higashimura’s past are doing in the present day. The author is also really successful at creating a nice balance between everyday life and the over-arching story.
Aside from getting to see a teacher-side to Akiko’s character, my favourite takeaway from this volume was the inside look into the manga industry at the time. I appreciated all the little details included, like how one goes about getting published and the money behind it. I really like how honest and upfront Higashimura is in this regard.
Blog | Instagram (main account) | Instagram (manga account) | Twitter
As graduation nears Akiko needs to figure out her future plans.
I always find Blank Canvas reviews challenging to write because I consistently feel a bit exposed after reading a volume. This volume in particular illustrates how someone can say the right thing at the right time and have it affect one’s entire future. I also find Akiko relatable in that she is most successful/motivated when she is most busy, and I can sympathize feeling like there’s a choice between leaving your loved ones behind and pursuing what you love. That Higashimura so perfectly captures this feeling really adds to the melancholy air the series is building, and gives me the impression that the next two volumes are going to be very emotionally impactful.
An aspect of this story that I have enjoyed throughout this volume and the ones that precede it is Higashimura’s storytelling. I really like that the narrative includes snippets of present day, and that we’re able to see how some of the people of Higashimura’s past are doing in the present day. The author is also really successful at creating a nice balance between everyday life and the over-arching story.
Aside from getting to see a teacher-side to Akiko’s character, my favourite takeaway from this volume was the inside look into the manga industry at the time. I appreciated all the little details included, like how one goes about getting published and the money behind it. I really like how honest and upfront Higashimura is in this regard.
Blog | Instagram (main account) | Instagram (manga account) | Twitter
May 10, 2023
I realy enjoy this manga biograpgy series, as we follow Akiko from her art school to her current status of manga artist. It's an intense and rough road.
The neat lesson from this book is that for some people, you really need to be at the end of the tunnel to finally move it and do something!
Don't read the following if you have not read the book yet!
Spoilers ahead.
Now Akiko is close to graduating, but she still doesn't know what she's going to do, and her parents are fed up paying big money for her studies, and no real job perspective.
Her dad has an idea, which is definitely not to Akiko's liking.
So under pressure, she FINALLY draws some manga, and send it to a manga magazine.
I'm really baffled that it takes 3 full volumes in this series before she finally tells her special art teacher what type of art (manga) she wanted to do from the get go. Was it considered so bad at the time? Was she so ashamed? The world of manga was all her life, so why not open about it earlier?
Has it got to do with something in Japanese culture?
I'm curious
The neat lesson from this book is that for some people, you really need to be at the end of the tunnel to finally move it and do something!
Don't read the following if you have not read the book yet!
Spoilers ahead.
Now Akiko is close to graduating, but she still doesn't know what she's going to do, and her parents are fed up paying big money for her studies, and no real job perspective.
Her dad has an idea, which is definitely not to Akiko's liking.
So under pressure, she FINALLY draws some manga, and send it to a manga magazine.
I'm really baffled that it takes 3 full volumes in this series before she finally tells her special art teacher what type of art (manga) she wanted to do from the get go. Was it considered so bad at the time? Was she so ashamed? The world of manga was all her life, so why not open about it earlier?
Has it got to do with something in Japanese culture?
I'm curious
September 2, 2023
Même si le dessin et l'humour de l'autrice ne me plaisent pas, et c'est le cas d'autres oeuvres que j'ai lu d'elle malheureusement, j'aime cependant énormément ce qu'elle raconte. Il y a une intelligence d'écriture que j'apprécie ici aussi, et une sincérité fascinante dans cette oeuvre autobiographique, qui devient rapidement très touchante et efficace dans sa narration.
Elle y détaille le parcours qui l'a mené, depuis le jour où elle s'est inscrite à une école d'art de sa ville, à sa carrière actuelle, d'autrice accomplie de mangas. Et malgré le ton très léger, bourré de mimiques et d'humour brut (et peut-être aussi grâce à lui justement), c'est un vibrant hommage qu'elle rend en filigramme à son professeur de peinture.
On la voit galérer à suivre les directives de son professeur dès le début, n'osant jamais lui dire qu'au fond elle n'a aucune envie de peindre, et prévoit de se lancer dans une carrière de mangaka. Elle détaille les frasques de ses choix adolescents et de jeune adulte. Elle persuade ses parents de l'aider à financer son école d'art, mais arrive péniblement au bout sans avoir jamais entrepris de dessiner des planches de mangas et se retrouve au final diplômée mais sans perspectives. Jusqu'au jour où, évidemment, elle va faire ses premiers pas, buter contre les premiers obstacles, et avancer quand même. En tout cas, c'est à peu près là où on en est, une fois passé ce troisième tome (sur cinq).
Rétrospectivement, je suis assez impressionnée, parce qu'en surface c'est très simplement dessiné et raconté. Et pourtant, je me rends compte en y repensant, qu'il y a une finesse dans les choix qu'elle fait de ce qu'elle relate et de la façon dont elle fait des liens et des allers-retours sur différents aspects de sa vie. Et toujours, au fond d'elle, une pensée vers ce professeur, dont l'avis lui a énormément apporté, qui l'impressionnait et en même temps lui a tout appris.
Je vais prendre mon temps pour lire les prochains tomes, mais je ne peux déjà que fortement vous recommander cette série, encore plus si vous vous intéressez au parcours initiatique de celles et ceux qui sont devenus auteur-ices.
Elle y détaille le parcours qui l'a mené, depuis le jour où elle s'est inscrite à une école d'art de sa ville, à sa carrière actuelle, d'autrice accomplie de mangas. Et malgré le ton très léger, bourré de mimiques et d'humour brut (et peut-être aussi grâce à lui justement), c'est un vibrant hommage qu'elle rend en filigramme à son professeur de peinture.
On la voit galérer à suivre les directives de son professeur dès le début, n'osant jamais lui dire qu'au fond elle n'a aucune envie de peindre, et prévoit de se lancer dans une carrière de mangaka. Elle détaille les frasques de ses choix adolescents et de jeune adulte. Elle persuade ses parents de l'aider à financer son école d'art, mais arrive péniblement au bout sans avoir jamais entrepris de dessiner des planches de mangas et se retrouve au final diplômée mais sans perspectives. Jusqu'au jour où, évidemment, elle va faire ses premiers pas, buter contre les premiers obstacles, et avancer quand même. En tout cas, c'est à peu près là où on en est, une fois passé ce troisième tome (sur cinq).
Rétrospectivement, je suis assez impressionnée, parce qu'en surface c'est très simplement dessiné et raconté. Et pourtant, je me rends compte en y repensant, qu'il y a une finesse dans les choix qu'elle fait de ce qu'elle relate et de la façon dont elle fait des liens et des allers-retours sur différents aspects de sa vie. Et toujours, au fond d'elle, une pensée vers ce professeur, dont l'avis lui a énormément apporté, qui l'impressionnait et en même temps lui a tout appris.
Je vais prendre mon temps pour lire les prochains tomes, mais je ne peux déjà que fortement vous recommander cette série, encore plus si vous vous intéressez au parcours initiatique de celles et ceux qui sont devenus auteur-ices.
September 11, 2021
After the author/artist graduates from art school, she has to find a job.
I get more attached to this story with each volume. Higashimura's love for manga finally comes through in this one - she gives herself the task of creating a manga for submission to Bouquet magazine and nearly kills herself making it at night as she works at a call center during the day. I'll definitely keep reading these.
I get more attached to this story with each volume. Higashimura's love for manga finally comes through in this one - she gives herself the task of creating a manga for submission to Bouquet magazine and nearly kills herself making it at night as she works at a call center during the day. I'll definitely keep reading these.
March 26, 2020
Continuing from the last volume, Higashimura is now a graduate. Like other university graduates, she also faces the hurdle to get a job. This is where we see her struggles in achieving her ambition to be a published mangaka after all that she did or didn't do in her university before. The more one reads the more one can understand why Sensei is such an important part of her life.
October 18, 2020
This manga is a TREASURE and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
January 18, 2022
Also the hardest volume i read in this series. Akiko's thoughts, and her acting toward sensei is just so frustrating. I feel like she could make a better decision on how to confront her sensei.
May 18, 2022
Perfectly captures that period in life when you've just graduated and had to scramble to figure out what you want to do so well. As someone who's going through the same, I found this volume reassuring.
June 30, 2023
Being aimless with life and finding it hard to be motivated on your dreams, the manga is really tackling some interesting issues. I really love the protagonist and understand her.
December 23, 2019
Lovely, I think this is my favorite book in the series so far.
June 27, 2020
Another wonderful volume, this manga has been consistently good, it’s charming and engaging. I love learning about Higashimura’s life and her artist journey.
March 26, 2022
Empat tahun berlalu secepat laju anak panah, dan tibalah hari kelulusan Hayashi. Setelah melalui berbagai drama mencari kerja dan terpaksa mulau LDRan dengan kekasihnya di Kanazawa, Hayashi mulai mengambil langkah awalnya untuk meraih cita-cita menjadi seorang shoujo mangaka. Sementara itu, ia bekerja di perusahaan telekomunikasi rujukan bapaknya dan menjadi asisten pengajar di tempat kursus lukisnya dulu.
Hidaka-sensei yang tidak pernah mengetahui cita-cita Hayashi yang sesungguhnya terus mengajak Hayashi untuk mengumpulkan lukisan agar dapat mengadakan pameran bersama kelak. Hayashi dihadapkan pada dilema antara mengusahakan impiannya sebagai mangaka atau mengikuti ajakan gurunya. Ia merasa tidak mampu menolak ajakan Hidaka-sensei selama ia terus bertatap muka dengan beliau. Karena itu, ia berniat untuk mengumpulkan uang sebanyak-banyaknya agar bisa pindah dari kampung halamannya untuk mengabdikan diri pada cita-citanya yang sesungguhnya.
Hidaka-sensei yang tidak pernah mengetahui cita-cita Hayashi yang sesungguhnya terus mengajak Hayashi untuk mengumpulkan lukisan agar dapat mengadakan pameran bersama kelak. Hayashi dihadapkan pada dilema antara mengusahakan impiannya sebagai mangaka atau mengikuti ajakan gurunya. Ia merasa tidak mampu menolak ajakan Hidaka-sensei selama ia terus bertatap muka dengan beliau. Karena itu, ia berniat untuk mengumpulkan uang sebanyak-banyaknya agar bisa pindah dari kampung halamannya untuk mengabdikan diri pada cita-citanya yang sesungguhnya.
April 29, 2020
In this third installment we see Akiko graduate and navigate the difficulties of the workplace. She needs a job to pay the bills and buy art supplies but besides making art she doesn't have any marketable skills...
Once again I am struck by the warmth in this volume. Higashimura sensei doesn't make things look better than they were and her honesty is both fun and endearing (well to me it is).
In terms of art, she switches to drawing in the art styles she liked to read during her flashbacks. It fits the narrative well and really gives you that feeling of looking into the past. It's also fun to see the variety of styles she's capable of.
Once again I am struck by the warmth in this volume. Higashimura sensei doesn't make things look better than they were and her honesty is both fun and endearing (well to me it is).
In terms of art, she switches to drawing in the art styles she liked to read during her flashbacks. It fits the narrative well and really gives you that feeling of looking into the past. It's also fun to see the variety of styles she's capable of.
November 3, 2020
I was not a fan with vol 2, but vol 3 was a gem. I liked how she used her anger to quit her job to draw manga. Yet it still took her a few years to actually quit, she kept on drawing. She improved and we learned how she views painting vs drawing manga.
I’m a bit sadden that she didn’t tell her Sensei that she was to pursue manga than painting. Besides that, I loved how her parents supported her (okay more like the money she’s making). Her mom is a hoot with helping her daughter.
I cannot wait to purchase the next volume and continue reading it. In short, we see her growing and taking the steps in doing manga.
I’m a bit sadden that she didn’t tell her Sensei that she was to pursue manga than painting. Besides that, I loved how her parents supported her (okay more like the money she’s making). Her mom is a hoot with helping her daughter.
I cannot wait to purchase the next volume and continue reading it. In short, we see her growing and taking the steps in doing manga.
May 13, 2021
It's getting really good. College is over and the author stands at the crossroads of working a boring office job or follow her dream of making manga. In the meantime she also volunteers at her art mentor's growing studio training younger artists. She does start making manga and fear her mentor will reject her for doing lowly popular art. It all ends well because she made this manga and other series, so the next question is about how she makes manga a career with the cliffhanger of what has become of the mentor.
July 23, 2021
I ended up leaving this volume for a while and coming back to it. The weird thing about this manga is that when I'm reading it I really enjoy it but I never feel like reading it when I'm deciding what to read that day. This volume made me laugh and it even made me cry. I always have fun when I read it. I think what stops me from coming back to it is just the fact that it's a memoir so there aren't big plot points that I'm curious about that pull me back.
March 16, 2022
I loved seeing the true start of Higashimura’s manga career in this book! It goes to show just how much work goes into a single short story—story boards, sketches, and inking take a long time to do with just one person. She managed to power through it (even though she lost COUNTLESS hours of sleep) and showed just how passionate she is about manga. However, the hardest part wasn’t the process of creating it; it was telling Sensei she would rather pursue manga over fine art.
Great book!
Great book!
December 12, 2019
I am really enjoying this manga series. I believe it is an autobiography with some possible artistic license. The author has a good, self-deprecating sense of humor and the story is very entertaining and educational. I will definitely look for volume 4.
November 23, 2022
Jilid kali ni sangatlah boleh berkait dengan kesemua penggiat seni. Hahaha!
Nak menangis baca sebab pelukis manga ni betul-betul jadikan kisah penggiat seni yang sebenar. Tiada satupun yang tak masuk akal. Semuanya logik.
Nak menangis baca sebab pelukis manga ni betul-betul jadikan kisah penggiat seni yang sebenar. Tiada satupun yang tak masuk akal. Semuanya logik.
August 13, 2024
From end of college to supporting jobs and first art related jobs. We are still at a loss for understanding the driving force that the author got from her sensei. Two other students have flash forwards here and we get a sense of the art teacher's impact on artists.
December 17, 2018
Adorable manga Love it👌😁😻 🖼💕
January 4, 2020
This series is honestly so fun!!! Lots of laugh out loud moments.
March 9, 2020
Our heroine has graduated, but her job outlook is bleak! Confronted with a harsh and inescapable reality, she finally begins to reach for her dreams of drawing manga.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews