Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey, Vol. 1
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The autobiographical manga by Eisner-winner Akiko Higashimura, the creator of Princess Jellyfish and Tokyo Tarareba Girls, about her high school dream to become a comic book creator! High schooler Akiko has big plans to become a popular mangaka before she even graduates, but she needs to get much better at drawing if she ever wants to reach her goal. Looking for an easy fix, she signs up for an art class, thinking all her problems will soon be solved. She’s in for a surprise: her new instructor is a bamboo sword-wielding taskmaster who doesn’t care about manga one bit. But maybe this unconventional art teacher is just what she needs to realize her dreams!
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1 primary bookBlank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey (Kakukaku Shikajika) is a 1-book series first released in 2012 with contributions by Akiko Higashimura.
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In Blank Canvas, Akiko Higashimura, known for Princess Jellyfish, shares her own autobiographical experience. In the first volume of Blank Canvas, she describes her early days as a manga artist starting when she was a naïve sophomore in high school. The adult Akiko reflects on her past and dedicates much of what she has learned to Hidaka Kenzou, her strict sensei. She uses her story to connect who she used to be and who she eventually becomes, which is one of the most important aspects of the series.
From the perspective of an older adult, the story is charming and shows the younger, immature self from a mature adult's perspective. The flow is fairly good, except for the time jumps. Despite its best efforts, it can't explain and connect.It actually has nice art. Initially, I didn't like it much, but as I went along, I came to appreciate it more.
My major complaint is the sensei's method of teaching. The method will not suit everyone, no matter how hard they try. I comprehend his stance of “never give until you've mastered it” and pushing students to go beyond their limits.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Higashimura's autobiography. Her career arc doesn't begin as a rookie manga artist, which I find really interesting. The story is told through the viewpoint of an amateur high schooler who is trying to brush up on her art skills. It only makes us curious to see if she enrolls in art school in the future. Her down-to-earth approach makes her story much more relatable.
