Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey (Kakukaku Shikajika) Vol. 1

(Paperback)

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Description

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!

Reviews

Praise for Blank Canvas

This series is a true boon to any teenage artist, as it both humanizes the Higashimura of today by showing her less flattering teenage qualities, as well as delivers a reality check that behind every prolific creator is a great deal of unseen work... Readers are accustomed to the wacky slapstick of Princess Jellyfish and Tokyo Tarareba Girls, which also blend serious storylines of self-discovery and exploration throughout their narratives. Blank Canvas, though non-fiction, is no exception to this expert balance of pathos and grounding humor. --The Beat, Best Comics of 2019

...a fun and personal chronicle of a girl's coming of age and rise to prominence in the manga industry. It's extremely entertaining and has just enough intelligence and self-reflection to resonate as a lived experience. It's just really, really good. --Anime News Network

I really like how she frames her career beginnings not from her start as a rookie manga artist, but from her perspective as an amateur high schooler trying to brush up on her art skills... This down-to-earth approach makes her story much more relatable. --Manga.Tokyo

Praise for Princess Jellyfish

One of the best anime and manga for beginners. Enthusiasm - geeky and otherwise - is power in Princess Jellyfish. Enthusiasm saves the day and paves the road to the future.--Kotaku

Princess Jellyfish's ambition is simple: to tell a delightful story in a delightful way... It's a pretty deadly one-two punch.--Anime News Network

Loaded with heart, soul, humor and insight.--About.com

Author Bio

Akiko Higashimura is the Eisner-winning mangaka of Princess Jellyfish, Tokyo Tarareba Girls, and Blank Canvas- My So-Called Artist's Journey (known as Kakukaku Shikajika in Japanese), all of which are available in English.