Comic Practical Tutorial. Background Material Section

Author: Xu Peiyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Exquisite hand-drawn backgrounds, comic creation examples explained, a practical guide to comic creation. For contemporary Chinese comic creators, in addition to Hong Kong, they all face a rather challenging creative environment. Since the heyday of comics in Taiwan in the 1980s, local creation has been struggling along a bumpy path. Each comic artist is like a versatile deity, needing to master everything from script and storyboard to character backgrounds and visual storytelling without formal training. While publishers have also tried to adopt Japan's editorial systems, they have often been in a state of constant adaptation. Japan's powerful works surged into the local market in a short time, and local comic artists had to fight tooth and nail. One by one, they fell prey to challenges, with fewer and fewer comrades left. Meanwhile, the younger generation of comic artists, lacking platforms for publication, have become increasingly scarce.
A few years ago, adventurous comic creators like You Xiang, Sun Jiayu, and Lin Zhengde from Taiwan traveled to mainland China to publish and develop their work, as if placing all hopes on the mainland for the future of comics. After exchanging experiences with mainland comic creators, observing the actual creative and publishing environment, and engaging in creative work there, I found that in terms of drawing skills and the use of tools, mainland China has indeed reached a certain level. Some comic artists have also realized the true spirit of creation and are continuously improving. I am deeply moved by fellow creators who are passionate about comic creation, and I hope that on the international stage of comics, our local artists can carve out a place for themselves.
Here, I share my modest experiences in forging ahead independently, hoping to inspire others to combine their creative insights and provide comic readers with more and better works, creating a truly independent comic market that belongs to the Chinese people.