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Okay, besides working on your comics, second art book and animation projects, you also teach at the China Academy of Art, don’t you?

Yeah, I’m an animation and drawing instructor in FAV. I also teach some comic classes. This is my job now and I enjoy trying out new things. Teaching’s exposed me to new ways of creating art.

I’m a good teacher -- at least I hope I am. My students have questions about certain techniques sometimes which I answer and explain. Then I always tell them technique is not the most important thing. Don’t concentrate on the skill. Concentrate on everything that’s occurred in your life. Never lose the feeling. Some people live without feeling, especially when they’ve grown up.

Well, say there’s a blank piece of paper in front of you. Where do you start?

I have the mood at first and I’m searching for its shape and image. It’s like a container for the mood. I’m looking for the right shape to pour these emotions into.

The other day I had this mood and then the idea for a series of illustrations about daydreams, Daydreams Till Nightfall. Everything that’s related to you (like a memory) is just a long dream in the afternoon. A dream you don’t want to wake out of -- that’s the subject. And when you do wake up you’re not sure whether it’s day or night. A beautifully written essay accompanies the illustrations and a talented writer friend of mine Luo Luo [a popular Chinese writer in the '80s] wrote it. I have an idea and she writes for the illustrations.

What criticisms does your work receive sometimes?

The publisher always complains that the colours are too light to be printed! Or too subtle to be printed well. They say, we’re not a Japanese magazine! (Because the Japanese really can print nice moods on paper.)

Emm… Readers say they don’t understand the story. I hear that every time a new story comes out.

How do you respond?

There’s huge progress in printing technology. I always remember what an editor friend said to me: “Don’t limit yourself because of the present conditions, stretch yourself to your fullest extents. There’ll definitely be a day when we have printing that good.” And I think it’s the same thing when it comes to my stories. I say nothing to the readers… They’ll understand the story at one point in the future, if they want to.

What other obstacles do you face as an artist?

I feel the greatest obstacle is myself. It’s like martial arts. Sometimes there are physical problems too, but the resistance from within is always the final hurdle. Sometimes I can’t overcome myself, the fear of not being able to hold the pen tomorrow, of not drawing anything better in the future. Like Bruce Lee said, to be a master, we have to fight with ourselves.

 

 

Guu Magazine at GuuPress.com

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