Saturday, October 29, 2011

remembered drawing II / 記憶畫法(二)




這一週天氣轉陰,開始下雨了,我的高昂指數立刻大幅下滑,再加上我可能給自己的壓力太大,居然有點失智,去美術行買完速寫本沒帶回家,去圖書館查完書學生證就丟在那裡,導致隔兩天去上學遭到警衛的為難。

This week the weather turned cloudy and rainy. As a result, my mood suffered a drastic downturn since I am such a weather-oriented person. Plus, I probably imposed too much pressure on myself so that I started to have signs of dementia. I forgot the newly-bought sketchbook in the art supply shop. I left my student ID in the library without being aware of it at all, and I came near being blocked by the guard when I went to school two days later. 

星期四的檢討會之前,我很努力地擠出六張圖,謹記老師要我們用圖像傳達過去這個夏天的回憶,但是我有種筋疲力盡的感覺,心裡面還是有圖可畫,可是我不想被困在同樣的風格裡。不知是不是天氣變化,同學們也都懶洋洋的,助教也只有傑克出現,我深愛的露不知為何沒有來,於是傑克要每一個人在全班面前分享作品,而不是像之前的小組討論。

Before the crit on Thursday, I struggled to come up with six images, bearing in mind that I should put down my memory of the past summer break and express its feelings by appealing to the viewer's five senses. I felt drained by the end of Wednesday. There were still ample images in my mind, but I couldn't proceed because I didn't feel like repeating similar techniques or style. I wonder if it was the change in weather that caused everyone's fatigue on Thursday morning. Only one tutor Jake showed up. Lou, whom I know much better, was nowhere to be found. Jake wanted everyone to present his or her works in front of the whole class rather than group discussions like the past few weeks. 

雖然有些疲累,我還是認真地記筆記,傑克是個多話的老師,不過給的意見又多又實用,我想在接下來的三天對於我將要畫的圖會有很大的啟發。儘管如此,隨著看每個人的作品,我開始有信心危機,覺得自己的作品好像不如人,尤其是看到那種走精工路線的作品,我的野獸派和印像派畫就自慚形穢。

Though I was rather fatigued, I still took notes like mad. Jake is a talkative teacher, but his advice is plenty and helpful. His suggestions will do me much good when it comes to the images I am going to present during the following three days. Despite this awareness, I started to suffer a confidence crisis as we looked at more and more people's assignments. I had a strong feeling that my works are inferior. Especially when I saw images formed  by super fine lines, I felt like hiding my Fauvist and Impressionist drawings. 

傑克為了懲罰遲到的同學,要他們先做分享,其實我覺得要懲罰他們應該不要看他們的作品,因為這樣他們就得不到評論,但傑克以為我們都不想把作品給大家看。雖然我並不覺得自己做得特別好,可是我如果得到建議會很高興,不幸地,隨性的傑克沒有把時間控制好,我是被遺忘的一群,也怪我不是很主動啦,於是我的週四似乎就要在黑暗中落幕了。

To punish the students who were late, Jake wanted them to share their works first. In fact, I think the punishment should be not to look at their sketchbooks because then they wouldn't get any feedback. However, Jake thought most of us didn't want to show our own drawings. I don't think I did a brilliant job, but if I get advice, positive or negative, I will know how to improve. Unluckily, the free Jake didn't pay much attention to time, and I was among those who were forgotten. I was to blame too since I wasn't very active. Thus, my Thursday was about to end in darkness...

回家的路上和維琪及繪里同行,陪維琪等車時,聊著聊著突然有點想開了,好像沒必要把自己弄成這樣,明明我也知道要放鬆,但狀況好的時候逼得了,一走下坡就要快點鬆手。看了一個晚上的愚蠢偶像劇,睡了一場好覺,第二天醒來又是滿滿的靈感,人生不就是這樣嘛!

On my way home I walked with Vicky and Elie. While waiting for the bus with Vicky, I kind of figured out the whole thing. There was no point in pushing myself like this. I know better than anyone that I have to relax. When I am in good shape, I can make myself go very far. But I have to let go once I detect I am going downhill. I watched a silly TV drama for a whole evening and got a good night sleep. The next morning when I woke up, I was full of ideas again. Isn't life so simple like that... 


這是被困在蘭嶼的颱風夜。

This was the night when we were trapped in Lanyu by an approaching typhoon. 


這張圖看起來很可怕,可是我卻覺得是很好的實驗。我在蘭嶼潛水的時候是很害怕的,雖然覺得是很棒的經驗,和別人也都這麼說,但深層的記憶是恐懼。

This picture looks terrible, but I think of it as a very good experiment. I was very afraid when diving in Lanyu. It's a fantastic experience, and I keep telling others that. However, the memory at the deepest level is about fear. 


其實很多圖都可以追溯到部落格之前的記錄,但我還是加了新的元素。過去的夏天裡親了宥宥,和小方阿楷玩耍,畫這張圖的早上下著雨,我想有一天他們對於小時候的回憶應該也記不清楚了,可是在心裡的一角應該還會有我吧!

As a matter of fact, many images can be associated with my earlier entries of the past summer on the blog, but I added new elements. In the past summer, I kissed Yoyo, spent much time playing with Von and Kai. The morning when I drew this picture, it was raining. I guess one day these boys won't have a clear recollection of their childhood, but maybe deep down in one small corner, they will still remember me... 


去山裡頭時阿長躺在竹林裡睡午覺,我想記錄林中的微風。週四只有兩個人看了我的速寫本,她們翻到這張時很讚嘆,但我很失望,因為這是我花了好幾個月練習的技法,可以騙騙人,我倒希望她們看出前幾張的突破性。

When we went to the mountains, Dad took a nap in the bamboo woods. I'd like to depict how the breeze felt at that moment. Only two people looked at my sketchbook on the sad Thursday. They were amazed by this drawing, but to be honest, I was disappointed. It took me months to practice the techniques so I could impress those who don't know much about Chinese ink painting. I would feel happier if they saw the breakthrough I made in the previous drawings. 


夏天和阿長小雪去神木林,為了表達樹皮的觸感,又不想重覆之前的技法,這次我拿了雞蛋盒,還有撿來的葉子用來印顏料在紙上。

I went to the giant tree forest with Dad and Mom in summer. To express the tactile feel of the bark without repeating what I had done before, this time I used the egg box and leaves I picked on the street as a kind of coloring medium. 


每次過度使用媒材之後我就想回到單純的畫畫技術上,可是我覺得這張圖看起來有點空,你們說呢?

Every time after I overuse media, I feel like going back to simply drawing. But this picture feels kind of empty. What do you think? 


低潮過後都很像吃了大力丸,狀態馬上向上攀升。這是和阿麗和小蕙去海邊玩,我以前很少用鉛筆,現在不能不用,完全憑記憶畫得出來這樣,我自己覺得很神奇。

After I hit the lowest point, I'll bounce back to a very high peak as if I took drugs. I went to the seaside with Lee and Hui back in August. I hardly used pencils, but now I can't live without them. I find it amazing that I could do something like this totally from memory. 


本來要畫外婆的冬瓜滷,但後來就畫成這樣,我很喜歡。

I had meant to draw Granny's pickled white gourds, but later it turned out to be so. I like it a lot myself. 


夏天有很多去醫院的回憶。

I have many memories of hospital visits during summer break. 


班上很多少女喜歡畫黑暗風的東西,我也被她們影響了。

Several girls in my class love the dark styles, and I am more or less influenced by them. 


這週我要用穩定又放鬆的步伐完成速寫本,至少我要是唯一一個在乎自己作品的人。今晚繪里和新朋友奇蒂來邀我去參加萬聖節派對,我說我明天要早起去打羽毛球,果然就是個和少男少女格格不入的大嬸啊!不過我知道自己這週的狀況有點走下坡,我得運動運動才行!

This coming weekend I am going to finish my sketchbook at a steady yet relaxed pace. At least I have to be the only person that cares about my works. This evening Elie and a new friend Kitty invited me to go to a Halloween party, but I said I have to get up early to play badminton tomorrow morning. Well, I do have completely different life schedules than young boys and girls. Yet since I know I am kind of going down, I can use some exercise! 

Thursday, October 27, 2011

the present moment / 當下


上一週想到很遠的事,過了一個週末,心境全換,現在只想活在當下,就連趕速寫本時,我會跳躍式地想到下一張要畫什麼,於是我不斷提醒自己,如果我沒有全心投入,看的人會感受得到我的分心。

Last week I thought way ahead of now. After a weekend, my mindset completely changed. I just want to live at the present. When I am filling the sketchbook, I'll plan the next image. Thus I have to constantly remind myself that if I am not 100% committed, the viewer will feel my distraction. 


昨天和朋友約在鬧區Picadilly Circus,一下車我就捧著速寫本到人群聚集的噴水池前畫畫,說不同語言的人潮在我身邊流過,然後等人的人都和朋友走了,天黑了,空氣裡有冬意,我卻沒有羨慕那些看起來很幸福的人。

Yesterday I waited for my friend in Picadilly Circus. Right after I got off the bus, I walked right to the fountain with the sketchbook in my hand to draw. Around me walked by tourists who spoke all sorts of languages. Those who had been waiting for their friends left one after another. The sky turned dark, the air tasting of winter. Yet I didn't envy those who looked happy. 

我有速寫本的陪伴,還有朋友送給我的故事,讓我走在十點多的倫敦街頭也不覺得寒冷。

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

remembered drawing I / 記憶畫法(一)

進入畫畫訓練的第三週,今天我們得靠記憶把圖畫在A1大小的紙張,每個人會抽到倫敦動物園的一種動物,我們要企圖把那種動物的皮毛或者其它特色表現出來,麥特舉了個例說,假如你抽到綿羊,不要畫幾朵雲就交差了事。他才剛說完,我們上前去抽籤,我就抽到了綿羊,愛里抽到了蝙蝠,她說自己老是拿到很黑暗的題目,等到我畫綿羊的捲毛畫到手軟時,才發現我抽到牠也是有道理的,因為我不是超愛畫捲髮嗎?

This is the beginning of our third week of the drawing month. Today we had to turn to our memory to draw the image on an A1-size paper. Everyone would get a kind of animal in London Zoo. We had to attempt to express the texture or its features of the animal. Matt said, for example, don't just draw clouds when you get sheep. Just after he finished these words, we went forth to draw a lot. I got sheep. Elie got bat. She said that she always gets dark topics. It didn't occur to me that there was a point why I got sheep until my hands ached from drawing all those curls. Don't I just love to draw curly hair?


老師要我們回想有關那種動物的記憶,我想到去了清境好幾次餵綿羊的記憶,畫出來就變成這樣。維琪跑過來說,綿羊的臉看起來很像人臉,她晚上會做惡夢;欣也跑來說這些綿羊看起來很狂野,而且有的看起來很像狼,我說動物之間也是有混血的;最後麥特說,他喜歡。但我拿回家想貼起來,發現真的會讓人作惡夢!

The teachers wanted us to think back on our experience with the animal. I went to Cingjing Farm several times and fed the sheep. After I drew them, Vicky came to say, "The sheep's face are so human. They will give me nightmares!" Then Xin came to say, "The sheep are so wild, and some of them look like wolves." I replied, "Animals mix beyond their races too." In the end Matt said he likes it. But when I wanted to put it up on my wall, I realized that the image will give me a nightmare!


今天我們那一區很有中國味,艾登和喬一邊畫畫一邊說要來個每日一句中文,我們從「你好嗎?」開始,然後我就不停聽到他們亂叫,艾登的動物是老虎,他讓我教他老虎的說法之後,自己很開心地造了個句子:你好嗎老虎?我和旁邊的勵雯都快笑暈了。

Today our section was very Chinese. Aidan and Joe drew and had their first a-Chinese-sentence-every-day lesson. We started from "How are you?" and then they couldn't stop practicing. Aidan's animal was tiger. After I taught him how to say "tiger," he made a  sentence, "How are you tiger?" Liwen, who sat next to me, and I couldn't help laughing like lunatics. 










大家在畫室用紙不手軟,我在想他們是不是也想學費很貴,紙可以多拿就拿。通常週一畫完一整天後,大家不是很疲累就是瘋瘋的,然後我最喜歡的部份儘管很多人已經感覺受夠了,我們又一起去買新的速寫本,展開這一週的作業。

Students are not stingy with paper at all in studios. I am wondering if others also think like me--we should get our money's value in every aspect. Usually at the end of a Monday, everyone gets either exhausted or crazy. However, my favorite part is, though it seems that many of us are sick and tired of drawing, we will go together to get a brand-new sketchbook in order to start the assignment of this week. 

我有辦法這樣愛一個人嗎?

Can I love someone like that? 

relief printing / 凸版印刷

今天拿到上週五的凸版印刷作品了,印刷術真是個神奇的創作方式,不同顏色組合,一張底圖可以生出無數種組合。

I finally got the works made in the relief printing workshop last Friday. Printmaking is such an amazing medium. With combinations of different colors, endless versions can be produced from a single draft.




















工作坊當天應該要有十五名同學出現的,但大家對於學習沒有游大嬸的熱情,只有七個人來,不過這樣也好,下午剩下的六個人用兩台1850年生產的印刷機用到不亦樂乎,今天和特蕾莎說這個小秘密時,她說希望她那組也有很多人缺席,我下學期肯定還要再回去學其它技法,雖然我是真的付了很多學費,但能夠用到這些機器,也是要修好幾世的福啊!

There were supposed to be fifteen students in the workshop, but not everyone is so passionate about learning as me. Only seven people showed up, which was good. By the afternoon, the remaining six people had so much fun using the two old pressing machines that date back to 1850. When I told Teresa this, she said she hopes many people in her group will be absent too. I am definitely going back next term to learn other techniques. I did pay exorbitant tuition fees, but I have to admit that it takes the total amount of luck of several lives to be able to use these precious machines! 

imagined drawing III / 想像畫法(三)


上周六過得很混亂,傍晚回到家,在又傷心又寂寞的晚上,畫畫有療癒的效果,果然到了週日早上起床又是一條活龍,窗外的天氣美好,我就坐在窗前享受著陽光,很努力地把第二本速寫本畫完,晚上還寫了書法要送給維琪,因為她的主題和鋼有關。

Last Saturday was rather hectic, and we finally made it home in the evening. On a sad and lonely night, drawing helped me to recuperate. It was no surprise that I bounced back when getting up on Sunday morning. The weather was more than agreeable, and I sat at my desk basking in the sunshine, trying with all my might to fill the second sketchbook. In the evening I wrote calligraphy for Vicky for her topic is "the steel experience."


又回到數學題了,因為之前幾張圖似乎一直在拒絕理財,我決定換個態度,用正面的心情對待數字。

Back to math questions. I had the feeling that I  was rejecting to face money management in the previous images, so I decided to take a different attitude and face numbers with positive thinking. 




太多時候我們只看解答,不想原因。

Too often we look only at the answer without thinking about the causes at all. 


我常想,這世界上的房子可能比人口還多,兩邊的總數不合。

I often think, there are more houses than people in the world. The sums on two sides are not right. 


我在會計師的眼睛裡長這樣吧!

I probably look so in the eye of an accountant. 


好多人努力計算每餐卡路里,最後節實計劃都付諸流水。

So many people work on the calory intake of every meal only to have the diet plan gone with the wind... 


我這個人的總數是不同的色塊,麥特很喜歡這一張,尤其是黑色的外輪廓線。

My sums as a human being are different color blocks. Matt likes this image, especially the black contour line. 


有時去到很遠的地方要換上好幾種交通工具,但有可能最後到達的是個大黑洞。

Sometimes our destination is so faraway that the distance has to be covered with different means of transportation, but we might only end up in a big black hole. 


畫到這張我已經江郎才盡了,只好換形式來點漫畫。月亮要算好數學,因為每晚要以不同大小出現,太陽很慶幸自己沒有這個困擾。

I was at my wits' end when I got so far. Thus I tried the comic form. The mother moon advises her child to get his sums right because he has to appear in different sizes every night. The sun is glad that he doesn't have such worries. 


上週末和凱特在肯辛頓花園時,我們真得繞著樹想測量樹的年齡!我一直沒有空寫信給江老師,但墨汁很好用,我在這裡常使用它,做出來的東西也受到老師稱讚,有誰可以幫我謝謝阿吉老師嗎?

Last Sunday when we were in Kensington Gardens with Caterina, we did hold our hands around a tree to measure its age! I have not had time to write to Jim, but Chinese ink comes in really handy. My works done with Chinese ink are constantly praised by the teachers. I am wondering if anyone out there can help me thank Jim when you see him... 


這是我上週的人生課題解答,想通了,我要前進了!向第三本速寫本邁進!

This is the answer to my last week's big life lesson. I have figured out the answer, and am more than ready to move on to my 3rd sketchbook! 

雖然今天老師沒有很仔細地翻閱我的速寫本,我覺得自己是用人生在做作業的,老師說有人只是畫線條,畫面裡感受不到對畫畫的熱情,我想知道別人看我的作品是什麼感覺?請和我說。

Though Matt didn't take much time to go through my sketchbook, I thought I used my whole life to do the assignment. Mike said that some people just drew lines on the pages without showing joy for drawing. I'd like to know how you feel when looking at my images. Please leave messages for me. 

上個星期聽到了很多當插畫家的現實面,儘管如此,我知道自己在這裡的日子有限,因此我打了個比方,我這麼努力,就像我知道自己什麼時候會死,所以在那之前的每分每秒我都不想浪費。老師說對插畫家來說,畫畫就是人生,要畫到像有強迫症,這個我應該有吧!

Last week I heard about the realistic sides of being an illustrator. Despite so, I know that my days here are numbered, so I compare the end of my stay here to death. Since I know when I will die,  I don't feel like wasting a second before that happens. The teachers said that for illustrators, drawing is their whole life. We have to draw to a compulsive degree. Well, I have that right? 

Saturday, October 22, 2011

imagined drawing II / 想像畫法(二)


這個星期每天不是收到郵件就是包裹,我不禁想到「美味關係」中的茱莉,因為她的三百六十五日烹飪計劃,網友們熱情贊助,我的寄信人都是認識的家人朋友學生,但我有種在精神上被資助的感覺。在所有明信片之中,子榕寄了一張很有土耳其風味的手繪明信片,我一度以為是別人的郵件,內心有些小小的嫉妒,再仔細一看居然是寫給我的,我一定是本棟的郵件女王!

This week I receive either mail or packets every day. I recall Julie in "Julie and Julia." Because of her 365-day cooking project, netizens chipped in to support her. My mail senders are either my family, friends, or students, but I feel supported mentally. Among all postcards, Jasmine sent me a very Turkish handmade card. I once thought it was meant for someone else, and thus felt a little bit jealous. Upon closer inspection, it was  mailed to me! I must be the queen of letters in the F block!




開始了第二本速寫本,因為一本要花上一點三磅,我連封面都會設計,主題延續周一的題目:算對總數。

I started the second sketchbook this week. Since this one costs 1.3 pounds, I want to get the money's value. I design even the covers. The subject is the same as that on Monday: Getting Your Sums Right. 


星期二參加了一場婚禮,回家的路上想著,這世界上的關係各式各樣,每個人要的是怎樣的關係呢?換成數學說法,你要的是一加一小於二或者等於二或大於二的婚姻?同一天收到弟弟的婚宴禮物,就把它變成功課的一部份。

I went to a wedding on Tuesday. On my way home, I thought about various kinds of relationships in the world. What does everyone look for? In mathematical terms, do you want a 1+1<2, or a 1+1=2, or a 1+1>2 relationship? I happened to receive Jei's wedding gift on the same day, so I incorporated it into my sketchbook. 


這是我在房間裡被每天的花費困住(白色部份是由我從來到這裡到現在每日的記帳),而從室內往外看的門牌號碼代表我會有永久的財富,剛好形成強烈的對比,上面則是窗外藍天的延伸,不如讓帳單都隨風飛去吧!

This is me in my room trapped by my everyday expenses. (The white part is actually my daily bills after I came here.) However, my room number 89, seen from the inside of the room, symbolizes forever prosperity. There is a strong contrast between the two. The upper image is an extension of the blue sky in which I decide to let all the bills fly with the wind... 


我又玩了文字排列遊戲,人生從最簡單的數學問題開始,接下來越來越複雜,就再也不只是數學了,我想要讓版面有上層的重量壓下來的感覺。

Next I played with typography. Life starts from the bottom with the easiest math question, and then it gets more and more complicated. It is not just about math anymore. I'd like to present a layout that is about to crush from the top. 


卡洛斯林姆是世界上最有錢的人,可是那些算不完的錢在他過世之後最多只能用來買墓前的花,而其他人的生命依然繼續。

Carlos Slim is the richest man in the world, but the countless money he owns can at most be used to buy flowers placed on his tombstone after he passes away. Yet other people's life will go on... 


嘉蕊說她會想用立體的方式呈現,我試圖把她的想法畫下來,把立方體一直加上去。

Jazel said that she would like to present the idea from a 3-D perspective. I attempted to put down her idea on paper by adding the cubes up. 


今天進印刷室忙了一整天,就拿這張圖當底圖,還有其它好幾個版本,下周一才拿得到。

I spent the whole day today in the printing room. This drawing was my draft. In the end I produced several versions, but I won't get them until next Monday. 


益智節目當道,所以我也來一題超簡單的數學題!

Quiz shows are always in, so here is a super simple math question from me! 


如果把不同種類的東西放在同一個數學題裡要怎麼算呢?

How do you add things of different categories in the same question? 

待續‧‧‧

to be continued...