any diehard manga artists out there?
 

just wondering if there are any artists who want to draw manga (doujinshi)?

Is someone who draws doujinshi considered a manga artist?

I think you could call a doujinshi artist a manga artist. It's the same way a fanfiction writer is still a writer. . . if the doujinshi is in manga style then the person who draws it is a manga artist, right?

Are people who write fan fiction considered "writers"? I am not making a judgement, I am just asking. I would think of a doujishi artist like a fan artist. Are you considered a manga artist or a writer if you have never been published?

I can throw paint at a canvas. Can I call myself an "artist"? I mean, everyone takes art in school, but just because you create art, are you then an artist?

If I were to be honest I would say 'yes'. If you throw art at a canvas then you are an artist, because art is all abut creativity and expression, so if you can do that then it matters not whether your work if famed throughout the land or stuck in an attic where no one sees it. I would argue that at one time Van Gough wasn't an 'artist', and it was only when after he died that he became an 'artist'.

It's a little off-topic, but I think it comes down to the individual and what they consider art or literature. It's all about what has 'value' too. It seems that you perceive doujinshi as less valuable than manga, fanfiction less valuable than a classic novel, and an unknown artist less valuable than a well-known artist - so for these reasons they can't be called artists or writers. I think it's a matter or debate really, but to be honest I've read online writers whose works can compete with any published writers, and I've seen artists on Deviantart whose works are better than half the 'real artists' I've ever seen.

So for that reason I'll say a doujinshi artist can be called a manga artist. :)

I think that's detracting from the OP's question which is; "does anyone on JF make and draw their own Japanese-style comics?" Not me, I'm afraid!

I think the difference with doujinshi and fanfic though is that more successful manga artists were once doujin-ka than successful writers were once fanfic writers. Also more doujin-ka actually sell their work whereas you almost never see printed fanfic available for purchase (usually for good reason!)

OP let me know if this is getting too far off track. But I think his two questions are interesting, in that he first asks about "diehard manga artists" (and I am not sure what that means) and then for artists who WANT to draw manga. Aren't these two different things? The semantics is interesting to me.

Your point about fanfic is probably true, though.

Yes, in a way. One may say that's only true for the time of the act, I know artists who don't really call themselves artist when they aren't working...
If you make an artwork it makes you the artist of that piece of art. And it really doesn't matter that you actually published your work or not, many artwork have been published after the artist had died and no one would dare to speak about the author by other title than artist...


But still it's not about one's (or many's) judgment, it's really hard to separate non art from art, it has some rules but in the end of the day it has none - and that's the beauty of it...

On the other hand when you're a follower of a style you only can call yourself one of 'them' if you strictly keep the rules - so I'm not really sure if a doujinshi drawer is a 'manga artist' or not - I'm not qualified to state that...

Edit: I see I'm almost saying the same as RobinMask... I'm too slow...

wow guys! im amazed at how active and passionate people are on this forum...i guess i underestimated the power of forum communication :P

anyways, just to clear up some confusion on this topic. I actually just wanted to know if there are anyone who is willing to draw their own series and possibly have it published. I know in japan, there are people who wants to become mangakas and would jump at any opportunity to debut, im just curious if there are other people out there who are willing to do that given the opportunity. (i know i would, but i cant draw to save my own life lol).

As for my perspective on art, i think the discussion were off-track but definitely worth it. "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", so if you consider something is art, then it is art to you, of course there are differences in opinion depending on everyone's personal experience, so what is art and what isnt art isnt so black and white. i can judge works, i may not like it, but i sometimes still regard it as a piece of work, it just doesn't suit my taste thats all.

just a question. what you guys think about the way non-japanese artists approach manga, or how "western" people perceive manga as a source of entertainment?

P.S. glad you guys replied with passion! keep it up!

the question just kind of popped into my mind, i wasnt really thinking about grammar and semantics or whatnot. i guess what i want to say is "are there any passionate artists who wants to draw their own manga". Hope that clear things up for you...

im kind of interested why you are afraid. please do tell. (truthfully ：P)

I don't think Columbine is actually feeling afraid, I think she meant it as a figure of speech.

lol i read that wrong!

I think it is important to understand that manga is a media, not a style. I think too many non-Japanese artists try to define manga and anime as a style, which is very limiting. There are some rules in manga, but I like it when non-Japanese can approach that media, but still bring their own style.

Oh no, manga just plain terrifies me; I'm totally phobic :mtongue: j/k

Yeah, no, I draw a lot and I write a lot but I don't do manga. A few scribblish ones as gifts for friends but I can't get to grips with comic format and it's way, way too much work for one person. Besides, my style is fairly alien compared to most comics. I think i'd be happier just concept designing and creating the plot-outline if I had to go into that kind of publication.

I agree! It's funny to see all these crappy "How to draw Anime/Manga" books obviously drawn by some imitation Marvel/DC comic flunkie who thinks that all a drawing needs to be Anime/Manga style is big (often mishapen) eyes, a big head, a pointy chin and ridiculous hair... I hate to start a battle of semantics but if you're Western you're draw comics. They may be Japanese influenced but they're still comics. Well, actually, if your work becomes sucessful in Japan then I suppose it could be called manga ;)

I'm just tired of seeing crap like this in the art instruction section of Books-A-Million




HGGGNNNN You can really see a difference between the art of someone who has cultivated a style and a hastily drawn knock-off. An artist can draw proportions as exaggerated as they like without their art looking poorly drawn, if they know what they're doing and the artwork looks natural and consistant. It's just a matter of style :cool: I just can't believe stuff like the two books I posted actually gets published... "I know you have no talent and you shouldn't be instructing anyone on the art of drawing but we can make money because kids these days like Anime!" D:

Look you guys! It's Anime!


For a mere 25 USD you too can learn to imitate and imitator! With a staggering 64 pages of instruction! :mad: It's a crime, I think.

Also @ OP I'm glad you like the discussion :D I was afraid you were going to say something like "Somebody please draw a doujinshi of Ichigo with my OC!" XD I've been down that path before... never let weeaboos know you have even slight artistic ability-- next thing you know they're begging to draw a kiss scene between Itachi and their OC, Selena Potter, the daughter of Wolverine and Harry Potter(?) who looks like Selena Gomez.... I wish I were kidding... haha

lol, thx guys for the reply, im actually doing some preliminary research on manga market outside of japan. just to see how many people have the passion to draw their manga/comic.

btw stoner, nice pics :D i loled

:D @ ouji88len
Glad you liked them, sorry if the topic is getting a little carried away ;p Speaking of the OEL manga-influenced comics outside Japan. I actually know of a few American artists who've published their work in Japan. Have you evey heard of Priscilla Hamby AKA Rem


Or Felipe Smith?



Both have published work in Japan. So yeah, there is an industry outside Japan. I notice that webcomics are becoming quite popular, Ms, Shatia Hamilton's "Fungus Grotto" is up on the web yet the published books are selling pretty well. HamletMachine's "Star Fighter" has soldout like 5 times just this month on AkaDot. Also Tessa Stone's "Hanna is Not a Boy's Name" comic is really popular though it's only availible on the web, but if it got published I imagine it'd make pretty good money.

Well, I'll leave you with some pretty art! (Sorry for the all the pics)
Fungus Grotto

StarFigher


And HiNaBN


You'll see that a lot of popular OEL manga does have a lot of Western influence, which I think is awesome. Cultivated hybrid art, not just a cheap copy Rumiko Takahashi's artstyle. Gotta love it :rheart: Can you tell I'm really into this stuff? XD You might wanna take a look at "Mangaka America", although some of the featured artists in there are those dreaded imitator kind, some of the others are very good.

lol i can tell that you are quite familiar with the topic! thx for all the info, i will definitely look more into the topic. you mind if i PM you some questions? i would love to discuss topic more in depth, your opinion is highly appreciated :D

and of course i think hybrid is nice, but the balance is kind of hard to find....T.T

Yeah, of course! ;) I'm glad you want my opinion. I wouldn't say I'm an expert but I've been following the OEL manga-comic scene off and on since Tokyopop's first "Rising Stars of Manga" ( Rising Stars of Manga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) The first 3 artists I posted here have won places in this contest. But RSoM was suspended in 2008 as a lot of the stories weren't very good and TP had to cancel a good portion of them. Yen Plus was a monthly manga magazine that featured Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and the work of Western artists. I tried to buy a copy of YP whenever I saw it to support them and stuff but they still went out of print :( It's still availible online though Yen Press (3 USD a month)

The most exciting opportunity IMO for manga artists outsite Japan is Kodansha's "Morning International Comic Contest" (formerly "Morning International Manga Contest", they said they changed the title from 'manga' to 'comic' to encourage entries with greater variation in style) ( Morning International Comic Competition M.I.C.C. ) Though mostly Asian artists have dominated this contest (Japanese artists can't participate in the contest) Pricilla Hamby won 1st place and is the only American to do so.

The 5th M.I.C.C contest currently accepting entries (Entries must be postmarked by July 31, 2011.) If you win, you get $3,000, your work will be published in Japan (in Morning Magazine), your work will also get translated into various languages (put online) annndd you'll get some of Morning's top editors assigned to you! *fanfare* (See rules here Morning International Comic Competition M.I.C.C. )

For years, I've wanted to enter a comic contest but I can never get off my ass and put together a decent entry! :mtongue: How about you, are you an artist? I posted this since I thought might be interested ;)

wow, i didnt know there were such big events for potential mangakas outside of US. I have more confidence now that there are passionate artists out there wanting to publish their work.

I wish i can draw well enough to enter into one of those or publish my own work, i have good imagination and can picture things in my mind, but my hand doesnt like to obey me when i try to put it on paper lol...