About style 關於風格 / 畫畫的方式

I’ve been bellyaching about not (yet) having a specific style / way of drawing. But then things happened.

A few days ago, I carefully counted and put my rent into an envelope and drew something on it. It wasn’t delicately drawn, not to mention to do justice to my ‘illustrator’ identity. But the landlord lady was so happy because in the drawing there are our 3 cats sleeping on the roof of the house and because we all love them. (Or was it because I said this is the ‘protection money’ for this month?!) I was delighted upon seeing her laughing and rushing to show her husband what’s on the envelope. I didn’t think much of the style when I drew but what to draw to say thank you to her and how wonderful it is to live with them. It’s not a great picture but it communicates well for me as a good picture does.

And then it’s one of my besties’ birthday and I drew her this picture. I know she’d be thrilled and squeaking by whatever I draw (because she always did and for me that’s the best reward). So I think it’s not really about the drawing, or the style, or how good it is technically, it’s really about what you’re trying to say.


我最近有點憂鬱 沒有一個固定的風格

前幾天我數了 (好多遍) 房租，放在信封裡要給房東。我在信封上畫畫。畫的不精細也不是多複雜的圖，但是房東阿姨很開心！因為我畫了我們家裡的三隻貓在屋頂上睡覺，而我們都愛這三隻貓。(也許是因為我說這是這個月的保護費？) 看她很開心的樣子我也很開心。我沒有想太多要用什麼風格畫，畫畫的時候我想的是要怎麼跟她說謝謝，還有跟他們一家人住是多幸運的一件事。那不是一張很厲害的圖，但它很厲害的替我講了一些我沒講出來的事。

然後我其中一個最好的朋友今天生日，我畫了這張圖給她。我知道不管我畫什麼她都會很開心的飆高音 (因為她是台中人，她說台中人開心就會飆高音，不知道是真的假的)。然後我想，也許最重要的不是這張圖的風格或技巧有多好，真正重要的是這張圖要講什麼。

這些生活中的小事都提醒我為什麼喜歡畫畫，和畫畫真正對我來說是什麼。

不要流於形式好像講起來很容易，可是我們很常只看到或只要求表面的樣子，忽略了真正重要的事。難怪小王子會說 "What is essential is invisible to the eye" 真正重要的事是眼睛看不到的。