PROFILE
Pen Name / Name: 茜Cian
Social media profiles: Instagram: @cianluoo
Age: 30

Favorite manga: NARUTO
Favorite movie: The First Slam Dunk
Favorite quote: 今日事，今日畢。(Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.)

Entry title: “Sunshower”
Round: SMA Taiwan Round: “Smiles”
Award: Excellence Award Runner-up

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“It’s okay not to think of ideas that are very rare or strange. Drawing things that are close to daily life is also a good choice.”

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
非常開心漫畫作品受到了肯定，感覺又能繼續努力下去了。

I’m incredibly happy that my manga has been recognized. It makes me feel like I can continue to work hard.

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
突然腦中閃過一個念頭，如果雨男碰到晴男會發生什麼事呢？

如果是出現閃閃發光的太陽雨應該很有意思，就朝這個方向創作了這篇漫畫。

A thought suddenly flashed through my mind: What would happen if a “rain man” met a “sun man”? I thought it would be very interesting if a sparkling sunshower appeared, so I created this manga in that way.

What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
我從來沒畫過下著雨的田邊風景，所以有點困擾。

後來在家附近的田地拍了很多照片，發現有個共通點就是，大家都會在種植香蕉樹，所以將這一點加入畫面中，希望能添加一點真實感。

I had never drawn a rainy countryside landscape, so that was a bit of a challenge. Later, I took many photos of the fields near my home and found one common feature: everyone was planting banana trees. So, I added this detail into the panels, hoping to give it a sense of realism.

READ ‘茜Cian’s Awarded Work HERE!

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About Your Manga

How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga?
我從小就喜歡畫圖，總是在圖畫紙上塗塗畫畫，大概小學三年級的時候第一次閱讀漫畫，一眼就喜歡上這樣的藝術風格，彷彿陷入熱戀般，從那時開始我的夢想就是成為漫畫家。

以前我畫完一篇作品，並不會給別人看，現在覺得有點可惜，如果能鼓起勇氣，在分鏡的階段就問問更多人的意見，作品應該能變得更好。

一開始構想的內容很複雜，可能會無法動筆，如果先選一個自己喜歡的東西當主題，試著完成一篇簡短的漫畫，先體驗一次整個繪製漫畫的流程，總是比在腦中模擬來的有幫助。
I’ve loved drawing since I was a child and was always doodling on drawing paper. I read my first manga around  third grade, and I instantly fell in love with the art style. It was truly like falling in love. Since then, my dream has been to become a manga artist.
I used to finish a piece and never show it to anyone, which I now feel is a bit of a pity. If I had mustered the courage to ask for more people’s opinions, even at the storyboard stage, I could have improved my work even more.
If the initial concept is too complicated, you might not be able to start drawing. It’s more helpful to first choose something you like as a theme, try to complete a short manga, and experience the entire manga-creation process once, rather than just simulating it in your mind.

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
我目前都是數位作畫。

電腦使用的軟體是Clip Studio Paint。功能非常地齊全，從分鏡到完稿都在同個軟體內就能搞定。
I currently draw everything digitally. The software I use on my computer is Clip Studio Paint. It has very complete functionality; I can handle everything from storyboarding to final touches using the same software.

What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live?
第一次閱讀的漫畫是《BLEACH死神》。那時看到的是第10集，說實話突然從中間看，劇  情與設定都似懂非懂，但光看圖畫我也是津津有味。

臺灣很容易就取得漫畫，即使是我小時候網路不如現在發達的時期，也可以在租書店  租到最新一期的連載雜誌與單行本。
The first manga I read was BLEACH. I picked up volume 10 and started there. To be honest, starting in the middle meant the plot and setting were confusing, but I was fascinated just by looking at the drawings.

Manga is very easy to access in Taiwan. Even when I was little and the internet wasn’t as advanced as it is now, you could rent the latest serialized magazines and tankōbon at rental bookstores.

Which manga changed your life?
每次閱讀完一部漫畫作品，都會得到不同的觀點，作者的想法會流入我的腦海中，所以每本看過的漫畫都在無形地影響著我，這也是我覺得漫畫的樂趣所在。
Every time I finish reading a manga, I gain a different perspective, and the author’s ideas flow into my mind. So, every manga I’ve read has subtly influenced me, and this is what I find to be the fun part of manga.

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
《藍色時期》(ブルーピリオド)中的矢口八虎。對於創作的糾葛與痛苦讓人感同身受，挖掘內心並定義屬於自己的藝術，這一難題我也還在尋找自己的答案。
Yatora Yaguchi from Blue Period. The struggles and pain he experiences in creation deeply resonate with me. The challenge of digging deep into one’s heart and defining one’s own art is a dilemma for which I am still searching for an answer.

What kind of manga do you want to make next?
我想創作看看以怪異生物為題材，但本質是溫暖人心的人情劇。

我們通常是一個人畫漫畫，有多名助手的工作室是很少見的。所以漫畫家一個人的產量有限，作品的數量不夠多，或是隔了幾年才出一部新作，很難牢牢抓住讀者的心。
I want to try creating a human-interest drama that features strange creatures but has a fundamentally warm and touching core.
We usually draw manga alone and studios with multiple assistants are rare. Therefore, the output of a single manga artist is limited, and it’s difficult to firmly capture readers’ hearts if you don’t produce a large  quantity of work, or if a new work is only released every few years.

About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
我居住的地方有很多小小的山丘，我有空閒時都會去踏青散步，山上蟲鳴鳥叫景色很好，讓身心都能好好放鬆。
There are many small hills where I live, and I go hiking and walking in my spare time. The sounds of insects and birds and the scenery in the mountains are wonderful. It allows my mind and body to relax thoroughly.

What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
我目前是自由接案的創作者，除了創作自己的漫畫作品。

也會接一些兒童叢書的插畫和漫畫的工作。
I am currently a freelance creator. In addition to creating my own manga work, I also do illustration and comic work for children’s books.

Where do you see your manga career in five years time?
我想繪製出更膾炙人口的作品，希望有機會能將出版的作品授權至海外。
I want to create more well-loved works. I hope to have the opportunity to license my published works overseas.

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
不用想些太稀奇古怪的點子也沒關係，畫畫貼近日常生活的事物也是不錯的選擇。
It’s okay not to think of ideas that are very rare or strange. Drawing things that are close to daily life is also a good choice.

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
我個人會閱讀歷代得獎的作品，吸收其他作品的優秀之處。

比如我發現跨頁的表現是被鼓勵的，所以我在本次作品中，也試著加入能展現跨頁魅力的畫面。     
I personally read the winning works from previous years to absorb the excellent qualities of the other entries. For example, I noticed that the use of a two-page spread is encouraged, so in this work, I also tried to include a panel that would carry the same charm of a full spread.

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Thank you, 茜Cian! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!

The deadline to join SMA24 is May 10th. Enter for a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan!