Inside a cartoonist's world - Liza Donnelly

Transcriber: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

翻译人员: Jing Peng 校对人员: Geoff Chen

What is a cartoon really?

真正的漫画是什么？

Many of us love cartoons,

很多人都喜欢漫画,

most of us grew up reading them

我们很多人都伴隨着阅读漫画长大

or having them read to us.

或者是由家长讲给我们听。

The fact is, cartoons have been around a long time.

事实上，漫画的存在时来以久。

There are all kinds of cartoons:

它们的种类繁多: 有

strip comics,

连环漫画,

comic books,

漫画书,

political cartoons,

政治漫画,

single-panel cartoons,

单板面漫画,

graphic novels,

图片小说,

web comics,

网络漫画,

animation,

动画片,

caricature,

讽刺画,

there is something for everyone.

这里面总有附合你口味的东西。

No matter the form them come in,

无论它们以何种形式出现,

cartoons elicit all kinds of emotions from the viewer

漫画都会引起读者的共鸣

- happiness, sadness, anger, hilarity, calm -

-幸福, 悲伤, 愤怒, 狂喜, 平静-

and can transmit ideas in an instant.

并可以在瞬间表达它的含义。

Cartoons are a universal medium enjoyed and understood

漫画是一种通俗易懂的媒体, 被世界各地的人们

around the world and across borders.

喜爱和了解, 并且许多漫画跨跃了国界。

This is why they have survived so long as an art form.

这就是为什么它们作为一种艺术形式 存在之长久, 从未衰败过。

But how can a medium that is on the surface so simple

但是为什么这种表面上看很简单的媒体

have so much influence and at times be so meaningful?

会有如此大的影响, 有时甚至意味深长呢?

Let's look at what a cartoon is.

让我们看看漫画到底是什么?

It starts with an idea.

它从一个想法开始。

The idea can be verbal,

这个想法可以是口头的,

written in words,

书面的,

or it can be visual.

或者是视觉的。

A visual idea is simply

这个视觉的想法可以是简单的

a picture,

一张图片,

a drawing,

a doodle.

绘画,

或涂鸦。

These ideas come from a variety of places.

这些想法来自不同的地方。

Cartoonists might find the idea from observing life,

漫画家们可能会从观察生活中得到灵感,

reading a newspaper,

或者是在阅读报纸时突发奇想,

trawling online.

或是浏览网络时捕捉信息。

It can come from a sentence someone said

它可以来自某人说的一句话,

or a single word heard on television.

或在电视上听到的一个词。

Cartoonists are like sponges;

漫画家就像海棉一样,

they soak up people, places, mannerisms, clothing, and behavior.

他们吸收着人生百态之精华。

Sometimes they might jot them down

有时候, 漫画家们可能在

in a little black book that they carry around with them.

随身携带的小黑本上记录下灵感。

Other times, it is just soaked up into the cartoonist's brain

也有时候, 他们就在脑海中记下这些怪念头,

only to be squeezed out later when she is sitting at her drawing table.

只有当他们扶案绘画时 才把这些思绪“调出来”。

Not only does a cartoonist have to be aware

漫画家不但要知道

of what she is seeing visually,

她看到的东西,

but she has to listen to herself think.

更要知道她自己在想什么。

In other words, take the incoming information

换句话说, 在处理传入的信息时,

and select it, shape it, and then use it for a cartoon.

要先筛选素材, 塑造人物和事件, 然后将它用于漫画制作中。

Now that you have an idea,

既然你有一个好主意,

or something you think could be good for a cartoon,

或者你认为一些素材可以构成漫画,

it's time to shape it.

那该是完成它的时候了。

A cartoon is like a staged play.

一幅漫画就像一台舞台剧。

A cartoonist is playwright,

漫画家是剧作家,

director,

stage designer,

导演,

舞台设计,

choreographer,

编舞,

and costume designer.

和服装设计师。

A cartoon has characters,

漫画有人物,

a set,

dialogue,

场景,

对话,

even if one line,

即使一行,

and a backstory.

和背景故事。

The characters must be dressed to fit the idea,

这些人物必须穿着适宜, 从而体现主题思想,

speak in a way that is natural and forwards the idea

说话的方式要自然, 进一步传递主旨

or gives the punchline.

或爆出笑料。

Nothing should be in the cartoon

漫画不应该拖泥带水,

that is not absolutely necessary for the advancement of the idea.

给出不能深化主题的东西。

The image and words have to <i>dance</i> together

象跳舞一样, 图像与文字一定要合拍,

in a way that makes sense.

通俗易懂。

It could be a graceful dance, or an awkward dance,

它可以是优雅的舞蹈, 也可以是令人尴尬的舞蹈,

if that is part of the humor or idea.

如果这是幽默的一部分。

And then the execution.

然后是绘图定稿。

Some cartoonists sketch the idea with pencil

一些漫画家用铅笔素描,

then ink it with pen using a light box.

然后用钢笔上色。

Others visualize the image in their head

其他人可以在头脑中想象出所要图案,

and draw directly on the paper in pen.

并在纸上直接画出来。

Different kinds of pens are used:

他们可以使用不同类型的笔：

felt-tip, mechanical pen, or a crow quill.

毡尖笔, 机械钢笔, 或是羽毛笔。

Paper can be light-weight or heavy-bond.

纸可以轻型的, 或是重型的。

Many cartoonists add gray tone, called a wash,

许多漫画家添加灰色色调, 称为粉刷,

by using black watercolor and a brush.

是通过使用黑色水彩 和画笔调成灰色涂染而成。

Others use a soft pencil for the tone.

其他人使用软铅笔涂出明暗色调。

Color is usually created by using watercolor.

通常是使用水彩上色。

A finished cartoon can then be scanned and adjusted,

成品的漫画会被扫描和调整，

and the caption can be added on the computer with Photoshop.

并可在计算机上用 Photoshop 添加标题。

New technologies are emerging for the cartoonist's use in creating her cartoon.

日新月异的电脑制作 为漫画家们的创作提供了更多的便利。

Photoshop can serve as a tool for color and image.

Photoshop 可以上色和绘制图像。

Some may draw directly on a tablet with a stylus.

有些可能用触笔直接在平板电脑上绘制。

The choices at this stage of creation work in tandem with the idea,

只要附合原创, 在这个阶段你可以随意更改一些细节,

and often when the final caption is added,

通常是在最后的标题添加后,

it gets adjusted yet again.

它又一次被调整了。

But, little is left to chance,

但剩下要改的东西不多了,

except, perhaps, some of the watercolor.

除非, 也许, 再上一些水彩。

All these elements function in concert with one another.

所有这些元素融为一体互相作用。

It's almost like a dance of words, ideas, and images

所有这些语言, 主题, 图像 象是组成一个舞蹈,

that work together in order to make the cartoon

跳踊在人们眼前, 使漫画形成了

a timeless, resilient work of art.

永恒的, 持久的艺术作品。