2009-04-01

D.B. Johnson的Henry books

D. B. Johnson(以下以DBJ稱之)原來是位美術設計師,從轉業到推廣Henry David Thoreau思想圖畫書,他經歷的又是哪種心境? 出生New Hampshire 的D.B. Johnson,從事設計,直到現在還住在New Hampshire。因為好奇他的作畫,又有一面之緣,所以Charlene就e-mail給他,雖然網站上也是描述得頗仔細的,但是對作畫一竅不通的我,看了還是一頭霧水,D.B.J很有修養、很有耐性地回答我,並且毫不保留地將獨家做法都公開,我想他也確定別人學不來,即使知道方法也沒辦法。以下是他的回答: Hi Charlene, It's so nice to hear from you. Linda and I remember you very well. It is wonderful that you have a picture book study group and I'm very happy that you are still talking about Henry. Linda and I collaborated in writing a new Henry book that is just now in stores and online. It's called "Henry's Night." I hope you'll be able to get it in Taiwan. Here is my painting process and some photos to help explain it (they are attached to this email):1. I do a final line drawing of my picture-usually it is the same size as it will be printed in the book. 2. Then I place a clear plastic sheet of frisket over the drawing. I will use a razor knife (xacto) to cut all the shapes that my line drawing makes. Then I lift off each piece of frisket (one piece at a time) and spray paint in the space (the remaining frisket keeps the paint within my lines). 3. I spray the paint with an airbrush so that the colors lay down thinly on my paper and don't cause it to buckle. I only use the colors shown here. 4. I paint all the brown first. Then all the yellow, Then the red. Then blue. And finally I touch everything up with black. Each time I use a new color I have to use a new piece of frisket and cut all the lines for the shapes again.5. Finally I colored my painting completely with color pencils. This makes all my lines softer and also adds texture and contrast to my colors. That's it! Each two-page spread painting takes about one week to finish. My books take me about 9 months to write and illustrate. Thanks for asking. Linda and I send our best to you and all your family. Don 上星期經過高人講解做書印刷裝訂的過程後,赫然發現DBJ的作畫方式簡直就是呈現分色的概念。我之前也問了他是不是這樣的方式讓印刷方便?他說這樣的做法可以讓他的畫印刷時顏色較準。 My method of painting doesn't really make the printing process easier--but it does mean that the colors I use will be reproduced very close to what the original art looks like. Henry Hikes to Fitchburg 是DBJ以Henry Thoreau為題材的第一本書,於2000年出版,Henry與朋友都想要去Fitchburg,Henry說要走路去,朋友說要打工賺車票錢再去,看誰先到。所以每個開頁左邊是朋友打工的情況、右邊是對照當時Henry在路上的情形,譬如朋友去愛爾卡太太的廚房幫忙,10 cents,Henry把東西頂在頭上渡河; 掃郵局,5 cents, Henry在路上削樹枝當手杖,還有25哩的行程;在霍桑家拔雜草,15 cents,Henry採了花和葉夾在書裡;油漆,10 cents,走在石牆上;在愛默生的書房整理書,15 cents,爬樹,只剩18哩到Fitchburg;…他們用自己的方式完成要做的事,所以當他朋友存了90 cents到車站買票時,Henry還有7哩路,當他朋友擠在火車上時,Henry悠哉在黑莓田裡;朋友到了,Henry還沒;月光下,朋友坐在車站等他,"火車比較快!" "我知道" "我去採黑莓了" 兩個人一起吃他採來的黑莓。 這是本展現友誼、行動力的小書,雖然說的是大道理但是讀的時候就是很輕鬆。
(photo by Joanne Sheu)
接著2002他又出版了Henry Builds a Cabin,將Henry 在湖邊蓋的小屋,重現在讀者面前,這個舊址一直到1945年11月11日才由Roland Wells Robbins發現,樹立石柱。書的最後標明了建造成本: 木板,舊屋瓦… 每個朋友來參觀都驚訝地問他"夠大嗎?" 指指屋旁就是看書的地方、吃飯就在菜圃間、也可以在路上盡情跳舞,直到下雨了,才躲進屋子。 2004年Houghfton Mifflin發行150週年Walden紀念版, 附上許多相片,定價就是28.12元。 作者將簡樸生活重新植入讀者的心。 2003年,Henry Climb a Mountain,大家知道Henry拒絕繳稅,因為國家讓憑有權勢的人蓄奴,他拒絕繳稅給這樣的政府,但是他被捕了,關在監獄裡,這個時候的Henry主張了公民不服從權(Civil Disobedience),當大家都認為要服從政府的法令時,他思索這樣的“理所當然“的行為竟是"不理所當然的舉動",這樣挑釁的清明與勇氣,間接、直接影響了後期的思想革命。 作者再度用簡單的故事要讀者思索已經被定型的社會運作。 2004年,Henry Works,當然,Henry還是有工作,但是他的工作是自我制定的,要觀察鳥、要走路、要與自然對話,也許世俗的標準,他看起來是"每天走來走去",也因此要150年後才知道他的工作如此重要。 2009年終於,新的Henry's Night出版了。看看Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast 與DSJ的訪談。3/30/09剛出爐的唷!