Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey (Kakukaku Shikajika)

Akiko Higashimura’s autobiographical manga, published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment across five issues from 2019 to 2020, chronicles her teenage years as a rough-edged, rebellious girl who stumbles into the demanding world of professional art. The series, drawn and written by Higashimura herself, is a heartfelt, often hilarious tribute to her unconventional art teacher and the grueling path to finding her voice as a creator. It stands as a candid, warmly remembered reflection on mentorship, ambition, and the messy process of growing up.