The Vancouver artist Pascal Milelli discusses the new book he’s illustrated Waiting for the Owl’s Call (Sleeping Bear Press, 2009; written by Gloria Whelan), with Joseph Planta; they also discuss his work as a commercial artist and his artistic process.

Waiting for the Owl’s Call Written by Gloria Whelan, and Illustrated by Pascal Milelli. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Waiting for the Owl’s Call

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Pascal Milelli joins me now. He is a Vancouver artist who’s won numerous awards, including the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award from the Canadian Library Association. He’s illustrated a new book, Waiting for the Owl’s Call, a book for young readers by Gloria Whelan. It’s the third release in a series from Sleeping Bear Press that brings stories from ancient Japan to West Africa to young readers. These are stories featuring young characters and their shared dreams, giving the reader an insight into the diverse cultures as depicted in the series. In Waiting for the Owl’s Call, we go to Afghanistan where eight year old Zulviya, and her sister, mother and grandmother are all weaving rugs by hand. The work is not easy, and they often dream of school. The illustrations are great, and perhaps it’d be trite of me to say they look like pieces of art. Invariably they are, and now we talk to the artist. Pascal Milelli is from Vancouver, he’s a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design. He’s illustrated books by Stephen Eaton Hume, and Susan Vande Griek. His clients have included Scribner Books, Harper’s, The Atlantic, and more. His website is www.pascalmilelli.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Pascal Milelli; Good morning, Mr. Milelli.

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