Michael Dobson
Forty years ago I began to combine drawing, painting and writing to tell my stories. Since then I have oscillated between painting and writing, sometimes mounting art exhibitions, and sometimes writing stories, childhood memories, children’s books, and my first novel. My focus during the last decade has been on writing, with my artwork taking a supporting role. I have written and illustrated two children’s books, and finished writing my first novel. Currently, I dedicate my creative time to editing my completed works, working on having them published, and writing my memoirs.
Like my art, my writing reflects places I have lived and personal experiences. SNAP a cautionary tail is a children's picture book inspired by two muses - art created by my wife's grade one students, and the Fort McMurray 'Beast'. In the spring of 2016, much of the bone-dry, boreal forest surrounding Fort McMurray, Alberta, was on fire. Over 580,000 hectares of forest were lost. Dubbed ‘The Beast’, it took more than a year to extinguish. Fort McMurray and surrounding communities – approximately 80,000 people including us – were evacuated and ordered to stay away for at least a month. Some residents returned to scorched homes, others returned to ash. My wife and I were extremely fortunate that our home survived. While we may not know exactly what caused this fire, the abnormally hot and dry conditions that fed it that year point to climate change. In my story, Snap is an intrepid dragon who follows an obnoxious scent invading his idyllic world. He is shocked by what he discovers. Snap learns that the natural environment he knows and loves has been altered drastically, for the worse. When he finally reaches the source of the smell, Snap’s distress causes his body to alter. He changes colour and coughs uncontrollably, until flames appear. The ensuing fire suspends the activity responsible for the changes in his world. My picture book ends with the renewal of Snap’s environment. The illustrations for Snap's adventure embody the loose expressive lines, colour choices, and the freedom from perspective and proportion that I admire in the artwork of young children. More than a picture book that appeals to children, it is a timely cautionary tale for all people. With child-inspired images and language, it explores how humans impact our environment, and reminds us that our planet can heal if we are mindful of how we interact with nature. I hope that Snap's story facilitates discussion of environmental issues between people of all ages.
During the fifteen years that I operated my own private press, Le Nez Press, I wrote and illustrated limited edition artist’s books. They include We went to Peetyberg and we had ticken!, which is based on childhood memories of family trips to the cottage. This and other artists' books that I produced are in the collection of The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, in the Banff Centre, Alberta.
I also write short stories, some fiction and some nonfiction, to explore personal experiences and relationships. The impact that my grandfather had on my life as a child permeates many of my stories, including The Champ, which won third prize in The Royal Canadian Legion Seniors' Literary Competition, in 2021.
Memberships: SWG - Sudbury Writer's Guild
TWUC - The Writers' Union of Canada.
Forty years ago I began to combine drawing, painting and writing to tell my stories. Since then I have oscillated between painting and writing, sometimes mounting art exhibitions, and sometimes writing stories, childhood memories, children’s books, and my first novel. My focus during the last decade has been on writing, with my artwork taking a supporting role. I have written and illustrated two children’s books, and finished writing my first novel. Currently, I dedicate my creative time to editing my completed works, working on having them published, and writing my memoirs.
Like my art, my writing reflects places I have lived and personal experiences. SNAP a cautionary tail is a children's picture book inspired by two muses - art created by my wife's grade one students, and the Fort McMurray 'Beast'. In the spring of 2016, much of the bone-dry, boreal forest surrounding Fort McMurray, Alberta, was on fire. Over 580,000 hectares of forest were lost. Dubbed ‘The Beast’, it took more than a year to extinguish. Fort McMurray and surrounding communities – approximately 80,000 people including us – were evacuated and ordered to stay away for at least a month. Some residents returned to scorched homes, others returned to ash. My wife and I were extremely fortunate that our home survived. While we may not know exactly what caused this fire, the abnormally hot and dry conditions that fed it that year point to climate change. In my story, Snap is an intrepid dragon who follows an obnoxious scent invading his idyllic world. He is shocked by what he discovers. Snap learns that the natural environment he knows and loves has been altered drastically, for the worse. When he finally reaches the source of the smell, Snap’s distress causes his body to alter. He changes colour and coughs uncontrollably, until flames appear. The ensuing fire suspends the activity responsible for the changes in his world. My picture book ends with the renewal of Snap’s environment. The illustrations for Snap's adventure embody the loose expressive lines, colour choices, and the freedom from perspective and proportion that I admire in the artwork of young children. More than a picture book that appeals to children, it is a timely cautionary tale for all people. With child-inspired images and language, it explores how humans impact our environment, and reminds us that our planet can heal if we are mindful of how we interact with nature. I hope that Snap's story facilitates discussion of environmental issues between people of all ages.
During the fifteen years that I operated my own private press, Le Nez Press, I wrote and illustrated limited edition artist’s books. They include We went to Peetyberg and we had ticken!, which is based on childhood memories of family trips to the cottage. This and other artists' books that I produced are in the collection of The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, in the Banff Centre, Alberta.
I also write short stories, some fiction and some nonfiction, to explore personal experiences and relationships. The impact that my grandfather had on my life as a child permeates many of my stories, including The Champ, which won third prize in The Royal Canadian Legion Seniors' Literary Competition, in 2021.
Memberships: SWG - Sudbury Writer's Guild
TWUC - The Writers' Union of Canada.