ŏđŏ
ÉCOLES DE CHOIX CONSEIL DE CHOIX
editionap.ca
Paul Schibli, the man with many hats
ÉCOLE ÉLÉMENTAIRE ET SECONDAIRE PUBLIQUE L’ACADÉMIE DE LA SEIGNEURIE 100 % notre taux de diplomation 80 % de nos élèves reçoivent un certificat de bilinguisme PORTES OUVERTES POUR LES ÉLÈVES DE LA MATERNELLE Inscriptions en tout temps! POUR LES ÉLÈVES DU SECONDAIRE (7 e À LA 12 e ANNÉE) 31 janvier 18 h à 20 h 30
about publishing.” In the end, distribution and marketing were poor, few books sold, and the printer hadn’t been paid. So Schibli bought the remaining stock from the print- er and still has some available. He and Anne lived in Ottawa for many years and had three children. They found Russell and thought it was a nice village, cheaper and with a space for his art studio. His traveling days weren’t finished though and he continued to occasionally get work in such exotic locales as China. However, the hand-drawn art of anima-
CANDICE VETTER candice.vetter@eap.on.ca
RUSSELL | Paul Schibli did not set out to be an artist. He studied Communications in Arts in University in the late 1960s and animation for film and television was a booming field at the time. He was of- fered a job as an assistant in Montreal and learned how to trace acetates (film cells) on the feature film Tiki Tiki, released in 1970. He advanced from tracing acetates to painting acetates
to assistant anima- tor to animator. “It just happened there were openings,” he says. “I was no great talent.” However, his work both past and present suggests that he does have talent as well as technique. He says, “I learned back- wards. It’s important to learn the overall process.” Over time he worked around the globe, working on features in England, on Jackson 5 and Osmond Brothers television shows, then heard of a job in Australia for three months with paid airfare. “How could I refuse?” Once there, he switched studios and got to know Bill Hanna of Hanna- Barbara, the famed
Photo Candice Vetter
tion was drying up as computer animation took over. He is not fond of computer ani- mation and feels that young people com- ing into the business are being forced to produce so much more, so much faster, of- ten without human collaboration. “They’re missing out.” Now with children grown and a new art career opening before him he says, “I’ve been very fortunate, so very for- tunate.” One autumn he saw the beauty of the fall colours and fell in love with watercolours, then acrylics and oils. He became one of the founders of Autumn in the Country, a lo- cal art festival that was successful for many years. He raised his children here and wife Anne is a nurse at the Ottawa General Hospital. He makes his living from selling his oil and acrylic paintings and his art lessons have now also become a source of income. Those interested in learning from someone who knows the business from the bottom up can contact him regarding his Wednesday and Thursday evening lessons. Call 613 445 0830 for information on the classes which start again in mid-January and are held at the Russell Sport and Community Centre.
animation company that produced many of the television cartoons of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Hanna was in Sydney for a time. It was one of many studios Hanna-Barbara had around the world. While in Australia, Schibli also met a young woman. He returned to work in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The young woman, Anne, was an animation checker at that time and when the Vancouver job came up Schibli convinced the company to hire her. “It was my way of getting her up here.” His girlfriend soon became his wife. They moved to Montreal where he did freelance work, and in the 80s, he accepted a job in Ottawa as assistant director of The Rac- coons, the much-loved children’s cartoon with an environmental theme. Shortly afterwards he codirected the last all-Canadian animated feature film, The Nutcracker Prince, with Kevin Gillis. By now he was drawing, animating, writ- ing, directing, and decided to add chil- dren’s book author to his resume. He wrote and illustrated the critically acclaimed and award-winning Monsters Don’t Count for a new publishing start up. “Unfortunately,” says Schibli,“the partners didn’t knowmuch
613-764-0550 731, rue Des Pommiers, Casselman academiedelaseigneurie.cepeo.on.ca
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter