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Michael Camilleri
Illustrator
Michael Camilleri is a Melbourne artist who creates books, comics and visual theatre. Michael’s latest illustration work can be seen in One Minute’s Silence by David Metzenthen. His illustration work also features in The Devil You Know by Leonie Norrington and on the album art and accompanying picture book for Martin Martini’s Vienna 1913. He lives with his partner Katherine and their son Ruben.
To check out Michael’s work and read some of his comics, visit www.epicboy.com
What other jobs have you had?
I’ve drawn for animated educational films and storyboards for ads, drawn portraits, made puppets, sets and props and I also direct theatre. I’ve worked in restaurants, hotels and cafes for years and years. I’ve also been a storyteller, a clown and a roving Santa. Being a fat Santa on a 40 degree December day is about as fun as it sounds, but it’s still better than being a waiter.
What themes are recurring in your work?
I’ve always drawn portraits, so one common thread is the drama and emotion that can come from people’s faces.
What have been the highlights of your career?
All my theatre productions have felt like milestones, but especially the first piece of theatre I directed in 2014 – hearing the audience laugh for the first time.
In 2013, holding Martin Martini’s album Vienna 1913 in my hands – finally having an artwork of mine presented as a perfect object. Completing my first picture book in 2014, One Minute’s Silence , the first of my work to reach a really wide audience.
Testimonials
Excellent feedback has been received- Michael engaged well with the students and was an enthusiastic and encouraging presenter. The short film clips he prepared post-visit were really appreciated by staff and students.
The girls loved having Michael present to them. He was engaging, funny and tailored his delivery so that it was age appropriate.
He really enjoyed himself too.
Huge thank you to the team at Booked Out who made suggestions to us on who would be appropriate speakers to have for Book Week. All speakers were fabulous.
(We) are grateful for your wide ranging expertise and the excellence of your planning for the workshop; in particular the way in which you addressed the current project that students are working on. Not to mention your engaging presentation style. As I walked around the group the kids were making very good notes and making creative storyboards. It was our pleasure to work with you.
The kids were highly engaged for the session and commented on the usefulness of the session for their Screen It project, as it focused on storyboarding. They also loved Michael and he did an awesome job at engaging all the kids, as well as positively redirecting some of the kids when they started to get a little bit ‘silly’.
Michael was super friendly, humorous and an absolute character! The kids were hanging on his every word! He was also really clear with his instructions and was very well prepared.
One Minute’s Silence, written by David Metzenthen and illustrated by Michael Camilleri is one of the finest Australian picture books ever published. It provides a unique and humane perspective of the Gallipoli campaign by inviting young readers to see the conflict through both Australian and Turkish eyes.
Michael Camilleri is a warm and engaging communicator who connected with a secondary female student audience and motivated them ask a host of questions. Michael’s presentation in which he explained the development of his images seamlessly combined the disciplines of history, art and storytelling and was a great success with our students.