Michael Wyatt talks about illustrating wartime Canada

Here’s my chat with Michael Wyatt about his illustrative work on Canadian war graphic novels including Where the Poppies Blow: The Life and Lessons of John McCrae.

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Resident in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Michael Wyatt has been a freelance artist since 2006. His primary work is in book and magazine publishing. Michael has illustrated a variety of books including Maple Leaf Forever? (2008 – Author Paul Keery) and R.B. Bennett: The Grinch Who Gave Away a Million (2008 -Author Alan Skeoch, unpublished). Both for Jackfruit Press. In 2012 Canada at War: A Graphic History of World War Two was published by Douglas & McIntyre. This was his first graphic novel based on an earlier concept and written by Paul Keery. It was critically praised in Canada and the US, became a CBA best seller and went into second printing. His fourth book The Night Wanderer, a graphic novel adaptation of the novel by Drew Taylor was released in August 2013. His work has also been published in Kayak and Legion Magazines. Michael’s most recent work is Where the Poppies Blow: The Life and Lessons of John McCrae with author Paul Keery.

On a spring day in 1915, amid the battle-scarred fields of Flanders, Belgium, a Canadian soldier named John McCrae was struck by the sight of poppies blooming over the fresh graves of his fallen comrades. It moved him so deeply that he penned “In Flanders Fields,” one of history’s most famous wartime poems that continues to resonate around the world over 100 years later. More than just a military man, John was also a respected doctor, teacher, and poet, whose infectious personality made him beloved by all. Fiercely patriotic, John dedicated his life to his country, witnessing the horrors of war firsthand as he worked tirelessly to treat the sheer number of wounded that poured in from the front lines. Where the Poppies Blow follows John on his remarkable journey, from humble beginnings in small-town Ontario to some of the toughest battle zones of the First World War. Although he never made it back home, John McCrae’s poem and the red poppy became an enduring symbol of remembrance, honouring the countless soldiers who sacrificed their lives in conflict.

Discover more about Michael Wyatt on Blogspot at http://mgwyatt.blogspot.com/

On this Remembrance Day, another famous historical person of note is Dr. Cluny Macpherson, a Newfoundland doctor who invented an early version of the gas mask for Canadian soldiers in the First World War. Read more in this CBC article written by noted author Elizabeth Whitten.

And because this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, we honour the Canadian Armed Forces, their families and all who serve. Lest we forget.

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