Paul Morin (illustrator)

Paul Morin(born 14 January 1959) is a Canadian artist and children's book illustrator. Morin started painting in 1977 before working as a freelancer throughout the 1980s. In 1990, Morin began his children's book illustrative career and had contributed to twenty books by the mid-2010s. Of his illustrations, Morin won the 1990Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationwithThe Orphan Boy. He also received theAmelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardforThe Orphan Boyin 1991 andThe Dragon's Pearlin 1993. As an artist, Morin established multiple art galleries in Ontario from the late 2000s to early 2010s. He also designed thefood packagingfor themaple leaf cream cookiesforDare Foods.
On 14 January 1959, Morin was born inCalgary,Alberta.During his childhood, Morin lived inMontrealuntil he was an adult. For his post-secondary education, Morin began studying art atGrant MacEwan College.He later continued his studies atSheridan Collegebefore going to theOntario College of Art.
Morin started painting in 1977 and worked inTorontoas afreelancerduring the 1980s.For his freelance career, Morin worked on film and literary artwork as an illustrator.In specific projects, Morin created billboard advertisements onAidafor theCanadian Opera Company.Morin also created advertisements for theSkyDome's 1989 opening.
In 1990, Morin's first children's books illustrations appeared in a work written byTololwa MollelcalledThe Orphan Boy.Throughout the 1990s, Morin continued to illustrate children's books for authors includingJoseph Bruchac,Betsy JamesandAlice McLerran.By the mid-2010s, his children's illustrations had appeared in twenty books.For his own works, Morin publishedAnimal Dreamingin 1998 and provided the illustrations in the book.
By 2000, Morin's art creations were shown at theCanadian Museum of CivilizationandWellington County Museum.From 2007 to 2012, Morin established art galleries inRockwood, Ontario,Erin, Ontarioand the Alton Mill Art Center. For his gallery works, Morin primarily focused onlandscape paintings.In 2015, Morin bought atown hallinAlton, Ontarioand spent almost two years converting it into an art gallery.Outside of his own galleries, Morin had heirlooms and artwork shown at the Milton Centre for the Arts in 2015. Leading up to that year, he had previously designed thefood packagingfor themaple leaf cream cookiesmade byDare Foods.By 2020, Morin had expanded his artistry intoart installationsandsculpture.
With his children's books illustrations in the 1990s, Morin drew pictures on theMaasai people,Abenaki,Anasazi, andOjibway. He also wrote aboutChinese mythology, theGhost Danceand theDreamtimeinAustralia.To generate ideas for his illustrations, Morin travelled across the world and conducted in-person research. While illustrating, he played music he co-created that incorporated the local sounds he heard when he was completing his studies.
In individual illustrations, Morin used natural materials he collected to create his illustrations forThe Orphan Boy.His illustrations were incorporated from twentyoil paintingshe had created after living with the Maasai people inKenya.WithThe Dragon's Pearl, Morin drew items he discovered while researching inYangshuo,China.WithFox Song, Morin practicedbasket weavingand referencedThe Orphan Boyby including a bracelet made by the Maasai.ForThe Mud Family, Morin designed a cliff in his house based on one he saw inUtahthat was covered with human hand prints.WithThe Ghost DanceandThe Ghost Seeker, Morin included artwork aboutspiritual visions.
Morin won theAmelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Awardtwice withThe Orphan Boyin 1991 andThe Dragon's Pearlin 1993.He was nominated in 2002 for this award withWhat the Animals Were Waiting For.During 1993,The Dragon's Pearlwas a Ruth Schwartz Award for Excellence in Children's Literature nominee.Additional awards thatThe Orphan Boyreceived were the 1990Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationand 1991Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award.In 2018, Morin was honored byCaledon, Ontariofor his work on the town hall in Alton.
Morin is married and has one child.