AUTHOR / GRAPHIC DESIGNER /
ILLUSTRATOR / STORYTELLER

John Danalis is on a mission to help young people reconnect with, and cultivate the storyteller within. We are all born with the gifts of story and music, but all too often these treasures are left to wither on the vine as we make the transition from childhood to adulthood. In this age of specialisation, personal storytelling has been devalued to the point where we have become deaf to our own voices, our own songs; we now consume rather that create.

Riding The Black Cockatoo is the inspiring true story of one man's reconciliation journey. All through his growing-up years, John Danalis's family had an Aboriginal skull on the mantelpiece; yet only as an adult did he ask where it came from and whether it should be restored to its rightful owners. Part history, part detective story, part cultural discovery and emotional journey, this is a book for young and old, showing the transformative and healing power of true reconciliation.

In March 2010 John was interviewed by Richard Fidler on ABC Brisbane radio's Conversations program. You can listen to the moving podcast of the interview here.

John points out that we don’t have to travel to mountain tops or have wild imaginations to be good storytellers; very often the stories that affect us most are the stories that come from our own streets, our own backyards. John also likes to deflate the notion of “famous author” by pointing out that stories don’t have to be printed and bound; great stories are often told around the kitchen table or in he back of the school bus.

John’s presentations are rapid fire adventures into the world of storytelling and books. Mixing humor with creative and technical insights gleaned from his experiences as a published author/illustrator and book designer, John’s love of the story is infectious and inspiring.

John is the author and illustrator of several children’s titles. He has illustrated numerous other titles including LICKING LIZARDS, THE GIRL IN THE CAVE, and LOKU AND THE SHARK ATTACK. He has also illustrated text books.

John began his art practice as a graphic designer and now runs a studio called Peripheral Vision with his partner, acclaimed illustrator Stella Danalis. Over the last 15 years the studio has won over 100 design and illustration awards. Today, John and Stella specialise in book cover design and their own creative projects.

Stella’s first picture book, WHAT THE SKY KNOWS, was short-listed in the 2006 CBCA awards. John and Stella’s first picture book collaboration, SCHUMAN THE SHOEMAN was released in 2008, and in 2010 is shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year!

John Danalis also offers a workshop focusing on The Art of Book Jacket Design which consists of:

- 15 minute Powerpoint show and tell, and introduction into the rudiments of effective cover design.

-45 minute hands-on workshop where students work on a Dust Jacket Blank provided which contains book title and back page blurb. 3 or 4 titles to choose from. Workshop size limited to a normal class size. Class to supply art materials, projector, laptop and screen. Primary to lower secondary preferred.

John Danalis also offers a workshop focusing on The Art of Book Jacket Design which consists of:

- 15 minute Powerpoint show and tell, and introduction into the rudiments of effective cover design.

-45 minute hands-on workshop where students work on a Dust Jacket Blank provided which contains book title and back page blurb. 3 or 4 titles to choose from. Workshop size limited to a normal class size. Class to supply art materials, projector, laptop and screen. Primary to lower secondary preferred.