Waiting for the Whales
Illustrated by
Ron Lightburn
Written by Sheryl McFarlane
Ron Lightburn's illustrations bring a sublime visual quality to Sheryl McFarlane's touching story Waiting for The Whales. This is the story of a man enjoying his twilight years. From his porch, which overlooks the sea, he waits for the annual return of the Orca whales. Though his days are filled with walks in the forest and along the ocean, there is a emptiness in the old man's life. Then one fine spring day, his daughter and her baby girl visit come to. The intense bond he forms with the infant quickly melts the old man's gruff exterior. Seasons quickly pass and, as the child grows, the old man teaches her all about nature. Together they tend his garden, walk through the forest and stroll along the ocean. The child learns to admire the beauty and majesty of the whales and together they wait for them to return. Sadly one summer day when the whales return to the bay, her grandfather passes away. Heartbroken, the little girl looks to the sea as the whales return and spots a baby Orca in the pod. The circle of life is complete as life emerges from death.
In the illustrations for Waiting for the Whales, Ron Lightburn uses the traditional method of drawing pictures based on photographs. First Lightburn finds people he feels fit the character profiles in the book. Then a suitable location is selected where the characters are photographed in various scenes from the narrative. These photographs become the frame of reference for Ron Lightburn's illustrations. When the appropriate series of pictures are chosen, they are sketched, coloured and sent to an editor for approval. The approved sketches are then projected onto larger paper, where the drawings are completed. This method gives Lightburn greater control over the images, because a single drawing will go through several stages of revision before a finished product is arrived at. However, the basic illustrations are taken directly from the photographs, although details such as colour, pattern and objects may be changed. This style enables Ron Lightburn to achieve a photographic realism in his illustrations.
Ron Lightburn's skill with colour and light stunningly portray the cycle of birth and death. At the beginning of the story the man is content living on his bluff above the ocean but he is also very lonely. Lightburn portrays his mood through the use of cool, pale colours and dull, muted light. The initial illustrations show the old man in solitude. He is shrouded in charcoal-coloured shadows and grey green forests alone. The dull colour scheme and muted light of these scenes reinforces his isolated colourless existence and an overall atmosphere of melancholia.
When the granddaughter enters the man's life the illustrations burst with light and colour. The drawings mirror the grandfather's new-found vitality. The illustrations become sharper, brighter and more vibrant. The forest fills with deep browns, bright greens and fiery reds replacing the pale grey-green tones of previous illustrations, the sea becomes an exquisite crystal, even the man's clothing reflect his new exuberance for life. Every aspect of the man's life takes on a bright new colour. The old man's skin glows with pleasant peach tones as he delights in his granddaughter's company. Lightburn's illustrations adeptly portray the grandfather's transformation from a lonely old man into a vibrant, affectionate grandparent.
Cycles of life, death and rebirth are superimposed on the passing of the seasons in Waiting for the Whales. A new baby arrives on the old man's doorstep on the first day of spring. With the baby's arrival come the rebirth of nature and the return of the Orcas. The summer day that her grandfather passes away coincides with the return of the whales. After his death the colours return to the sombre tones of the opening illustrations. This colour scheme now represents the sadness and loss felt by the young girl and her mother. The change of colour also portrays the change of season as winter looms on the horizon. When the whales return the following spring, the appearance of a baby Orca completes the cycle. The ending is bittersweet as the little girl's pain is eased by the arrival of the new whale
Ron Lightburn skilfully uses visual cues to convey the characters emotions. The man's ever present fedora is inseparable from his personae. The old man removes his hat and rests it on his lap near the end of the story foreshadowing his passing. The solitary image of his hat lying on the porch floor symbolises his death and his granddaughter's profound sense of loss. With his use of symbols, light and colour, Ron Lightburn has drawn a subtle story of emotion which perfectly interconnects with Sheryl McFarlane's beautiful text.
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