The skies were brighter on Sunday morning and not just because the rain was clearing. Michael Leunig was in the Feros Marquee with skilled interviewer David Leser.

Great crowd for @Leunig at @bbwritersfest this morning! #byronwf2016 pic.twitter.com/nXQ9QlF0B2

— Tas Writers Centre (@TasWriters) August 7, 2016

The gems of wisdom came thick and fast, with the twitterati of the festival is full swing.

David Leser started with an inquiry into genius and intuition.

"I think we all have the capacity for genius if we dare just to know that it is there within us." #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

'I keep harking back to this theme the child does intuitively understand the spirit' Michael Leunig #ByronWF2016

— Isabeau (@isabeau_monet) August 7, 2016

"I used to love inventing things as a boy… I reckon the best artists are inventors." #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

Labelling Mr Curly, one of the cartoonists recurring and enigmatic characters, was something that even Leunig struggled with, although he understands the reason for the curl on the character’s head.

On Mr Curly: "That person – is it even a person? I don't know. It's child, it's adult, it's male, it's female." #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

"The pen suddenly starts making a curl on the head just for the heck of it… You just put it in b/c it pleases you." #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

"I came to the view that it represented a kind of peculiarity and that we are all peculiar." #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

Trust David Leser to bring Donald Trump into the conversation.

Q. What would Mr Curly think of Donald Trump? @DavidLeser to #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

A. I think he would just sit and stare for a long time and just listen. #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

"As my grandmother used to say: The whole world is mad except for you and me and even you're a little strange." #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

'Without the dumbclucks, where would we be?' #leunig #byronwf2016

— Karen (@karenpeth) August 7, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of Leunig’s work is bittersweet, melancholy and sometimes, deals with depression, and Leunig says, is home to some of his best creative outcomes.

"It's painful to lose the plot in the midst of creativity… And that has been my best process if I'm honest." #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

"We all sit at the table and say 'the world has gone mad'. And then we eat our dinner." #leunig #byronwf2016

— byronwritersfest (@bbwritersfest) August 7, 2016

Michael Leunig: the realm of possibility is one of my favourite realms #byronwf2016 #bookscreate

— CopyrightAgency (@CopyrightAgency) August 7, 2016

Michael Leunig: I've never owned a suit as I just have never found one that suits me #byronwf2016 #bookscreate

— CopyrightAgency (@CopyrightAgency) August 7, 2016

Michael Leunig quotes Churchill (surprising himself): when you're going through hell, just keep going #byronwf2016

— Jodi Frawley (@JodiFrawley) August 7, 2016

Even after being named as an  Australian Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia in 1999, Leunig still hasn’t come to terms with his success, and the high regard he receives from many Australians – except perhaps the right-wing who he seems to irritate.

"I still find it a bit implausible…" Michael Leunig on being Michael Leunig. Onstage at #byronwf2016

— Boabel (@belinda_nowell) August 7, 2016

Report compiled by Southern Cross University Reporters.