Artists Archieven - Best Pop-up Books https://www.bestpopupbooks.com Discover a new world of 3D books Mon, 08 Oct 2018 23:32:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.9 Interview Shawn Sheehy https://www.bestpopupbooks.com/interview-shawn-sheehy/ Sun, 07 Oct 2018 15:57:24 +0000 http://www.bestpopupbooks.com/?p=10327 2018 is an exciting year for Artist and Paper Engineer Shawn Sheehy. His upcoming pop-up book Beyond the Sixth Extinction will be released on October 9th and he recently followed up Ann Montanaro Staples as the new director of the Movable Book Society. We did a full review of Beyond the Sixth Extinction and had the opportunity to ask Shawn some questions about his new book and about his role as director of the MBS.  The interview BPUB – Congratulations! We have heard that you’ve followed up Ann Montanaro Staples as the new Director of the Movable Book Society. SS – I’m […]

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2018 is an exciting year for Artist and Paper Engineer Shawn Sheehy. His upcoming pop-up book Beyond the Sixth Extinction will be released on October 9th and he recently followed up Ann Montanaro Staples as the new director of the Movable Book Society. We did a full review of Beyond the Sixth Extinction and had the opportunity to ask Shawn some questions about his new book and about his role as director of the MBS. 

The interview

BPUB – Congratulations! We have heard that you’ve followed up Ann Montanaro Staples as the new Director of the Movable Book Society.

SS – I’m proud, delighted (and a bit intimidated) to be following Ann as the next MBS director. We’ve been transitioning for a couple of months, so it’s going smoothly. Ann has positioned us well for this moment!

BPUB – Can you tell us what your role as an MBS Director is about?

SS – My first job is to divide the labor. Ann was a tireless leader who shouldered many of the responsibilities. The future of the organization will depend on getting others involved in the operations. I’ll continue to serve as conference chair (or maybe co-chair). I’ll oversee the board and the various positions, such as membership, treasury, and newsletter editor.

BPUB – How did you get involved in the MBS and what was your first introduction?

SS – My first meeting was in Milwaukee in 2002. I believe I was asked to join the board in 2012, and if I remember correctly the board’s primary interest was including someone who made pop-up artist books.

Pop-up “MUDMOP” from Beyond the Sixth Extinction

BPUB – Can we consider you a pop-up book collector or creator? Or maybe both?

SS – I’m definitely more of a creator. I have a study/teaching collection of about 150 titles, and they are well-worn.

BPUB – We have noticed that over the last decades, Paper Engineering has developed really fast and many new talents have joined this profession. Are there any highlights you would like to share that you believe are part of this development?

SS – It seems reasonable to think that—especially in the U.S., where I am most familiar—the DIY movement (together with increased availability of book arts instruction) is partly responsible. Crowdsourcing also has had a big impact. So has improved networking through the internet and social media. All of these factors help to draw in, draw together, and support individuals who might otherwise not get traction in commercial publishing.

BPUB – With the past in mind, how could the future look like for pop-ups and paper engineering? Any thoughts about that?

SS – Sam Ita asked me this question in an interview last week. My immediate response was “France!” Today, my immediate response is “Women!,” especially after last week’s conference. I loved seeing the work of up-and-coming engineers like Vanessa Yusuf and Amy Nayve (both from Southeast Asia.) This once-male profession has definitely integrated—if you consider paper engineers for both limited editions and trade editions, we had nearly twice as many female engineers in attendance at the conference as male (of 42 total).

“Many things could be evolutionarily possible, given enough time.”

BPUB – Talking about looking into the future, we would like to know more about your latest book: Beyond the Sixth Extinction: A Post-Apocalyptic Pop-Up. It’s beautiful! You must be really proud of the result?

SS – Very proud. Chris Paul (Candlewick creative director) and Andrea Tompa (Candlewick senior editor) were phenomenal.

BPUB – How did you come up with the idea to create a pop-up book about this subject?

SS – Somewhere around 2005, I stumbled on The Sixth Extinction: Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind by Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin. For those who know my other books—including my artist books—they all have an ecological bent. I easily feel distressed about losing ecological diversity. That feeling is augmented by recognizing all that we don’t know about the many unnamed species we are losing. I was deeply inspired to explore this topic; and especially to think through to the other end of the extinction event, when species diversity will be restored. It gives me hope to consider that even if humans kinda mess this up in the present, the ecosystem knows how to correct itself in the future.

BPUB – The artwork by Jordi Solano looks gorgeous! Based on what criterium did you select an artist for the artwork?

SS – Jordi was hired by Chris Paul. She found him through an agency and gave me the opportunity to offer an opinion. We were pretty lucky to have him on board. His illustrations are just right.

BPUB – It’s a fictional book but what logic did you use to develop the creatures in this pop-up? In your opinion, how realistic would it be for animals to survive and emerge into your designs?

SS – All of the creatures in the book are based on something that currently exists. Many of these creatures are comfortable around humans, and thrive in human-made environments. Most are omnivorous, and therefore possess a certain level of intelligence. (Omnivores have to be smart enough to not eat something deadly.) Nearly all of the adaptations were inspired by looking at the characteristics of other varied creatures. For example; the rotrap was once a house mouse, and I was influenced by the anatomy of a sea anemone when I evolved it forward. I leaned heavily on science to invent the creatures—ecologically, it made sense to make pigeons larger, fiercer, and with brood pouches—but it’s still fiction. Who knows? Many things could be evolutionarily possible, given enough time.

Pop-ups from Beyond the Sixth Extinction

BPUB – You also did all the writing. Did your profession help in any way to write about this subject?

SS – I have written a fair amount academically, and that probably shows in the style of this fiction-written-as-a-field-guide. But I also write all of my artist books. I like to write. It’s an integral part of the concepting of a project, and it’s probably my favorite part.

BPUB – From an engineering perspective, what was the biggest challenge and the hardest pop-up to design?

SS – No question: the clam fungus required the most revising to get the mechanism to work smoothly and consistently. But I really love it–it’s so satisfying.

BPUB – It looks like you’ve found a style that fits you? We recognize it from Welcome to the Neighborwood!

SS – For sure! All of my artists books are created in cut paper, and I brought that style over to the trade books. It’s one of the reasons (I am told) that Candlewick got interested in my work. They liked the handmade paper out of which everything was made.

BPUB – Do you have any plans for a new pop-up book that you would like to share with us?

SS – My most immediate next big thing is my next artist book. But it’s far too shapeless to discuss yet…

BPUB – Thank you Shawn for this interview! We can’t wait to see what your next pop-up book will be about!

SS – Thanks for the interview, and thanks for featuring the book on your site! You two do great work!


Useful links

Our full (video) review of Beyond the Sixth Extinction: Click here

Order at Amazon: Beyond the Sixth Extinction: A Post-Apocalyptic Pop-Up

Website Shawn Sheehy: www.shawnsheehy.com
Website Jordi Solano (illustrator): www.jordisolano.com

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Interview Skinner about Necronomicon https://www.bestpopupbooks.com/interview-skinner/ Wed, 04 Apr 2018 18:09:23 +0000 http://www.bestpopupbooks.com/?p=9212 The newly released Necronomicon Pop-Up Book by Skinner is another successful collaboration between an Artist and Paper Engineer Rosston Meyer from Poposition Press. Skinner created the Necronomicon book as a fan of H.P. Lovecraft’s work. The combination of Skinners detailed illustration style and Lovecraft’s horror stories are a match made in heaven. Or should we say hell? It’s pretty dark and evil, that’s for sure. We’ve just published a review and video of Necronomicon and we also got the chance to ask Skinner some questions about this project and how he managed to create such suitable artwork for the notorious Necronomicon, also know as Al Azif’ or […]

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The newly released Necronomicon Pop-Up Book by Skinner is another successful collaboration between an Artist and Paper Engineer Rosston Meyer from Poposition Press. Skinner created the Necronomicon book as a fan of H.P. Lovecraft’s work. The combination of Skinners detailed illustration style and Lovecraft’s horror stories are a match made in heaven. Or should we say hell? It’s pretty dark and evil, that’s for sure. We’ve just published a review and video of Necronomicon and we also got the chance to ask Skinner some questions about this project and how he managed to create such suitable artwork for the notorious Necronomicon, also know as Al Azif’ or the Book of Dead. Read all about it in this interview!

The interview

BPUB – Congratulations on your first pop-up book! Have you ever thought that you would be involved making a pop-up book?

SKINNER – I never thought I would do it, I always filed it under “projects I’d like to do but am logistically impaired from doing” then Rosston came around, and all of a sudden it was possible!

BPUB – Before working with Rosston from Poposition Press, were you familiar with the concept of pop-up books and paper engineering?

SKINNER – I always loved them growing up! Seemed like pop up books were popular in the 80’s maybe. Monster ones and dinosaurs and stuff, but I never understood how it worked. I was small and preoccupied with popsicles probably.

Skinners Necronomicon Pop-Up Book

Pop-up Spread “The Shadow Out of Time” of the Necronomicon Pop-Up Book

BPUB – Can you describe how it is to see your artwork come to life through animations or pop-ups?

Skinner – Well, it’s a bit like Christmas I guess! Haha, it’s a surprise! But it’s actually incredibly rewarding to see how much of a quality product the NECRONOMICON became. I never would have thought that an independent project made by two people would be this good in its final form!

BPUB – Is there any difference in the way you find inspiration for a flat illustration compared to an illustration for a three-dimensional paper structure?

SKINNER – Reserving a space in my mind for the logistics of paper engineering definitely steers the idea of how it will look as a design or drawing. I work in multiple mediums and I approach them all from the actual logistics of the medium itself… it’s the easiest and most fluid way of getting the project done to me. Inserting the weirdness into the parameters of the thing itself is the fun part.

BPUB – Do you have a favorite monster in this book? Maybe one that freaked you out while working on it?

SKINNER – Haha well, I am actually proud of the fact that I think I have a favorite, until I look at the other pages… I mean to say, that I feel really content with the quality of each page as a presentation of the story, and the monsters juxtapose well against each other. The Cthulhu is probably the most intricate main monster, but the Dunwich horror may be my favorite!

“This was just something that needed to happen!”

Skinner

BPUB – Does it happen that you surprise yourself when you see what monsters and scenes come out of your own imagination while drawing horror stories like these?

SKINNER – It’s kind of surprising that I have the discipline to stay focused for each page! Haha, the stories are very specifically their own story with their own details, and I tried to incorporate those details.. I guess I’m surprised that I maintained the details, although it’s best to fully commit to them in any nerdy genre so you don’t ruffle the feathers of people that are well versed in them. I know from first-hand experience how it will perturb me when people get facts wrong around any kind of nerdy stuff I’m into! Hahaha!

BPUB – Have you always been a fan of H.P. Lovecraft’s work?

SKINNER – Since high school, I have been, and then it kind of expanded outwardly. There are so many incredible weird horror writers besides him too!

BPUB – So this theme must have been on your mind for a while? Was it your intention to save your “translation” of the Necronomicon for something special like a pop-up book?

SKINNER – Well, Rosston asked if I wanted to do a pop-up book, and I could have done one of my own art and story or something, but it wouldn’t have been as indulgent as a Necronomicon with seminal Lovecraft tales in it! This was just something that needed to happen!

Pop-up spreads of the Necronomicon book

BPUB – As a fan of Lovecraft’s work, is there some kind of limit for you on how far you can go by using your own imagination to translate his detailed storytelling into artwork?

SKINNER – Not really, I could have gotten as weird as possible… I think anything could have worked, barring abstract triangles piled on each other or something.. but even then, maybe!

BPUB – If you could pick a soundtrack for this pop-up book, what song would it be?

SKINNER – Maybe, Dopesmoker by Sleep.

BPUB – We would love to see a Dungeons & Dragons pop-up book created by you. Any thoughts about that?

SKINNER – Oh shit I would love to do that!!!!

BPUB – If our followers would like to know more about your work what would be the best place to find you?

SKINNER – Probably my Instagram @theartofskinner. I gotta find someone to help me update it. I’m too busy and ridiculous to maintain my internet responsibilities!

BPUB – Thank you Skinner for this interview!

SKINNER – My pleasure! Humbled to be asked!

Interview-Skinner necronomicon pop-up book

Skinner (L) and Rosston Meyer (R) posing with both editions of the Necronomicon Pop-Up Book.


Click here to go to our full (video) review of the Necronomicon Pop-Up Book

Order the Necronomicon Pop-Up Book: necronomiconpopup.com
Website Skinner: theartofskinner.com
Website Poposition Press: poposition.com
Skinner’s shop: Critical Hit

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