Author: N4 Sketch Pad

World Book day 2025

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Last  weeks workshops at Goodrich Primary School in Dulwich, and Oakmere Primary in Potters Bar. Thank you so much for inviting me in to celebrate World Book Day  2025 together – loved your enthusiasm and energy.

#johnolearyillustration

#worldbookday #worldbookday2025 #schoolworkshops #contactanauthor #authorvisits #authorsinschools #lovereading #popup #papercrafts #paper #card #paperengineering #funwithpaper #creativecrafts #popups #popupdesign #paperengineering #3d #paperart #papercrafts #popupmechanism #kidsworkshop #kidscrafts

Marvellous Makers

| N4 Sketch Pad

Selection of work from my mini tour of Greenwich libraries in August delivering workshops in pop-up design in conjunction with the Summer Reading Challenge 2024  #summerreadingchallenge

I had the pleasure of talking to families about books and reading before working together on a pop-up activity – with moving parts! We used the lovely characters created by @natelledrawsstuff for Summer Reading Challenge 2024 #marvellousmakers as a starting point for our designs – some children used other characters and some created their own.

Thank you to all children and adults who took part + library staff – for your enthusiasm and creativity.

#PlumsteadLibrary #WoolwichLibrary #Greenwich #Libraries #CharltonLibrary #WestGreenwichLibrary #sladelibrary #thamesmerelibrary @Greenwichlibs

It’s Magic

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Flashback Friday – It’s Magic, published by Tango Books (2007).

The video is a special request from a magician friend in France.

Concept, text, illustration and paper engineering by John O’Leary.

Sadly, now out of print, ‘It’s Magic’ features eight magic tricks presented by Carlos the Chameleon. Use the text as your banter as you put on a show for your family and friends.
A second shorter video without the text is also available.

Summer Reading Challenge

| N4 Sketch Pad

This week, I finished my second library tour of the Summer – this time six libraries in the London Borough of Greenwich, as part of the sports-themed Summer Reading Challenge 2023.
The libraries I visited were Woolwich Centre, West Greenwich, Plumstead, Blackheath, Charlton House and Eltham Centre.

I had the pleasure of talking to families about books and reading before working together on a pop-up activity – with moving parts! We used the lovely characters created by Loretta Schauer for Summer Reading Challenge as a starting point for our designs – some children used other characters and some created their own.

Thank you to all the children and adults, and library staff who took part for their wonderful enthusiasm and creativity.

My next events are in Redbridge on the 23 Aug:
https://visionrcl.org.uk/event/pop-up-book-making-with-john-oleary/

Future Storytelling

| N4 Sketch Pad

I’m currently doing live drawing / storytelling and a little bit of pop-up design for the Future Storytelling initiative at Waltham Forest Libraries.

Last Saturday I visited Higham Hill, Wood Street and Chingford libraries.

This coming Saturday I’ll be at Hale End Library (11am – 12 noon), Walthamstow Central Library (2pm – 3pm) and Lea Bridge Library (4pm –  5pm).

And on Saturday 15 July I’ll be at Leyton Library (11am – 12 noon) and Leytonstone Library (2pm – 3pm).

Waltham Forest Half Term Workshops

| N4 Sketch Pad

All last week I criss-crossed Waltham Forest to deliver workshops in pop-up design, character creation and story development to all the borough’s libraries. Many thanks to Waltham Forest Libraries and London Borough of Waltham Forest for inviting me to work with them over the half-term and to all the families who participated. The montage shows just a small selection of the wonderfully creative work that was produced.

Waltham Forest Pop-up Workshops

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Next week, I’ll be touring Waltham Forest Libraries – 8 workshops at 8 libraries over 4 days starting Monday 24 Oct. Come and learn pop-up design, character illustration, and book-making in my hands-on, half-term sessions in partnership with @walthamforestlibraries and London Borough of Waltham Forest @lbwalthamforest. Look forward to seeing you all there.

To guarantee your place go to the Eventbrite link for the event, all listed here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj0GVLwNq-t/

Storytelling

| N4 Sketch Pad

I really enjoyed my visit to Harlowbury Primary School on Wednesday where I talked to the children about storytelling and ran workshops in pop-up book making. During my initial talk we discussed how stories from different places can enrich our lives, help us explore our similarities and differences, and teach us to respect and value each other.

Picture shows the demo I did for Y5 and Y6. After the children make a pop-up mechanism, I usually demonstrate how to translate that into a 3D illustration and how to assemble the finished book. By the end of each session, the children have enough information to complete their books. I look forward to seeing pictures of some of the finished work.