Pop-up Books at Islington Museum

April 30, 2014February 5, 2017 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, Exhibitions, illustrations, Schools, workshops

DSC_watch out

I’m very pleased to be exhibiting my work at Islington Museum throughout the month of May as part of Word2014 Festival.
In conjunction with the exhibition, I’m hugely excited to be running twelve days of workshops with local primary schools including St. Lukes, Clerkenwell Parochial, Samual Rhodes, Vittoria, Tufnell Park, St Joseph’s, Duncombe, St John Evangelist and St John Highbury Vale. This will be followed on 22 May by a celebratory event with the work of the children’s also exhibited in the gallery (all welcome).

Two FREE family workshops are taking place on Saturday 3 May and Saturday 17 May. Full details here – http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/history-heritage/heritage_whatson/wo_events/Pages/default.aspx?extra=9

The exhibition is up and running and continues until the end of the month – http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/history-
heritage/heritage_whatson/wo_exhibition/Pages/default.aspx?extra=9

Pop-ups at St John’s

April 24, 2014April 25, 2014 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, Schools, workshops

Some of the work produced by the children at St John the Evangelist School near Angel today. I love the simple but effective graphic style of the green one in the middle. The enthusiasm of the kids in this school was absolutely brilliant.

World Book Day 2014

March 8, 2014March 8, 2014 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, illustrations, Schools, workshops

Hope everyone had a wonderful World Book Day. Fossdene Primary, St Andrews Primary and St Edwards School all made my week. Here’s the montage!

St Andrews Primary School, Totteridge

Fossdene Primary School, Charlton

St Edwards School, Reading

Berkhamsted and Tring Gazette

October 16, 2013October 23, 2013 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, Books, illustrations, Schools, workshops

Chaulden Infants School bookworms learn eye-popping techniques from children’s author

During the visit, he worked with all the pupils in small workshops, showing them techniques and helping them to design and construct their own books.
School spokesman Julie James said: “John is an expert at paper engineering and in his books he creates amazing and surprising pop-ups.
“The children used words such as ‘ wow’, ‘amazing’ and ‘brilliant’ when they realised the pop up effects they had created themselves under his direction.
“The buzz of excitement from the children continued throughout the day and was enjoyed by all.”
Author John also illustrated a picture of a snake and monkey for the school’s main hall wall to mark his visit.

Chaulden Infants

September 27, 2013September 28, 2013 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, Books, Schools, workshops

First visit of the school year spent with the fabulous children of Chaulden Infants in Hemel Hempstead. The giant pop-up was created by the two Reception classes.

Book Week Montage

March 18, 2013January 7, 2014 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, illustrations, Schools, workshops

I had a truly amazing time visiting schools over book week. Finally found a minute to put together the pictures:

Pop-ups in Borehamwood

March 11, 2013September 28, 2013 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, Schools, workshops

From Borehamwood and Elstree Times
9:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in News
Hertswood School children make pop-up books as part of Literacy Week
by Natalie O’Neill

Lit week web Pupils at Hertswood School in Thrift Lane looked on with amazement as John O’Leary turned pieces of card into colourful story books on Wednesday.

Teacher Laura Edgar said: “The children caught on very quickly and they’re going to be continuing using the skills in their next lessons.”

The event forms part of Community Literacy Week which is being celebrated by all primary schools in Borehamwood.Ms Edgar said: “The week is a great way of celebrating the joy of reading for pleasure and how important it is.

“Research has shown that children who don’t read for pleasure lag two years behind their peers by the time they’re 15. Literacy Week allows us to demonstrate the value of reading for the whole school community.”

(photo – Author and illustrator John O’Leary shows 13-year-old pupil Ryan John how to make his very own pop-up story book)

Book Week!

February 19, 2013September 28, 2013 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, Schools, workshops

school pop-up book Here’s my line up for this year’s book week.
I’m very excited and looking forward to a series of intense, fun-filled sessions.

26 Feb – St. Mary’s School, Bicester

1 March – Chase Side Primary School, Enfield

5 March – Lindfield Primary School, Lindfield

6 March – Hertswood Academy, Borehamwood

7 March – Thomas’s School, Clapham

8 March – Hereward House School, Hampstead

Match the Paintings

February 5, 2013September 28, 2013 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in 3D, Schools, workshops

Photos from my workshops at Cunningham Hill Infant School in St Albans last week. Each of the five classes were studying famous paintings from the National Gallery (including one of my all-time favourites). The children produced their own 3D versions of the paintings over the two days, as well doing their own personal pop-up designs. The 3D paintings aren’t finished yet, so more pictures to follow when I get them from the school.

This was a return visit to this school and it was very gratifying to see that, not only did many of the children remember me, but that they were able to build on what they had previously learnt. They even used some of these previously-learnt techniques when producing their cards last Christmas.

Pop-ups in Croughton Primary

January 23, 2013September 28, 2013 by N4 Sketch Pad, posted in illustrations, Schools, workshops

I was working with the children at Croughton All Saints Primary School yesterday for the start of an art and books project. The aim was to give the children enough skills to finish the pop-up books in their own time, combining text, illustrations and paper-engineering. This is a beautiful school, situated in a rural village near Banbury, with a warm, friendly atmosphere. I found the children to be very open and enthusiastic about pop-up design and I was able to teach them quite a number of techniques in a relatively short space of time.