Pop-up Books: Sneak Peek

In the Studio with
Robert and Matthew

Robert and Matthew always have visitors at their studio. We know everyone can’t get there (and their studio isn’t big!), so we decided to do the next best thing. Here’s an quick look inside their crazy, creative workshop!


Where do they get their inspiration from? Sometimes it’s a simple as a shower curtain! This curtain costs $5 and gave Robert and Matthew the idea to create the Young Naturalist’s Pop-up Handbook series.		This is the first piece of stained glass that Robert ever made. He almost seems to be more proud of it than he is of any of the artwork he’s made for his books. And yes, he DID cut himself while he created this..		“The Simpsons” (from the popular television show) are like a second family at the studio. Robert and Matthew have over 100 figures and they all talk!

Homer Simpson keeps watch over one of the computer making sure that all is well. When you push a button Homer sings “Tiny Bubbles,” reminding Robert of when his mother was a dance teacher and taught Hula dancing!

Matthew puts the finishing touches on the final artwork for his pop-up book “The Ark” coming in Spring 2004. All of the art for the book is created from cut paper and wood.

Noah and the animals discover that the rain has finally stopped falling in the cover of “The Ark.” Wanting to stay as true to the original as possible, Matthew’s intrepretation closely follows that of the bible.

The studio looks chaotic but somehow everyone seems to know exactly where everything is. And apparently this is what the studio looks like when it’s tidy!

Robert and Matthew’s new assistant Sam is busy at work on a pop-up creation. Projects are planned so far in advance that Sam is working on pop-up ornaments for Christmas 2004!