Pop-up books: November Sneak Peek

November Sneak Peek

The making of The Night Before Christmas

Part One: Designing

In an early version of Santa unloading gifts Robert had no idea what the presents would even be! He merely sketched in circles in Santa's bag. The gifts in Santa's hands are just geometric shapes. Robert often designs using simple shapes to represent objects that will be determined later.

One of the most difficult challenges in designing Santa was how to show that he had a mustache and beard since his face would be white, too. Robert decided to create a second layer of paper that would act as the beard and the trim on Santa's hat. Robert didn't need a model for Santa's mustache either since his father has a handlebar mustache!

In the white dummy Santa's gifts have been determined (a ribboned package and candy canes). The gift and Santa's buckle will be silver in the final book.

By far the most complex pop-up in The Night Before Christmas is the village scene on the last spread. Since Robert grew up in a small town he wanted the village to feel "warm and cozy," too.

Robert began by making very, very simple houses and seeing where they could be placed on the page. At near right, notice that (what will become) the trees and clouds are just a basic shape. No detail.

At far right is a pop-up study of two of the houses all by themselves. Robert made sure that each house, individually, could pop-up. No small feat!

After all the houses were designed Robert turned his attention to the pull-tab which reveals Santa's sleigh flying across a snow filled sky.

At near right the pull-tab doesn't even exist yet but it's location is indicated by the sketch in the clouds.

After numerous attempts and a variety of mechanisms Santa and his gang swing into view after pulling the tab in the white dummy!

Come back next month when Robert adds color and finishing touches to his holiday masterpiece. And go behind-the-scenes for the grand, hand-assembly of The Night Before Christmas!

The making of The Night Before Christmas: Part Two >>>