Pop goes the artist: Matthew Reinhart shows how popup art is done during Abilene visit

You might say that Matthew Reinhart popped in at Wylie High School on Friday.

The acclaimed popup book artist, in town to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, had enough time for three "off campus" visits. He is scheduled to attend Saturday evening's premiere of a documentary about the NCCIL's formative years, produced by Rob Westman.

On Friday night, Reinhart was to speak to college-age students at Hardin-Simmons, then go in the opposite direction - serving as host of two workshops Saturday morning for youngsters at the NCCIL.

Reinhart was an exhibiting artist here in 2009. This was his first time back.

He captivated combined classes of Wylie art students, telling a bit about himself. He was drawing before he could write, he said. He did not collect popup books as a child but did like dinosaurs, natural history and comic books. And here he is today, with a few adventures along the way.

"I moved all the time but art was always something that I took with me," he said.

His dad, an oral surgeon in the Navy wanted him to be a doctor.

Reinhart went to Clemson to study biology with plans for medical school. That didn't seem right for him and he took time off.

He got a job at an "eyeball bank" - he procured eyeballs from cadavers. Yes he said, creepy.

"I was like, 'You know, I'm not really into this,'" he said.

He went to graduate school to study art instead, specifically industrial design. He eyeballed a career in designing toys. After all he collected "Star Wars" and "Transformer" figures. As it would happen, years later, he created popup books for both.

He was sidetracked again, soon working with popup artist Robert Sabuda. The rest of the story, as presented to students, is both history and fascinating.

Reinhart has done 50-60 books - he said he has stopped counting.

In a visual demonstration, he showed how he does popup. Later, with the lights back on in Lisa Camp's art room, he led students on a simple popup exercise. Each student, with strategic snips by their scissors, created popup art.

Reinhart's art is far ranging, and includes all ages. He started with dinosaurs.

He has teamed with Disney, which he called a dream come true, and Marvel. He showed his "Harry Potter" work that includes a layout of Hogwarts. For those a bit older, he showed similar work for "Game of Thrones."

He advised the young artists that while he does a lot of work by hand, they must become proficient in computer programs such as Illustrator.

Reinhart's demonstration showed the printing, in sheets, of the pieces of his 3D puzzle, how those are separated into stacks and the popup assembled by hand.

He joked about book titles, saying he titled one for underwater creatures "Savage Ocean." That was deemed too scary, so he was asked to give 10 other titles. He did, then added, for fun, "Teeth, Tentacles and Tail Fins." That became the title.

His depiction of Ron, in the "Harry Potter" series, vomiting slugs was vetoed. He showed it anyway to students. Ron was depicted in the book more heroically. Licensed projects are about image.

A third "Harry Potter" is in the works, he said.

Working with filmmaker Tim Burton on a 2017 on a "The Nightmare Before Christmas" project, the filmmaker acknowledged Reinhart's work but said his depiction of Jack Skellington was not right.

Reinhart did not take offense, breathing in the experience of working with Burton and on one of his favorite stories.

"I'm a huuuuuuuge fan," he said.

Reinhart may leave Abilene with more huuuuuuuge fans of his work.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Pop goes the artist: Matthew Reinhart shows how popup art is done