Illustrated Pop-Up Book of the Seven Wonders
Playing with scale and contrast to bring the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus to life, with enough architectural detail to feel real, plus figures, sculptures, and a touch of its later history with Crusaders.
We all know what the Great Pyramid at Giza looks like... as it is now, maybe less-so how it looked… then. We can cruise around Rhodes in Street View but the Colossus won’t be making an appearance on our screens. And we'll never get a perfect Instagram shot of the Lighthouse of Alexandria or watch a drone video of the Statue of Zeus. Because the Ancient Wonders are (almost) all gone! But what were they really like?
Illustrating the Imagination
The publisher of this illustrated Pop-Up book of the Seven Wonders knew that because the truth remains slightly out of reach, this is a subject that will forever intrigue and tantalise. We’ll never know for certain what the ancient wonders were like, so it’s the imagining that we enjoy! We long to be whisked back in time and into our own inner worlds. We want to WONDER!
Zeus on His Throne – Illustrated Interpretation of the Statue of Zeus
Showing how I bring ancient scenes to life through artistic interpretation in this Illustrated Pop-Up Book of the Seven Wonders. I used light, colour, and texture to make him glow, and played with composition, contrast, and scale to draw your eye and give the scene drama. Tiny worshippers at the base help give a sense of scale and impact.
Illustration is the perfect way to transport an audience to that imaginative space, enchanting and illuminating without over explaining. Tn this book, the clever use of paper mechanics adds another layer to the visuals, making things clearer for readers and helping the book stand out on shelves.
The Art of Balance
This project called for an illustrator who could tackle both the imaginative and the practical- the poetry AND the prose! My approach of lively, expressive illustration layered over meticulous planning ticked all those boxes.
Balancing Creativity and Precision
For an illustrated pop-up book to work, the artwork has to fit precisely within the templates designed by paper engineers. For this project, I also had to balance just enough realism to make the 3D scenes feel believable, without dulling the style - keeping the energy and vibrancy when the pops explode into life. The trick was finding a happy medium between what the design needed to function and a lively, playful illustration style that would catch children’s attention. And with a subject this ambitious, the art had to offer something for adults too; layered details and little touches that make flipping through the pages fun for everyone.
A glimpse of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus Pop-Up element, with classical columns, statues, frescoes, and tiny chariot riders. Everything had to line up so the statues peeked through the columns, balancing historical research, imagination, and the constraints of the paper mechanics.
A Passion for History
The subject naturally called for artistic impressions and dramatic renderings of scenes that no longer exist. As always, I got stuck into my historical research! I worked in rich colour, contrast, and my signature texture to evoke drama and awe. Aiming to create an end product beautiful enough to gift, with layers of detail that I knew fellow history fans would appreciate.
In contrast to the big dramatic scenes, I also created quieter technical moments: behind-the-scenes views and explanatory details, woven into the spreads. By giving them the same energy and texture, everything stayed consistent and part of one world
My take on the Lighthouse of Alexandria: I loved working out how to show dark underwater scenes, night, and bright daylight with sunlight on the sea, using colour and contrast to make it clear, while mixing storytelling with technical details in one cohesive spread.
Work With Me!
If you are interested in collaborating on a timeless illustration project, drop me a line! I’m here to bring your vision to life.