There is great skill in using few folds to suggest the form of a complex creature – few mastered it like Akira Yoshizawa:
I like this fold – deceptively simple, most folds are made without landmarks (ie. you use judgment and “eye” to work out where to fold) and the resultant form is simple yet charming.
I will fold this again – the body has so much potential but I like the minimalistic form also – it’s not easy being green.
I have seen many models of various complicated insects, and intend to try many – my first foray is not an insect at all, but a scorpion:
This is a well designed model with 8 legs, a pair of lovely claws and a crab-like carapace underneath
The tail, IWHO, is a major oversight – it ends up so thick and fatigued that it was very difficult to model and you can see (if you look close) paper fatigue took it’s toll along the back primary crease and part way up the tail. Copy paper is not up to this job but I found out waaay to late in the fold to even consider re-starting it with different paper.
Some interesting and precise folds beforehand mean a collapse and a bunch of reverse folds easily make the legs and claws, quite impressed – could see also how this technique could be used to make a squid as well, will keep that in my toolbox of folds to consider.
Considered by most to be the “father of modern origami“, Akira Yoshizawa created many artistic models and invented the system of diagramming we now use as standard. He also, it seems had a wonderful sense of humour:
This model is as much a character study as a comment on Japanese society, and I must admit to a giggle when I first found this model nestled near the back of Yoshizawa’s seminal work “Creative Origami”.
Initially, the model is folded asymmetrically, then as features emerge it is obvious this character is “fully equipped” and ready to rumble (although I was sure sumo usually wore some form of ceremonial “nappy” – for some reason Yoshizawa decided to omit that detail).
A simple fold that would benefit from thinner paper (the shoulders and neck were very difficult to fold with an A4 copy paper square). Quite cute however and I would imagine shocking in the day (but these days we would probably suggest steroid abuse will do that to a man 😛 )
After abandoning a search for a decent “statue of liberty” model, I decided to settle on an American Bald Eagle as a symbol of independence, what the 4th July is celebrated for in the US:
After looking around, I settled on a figurative bald eagle by Robert Lang from “The Complete Book of Origami” and happy with many aspects of this fold.
Difficult to complete with copy paper, the thickness and brittle nature of copy paper means that several steps are likely to distress the paper severely and the body thickness makes shaping late in the fold difficult – quite happy with this as a first fold. I added pleats on teh wings to suggest feathers as I thought the wings needed it, and modded the talons a little to make them less clumsy.
Should I fold this again, I now know what becomes what and so would approach some of the steps a little differently, but living/folding is learning – right?
I thought I would try something simpler, so found what looked like a mostly harmless little Llama model designed by Jim Adams:
On paper, this model was straight forward – in practice however the thickness of layers at the tail end made this model impossible to fold using copy paper (I tried, breaking one of my own rules, it exploded – well, split and the tail broke off, so I started again) so I used a square of tissue foil – even then the tail was too thick to be elegant, pity – the diagram makes it look crisp and slender. I guess if one used large format foil it might be easier – not sure the overall model proportions warrant that treatment however.
Some interesting applications of sink, crimp and double-rabbit ears – it suggested double rabbit-earing the rear legs – already needle thin, I merely reverse folded them and think that is a better result. Pity they are so thick else I would have added hooves also.
Although it is diagrammed as a Llama, I think it is more like an Alpaca (mostly because I wanted to use “an” in the title and “An Llama” does not seem right – yeah, I know, tissue thin reasoning there but you get that)
I have the greatest of respect for Robert Lang, his models are discussed mathematically and with great artistic intent also, and when I saw this hummingbird in “Origami Design Secrets” I knew I had to make it:
Having never actually seen a hummingbird (except on the telly), I am amazed and in awe of their size, industry and life habit. After folding the bird I decided it absolutely needed a flower to feed from, found a simple blossom in Harbin’s “Origami 2” by Toshie Takahama and fixed them together with the wire from a straightened paperclip and a (shhh) little double-sided tape.
Hummingbirds use huge amounts of energy to fly, and so feed voraciously on high-energy foods like nectar, so I can imagine my little bird about to plunge into the nectary of this flower for a much needed energy boost.
Am really pleased with this model – beautiful beak, breast and wings, the tail was a surprise as it came from a tortured sink early on. A masterful design that, from what I can gather, captures the intent of the bird mid flight. this makes it difficult to pose (as it has no legs) and, interestingly, every picture I have seen of this completed model is posed adjacent a bloom (presumably using the same support trick I used.
You may, collectively, go awwwwww now, as that was my reaction when stepping back from the handiwork.
Now I was told it was Canada Day on July 1 by Peter and Jen, and they kindly asked me to fold them a moose (after seeing a picture of the finished model on google) … if it was not too much trouble.
Fortunately i had a copy of “Origami Design Secrets” by Robert Lang, which has this as a penultimate box pleating example (typical a mathematician would take the simple art of box pleating to this length), so I thought “why not, can’t be that difficult” – lol.
Now I had some “tissue foil” I had shipped from the origami shop, and was itching to try it out to see how it takes folds. I must admit it is different to what I thought it would be – this is cotton-based, metallic thread impregnated opalescent paper is not a paper and foil sandwich, so will keep looking for a supplier.
Wow, no I mean WOW! – what a difference good paper makes on the fold process – no splits, tears, paper fatigue (except on the folder). I am impressed given the length of this paper torture session and the lengths to which the square was crimped, distorted, pleated, reversed and teased. I began to realise this model was epic after nearly 2 hours of PRE FOLDING was necessary before the first collapse – at one points folding 64ths along one edge – thank goodness for large format paper.
I started this at about 8am – after a bowl of Porridge (with maple syrup – it is CANADA DAY remember) and finished the fold prior to photographing the posed model at 12:45pm!!! 3 cups of tea, 2 panadol and 3 albums of Lawrence English sound art and it is done.
HAPPY CANADA DAY Peter and Jen – thanks for the challenge.
I have a lot of pig models, all have their charms – it is interesting that it is a much-folded animal:
This figurative model is quite a simple fold, a nice change of pace on a busy day
An interesting twist on the waterbomb base, it’s body proportions are ok, it has a good snout that could be further modeled as there is lots of paper there, and a fab curly tail.
Now I have been a customer of Rocking Horse records in Brizvegus for as long as I can remember – they stock an important mix of local releases, electronica, avant-garde, metal, obscure and dance music ephemera that appeals to me.
They are in trouble – difficult to compete with torrents and copyright theft (I know many young people who have never purchased music ever, but have iPods full of the stuff). I decided to visit today, purchase a bit but sadly everything is on sale – not a good sign. Today’s model is a rocking horse:
This little model actually rocks also, very tidy (if torture to get all the paper inside the body and leave the rockers largely fold free so they, well, rock…
I like the body proportions – very horsey – and the weight distribution is also good – very well designed model by Ronald Koh (the same guy who designed the King Cobra)
Precision was important here, and a little luck – many of the folds were judgment calls, no landmarks are trickey if you have not folded a model before and do not know what ends up where.
Happy with my first fold, fingers crossed that a good record store can survive – brissie would not be the same with out it.
Now I have been looking for a good lizard – sounds like a personal problem I know, but it is hard to get something with the right morphology (proportion and placement of body parts):
This model comes close – a torturous thing in parts that comes together with the most lovely legs (toes and all) and a sculpty tail – not sure about the head though, there is plenty of paper but a goanna typically has a much longer neck (although this model does have the beginnings of a lovely forked tongue also)
An interesting use of a hexaonal base and some lovely sinks and collapses – I could see this base as a useful starting point for a crocodile, as there is plenty of paper doen the back to crimp up some lovely bumpy bits. I think there were some inaccuracies in the diagramming, as the initial folding of the toes, according to diagrammed landmarks was less successful, but minor adjustments sort that out.
When I fold this again I think the resultant critter will be much better shaped, now I know what is going to end up where – still, an interesting fold.
You can try this for yourself: http://zingman.com/origami/oriPics/lizard2/lizard_diagrams.swf
Now I was watching this stop motion animation by Sipho Mabona, and saw a humanoid emerge from a sheet of paper, so began doodling with a square of parchment not really having any plan. Oddly a figure emerged with what looked (to me at least initially) like a shell on his back.
Immediately I thought of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” but my son said version 1 looked a lot like a skindiver (he has diving qualifications so I was not going to argue).
Surprisingly, I was able to fold it a second time and discovered a bunch of paper that was useable for a facemask, a nice 3d head, was able to fashion a pair of airtanks of his back and some lovely flippers and…
“Scuba Steve” now lives – I have NO IDEA where i got the name from, but depressingly when I googled it it seems associated with an Adam Sandler movle – my bad. The name stuck.
I am actually pretty proud of this model – i knew where I was going and, without reference to anything else I have folded (well, maybe the arms and legs are influenced by the Hoodie) I think this is pretty neat.
A PADI AOW diver in Florida offered to professionally diagram it for me (which is kind of cool, we shall see if that results in anything – he is a renowned origami author, fingers crossed).
Here is an interim set of instructions: scubasteve (PDF)
Addendum: Version 4 has been submitted to OrigamiUSA and 4Esquinas (the Latin American Origami Society) also seem interested in publishing it – we shall see. Interestingly because it has already been mentioned online, Creased magazine does not want to touch it – curious but fair enough.
Now I am the first to admit I am an out and proud Harry Potter fan. I have consumed all the content JK Rowling has produced on the world of magical and muggle, and particularly like the use of Owl Post:
Looming is the release of Deathly Hollows part 2 and more recently mention of “Pottermore” which I hoped would be an MMO or immersive world because I thought it would be cool to play a character in that realm. sadly Pottermore will not be anywhere near as cool, but maybe more potterverse, but will watch with eager anticipation.
I found the Spanish origami Society’s magazine archive “Esquinas” – in it was this rather splendid owl. the instructions take a lot for granted, annotations in Spanish do not really help but I muggled through.
There is much to love about this model – it stands by itself, rather cheekily and I can imagine it perched on a branch or taking pride of place in an owlery, it has a lovely round tummy, some fascinating eyes (the next time I fold this, now I know what goes where I am sure I could fashion pupils etc) and the overall proportions are neat. this is a clever design because everything tucks inside and there were only a couple of errors in the diagrams that were easy to fix visually.
Now I am not sure if a Triceratops actually looks like this, not having actually seen one myself:
Even fossil records are a little bit hazy on these things, but this is a lovely model none the less. Nicely detailed head, reasonable body proportions and some real solidity to it – a rhinocerous would be afraid of this beastie.
A fascinating application of the offset preliminary base, with some neat swivel folds and one or two interesting sinks, I am very happy with the first fold of this model.
Not sure who the designer of this model was, collected it as a PDF ages back, but it is a keeper.
Why a triceratops? Well, most people who know me think I am a bit of a dinosaur myself at times – you get that, fair call.
Manuel emphatically suggests “Is no rat, is “Siberian Hampster, man is shop tell me” he insists – it cracks me up every time:
Fawlty Towers is not a show I can watch anymore, but a beloved memory is Manuel’s pet, “Basil” the rat, so I made one.
Curious and torturous fold this one – I stopped understanding the instructiosn and sort of winged it in all honesty – the Spanish with poorly drawn diagrams did my head in a bit, but I think I rescued a rat-like object from the chaos.
A deliciously complicated collapse does most of the work here, then it is mostly shaping – I made the mistake of using a 2×1 rectangle from an A4 page – it needed to be much larger, but you live and learn. When I fold this again I will be armed with the knowledge of what ends up where.
I can see much potential in this model – lots of paper for a nice tail, lovely head and ears, plenty of paper for legs – this base is a keeper.
Spock from Roddenberry’s Star Trek is famous for many things – wooden acting, pudding bowl haircut, extreme eyebrow waxing, pointy ears and green blood:
But his lines of dialogue are what does it for me: “It’s a type of space madness we have not seen before”, “Fascinating, Captain”, “It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it” …
A fairly effective caricature of Nimoy as Spock – may you live long and prosper.
You should have a go at this one yourself – http://www.spiraclemusic.com/webwalk/spock1.htm
