Origami is the oriental art of paper folding. It is very popular in many countries. People can make many different shapes with various paper sizes. You can make a spaceship, an airplane, a table, etc. The Japanese like folding paper cranes.
Origami doesn't discriminate. It's an activity or hobby that can be practiced by anybody. You can also choose to do with with just about any kind of foldable material, cardboard, construction board, etc. Different materials have different properties. Some are better for origami than others. Below us a list of several types of materials that can be used for origami.
Origami paper. The material meant specifically for origami is absolutely divine for simple models. It comes in a huge array of colors, patterns, and sizes. Almost all the sizes are perfectly square. Though, perhaps what is more important to those who are just beginning to try origami is that it's cheap.
Duo paper. Unlike others, this little darling has a different color or pattern on each side.
Harmony paper. This is a type of origami material that has a unique pattern. They are made of colors that fade into each other. Few use it because it is distracting.
Washi. This paper, which originated from Japan, is thicker than normal and some experience is necessary in order to fold it properly. However, it can produce masterworks that can last for years. "Washi" means handmade in Japanese.
Photocopy paper. Its greatest asset is that it is a cheap and ubiquitous. It's not a very good material for origami, but its attributes let practice to your hearts content.
Kraft paper. This is usually colored brown and it is packed in huge rolls. It's marvelous for folding. You'll find that it is available in many different colors.
Tracing paper. This thick material makes neat creases difficult to make, but it is ideal for bowls and vases.
Foil paper. White on one side, colored foil on the other. It's a very nice material but it's very hard to reverse the direction of a crease.
Canson. This is a high quality art paper. It comes in many different colors. It's perfect for use in large models.
Wyndstone paper. Despite the name, this did not come from dead elephants. Rather, it has a marbled effect. It is also called Elephant hide.
Money. Paper currency is really great for folding. It is meant to be tough and it shows. Find a cheap currency in your bank and trade your money in for low-denominated bills of that country. Money also comes in many different designs and colors.
Jonathan Russell is an artist and blogger that has been writing articles on many different topics for the last 2 years. You can find him contributing articles at Beginning Quilting Now a website dedicated to helping those who are beginning quilting.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_J_Russell
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Saturday, 31 March 2012
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Benefits of Origami
Origami began in China and Japan hundreds of years ago. It is an activity that has proven to be quite useful in various situations. Origami is an activity that costs very little but offers individuals a number of benefits. Here is a concept that requires creativity and imagination. Folding paper may not seem educational but in reality origami has been proven to improve reading and writing skills. It's also an activity that works on processing skills. In order to complete an origami project, an individual must first of all read and understand the instructions. They are then required to process the information they've gathered from the written material before beginning the folding steps. Once the project begins there is a need for logical reasoning as the person thinks about each fold and the following steps. Origami requires concentration and teaches people about sequencing.
Sequencing is part of the mathematical side of origami. This activity is used to work on individual's mathematical skills. Through the various origami designs and patterns, people are able to work with geometry and also learn about problem solving. In origami individuals work with measurements, fractions and symmetry. These are great concepts to practice, particularly in the classroom. For this reason origami is often used by teachers to demonstrate various mathematical concepts.
There are numerous benefits of origami. Another great asset of taking part in this activity is the development of fine motor skills. Many people use origami to help them get both hands working well together. Some individuals, especially those who suffer from disabling conditions have problems with their motor skills. Origami is a great way to improve these skills that are necessary for daily living.
The art of origami has been shown to help children and adults alike with essential issues such as self-confidence and social skills. Being able to complete an elaborate origami project allows the individual to feel proud and to experience the feeling of success. Realizing they were capable of finishing an origami composition, based on a set of written instructions is a huge accomplishment for some people. This procedure may be responsible for encouraging individuals to break out of their shell and become involved in group activities.
A good memory is needed for origami. Being demanded to recall specific sequences will help a person develop their ability to memorize details. Not only is their memory an important aspect of origami but it's also essential for the individual to be attentive. In order to complete the perfect project a person must pay attention to what they are doing. Paying attention and concentrating demands patience. Origami is not an activity for the impatient individual. To achieve the intended result several attempts may need to be made. Without patience the repetitive steps and continuous attempts may become too much to handle.
Origami may be an inexpensive hobby or teaching tool but it does require certain qualities in a person. As a teaching tool it can be used to work on these qualities. As a hobby origami can be used to challenge the individual and help them develop other skills.
Sequencing is part of the mathematical side of origami. This activity is used to work on individual's mathematical skills. Through the various origami designs and patterns, people are able to work with geometry and also learn about problem solving. In origami individuals work with measurements, fractions and symmetry. These are great concepts to practice, particularly in the classroom. For this reason origami is often used by teachers to demonstrate various mathematical concepts.
There are numerous benefits of origami. Another great asset of taking part in this activity is the development of fine motor skills. Many people use origami to help them get both hands working well together. Some individuals, especially those who suffer from disabling conditions have problems with their motor skills. Origami is a great way to improve these skills that are necessary for daily living.
The art of origami has been shown to help children and adults alike with essential issues such as self-confidence and social skills. Being able to complete an elaborate origami project allows the individual to feel proud and to experience the feeling of success. Realizing they were capable of finishing an origami composition, based on a set of written instructions is a huge accomplishment for some people. This procedure may be responsible for encouraging individuals to break out of their shell and become involved in group activities.
A good memory is needed for origami. Being demanded to recall specific sequences will help a person develop their ability to memorize details. Not only is their memory an important aspect of origami but it's also essential for the individual to be attentive. In order to complete the perfect project a person must pay attention to what they are doing. Paying attention and concentrating demands patience. Origami is not an activity for the impatient individual. To achieve the intended result several attempts may need to be made. Without patience the repetitive steps and continuous attempts may become too much to handle.
Origami may be an inexpensive hobby or teaching tool but it does require certain qualities in a person. As a teaching tool it can be used to work on these qualities. As a hobby origami can be used to challenge the individual and help them develop other skills.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Computational Origami
Origami is art. It is birds and animals and flowers. It is decoration for your dinner table or a basket to carry your picnic. It's a paper hat or boat to bring a smile to a small child. It's a container for storing your odds and ends. It's a clever presentation for a gift. Origami is mathematics. It is a puzzle, a challenge and an aid to teaching. Origami is therapy, its relaxation; it increases dexterity and develops patience. Origami is a lot of things. Now there is Computational Origami, an inspiration and a problem solver for commercial and industrial products.
Robert Lang is a physicist and origamist in California. He understood that some engineering problems resulted from the need to fold a large piece of material, without cutting it, and make it fit a flat surface, which is what origami is all about. One day Lang was approached by a German engineering company that had a problem and was hoping he had a solution. They had a very large airbag that needed to be fit into a small compartment in the steering wheel. Lang already had procedures designed for a computer to follow to flatten a set of polygons. He then applied those procedures to a three dimensional simulation of a large airbag resulting in a way to fold the airbag so that it would fit into the space allotted.
A professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Erik Demaine, is hoping that using computational origami to examine the way proteins fold will lead to a method of designing custom proteins that will fight diseases like Cystic Fibrosis. Although computational origami could be an effective tool in finding the how's and why's of proteins structures and their sequences, unfortunately, the computers available at this time don't have the speed and capacity that will be required to compare and map all the possibilities.
Cell phones keep getting smaller. More and more options are being added to cell phones. The cell phone is no longer just an instrument used to call for a tow truck. You can still make phone calls but you can also text message, take still photos, take video photos, listen to your favorite music or watch your favorite movie. One of the problems the manufacturer faced was that the consumer liked the small size of the phones but didn't want to have to watch a movie on a two-inch screen. Enter computational origami and the development of a small cell phone, which has a screen that unfolds when the phone is opened and folds back up when the case is closed. The same technology is being applied to a portable DVD player. Another product that uses the origami basics is a small portable unit about the size of a camcorder that can be folded and pivoted in different ways to perform eight electronic functions including digital camera, PDA or a videoconference terminal.
All kinds of containers and shipping boxes are cut from a single piece of cardboard, shipped flat and folded into shape when needed. One company even makes chairs that are self-contained. The packaging is part of the chair. When it arrives, you unfold the packaging, which forms the frame of the chair, remove the cushions and covers that were packed inside and you have a chair with no extra packing that has to be disposed of.
Robert Lang is a physicist and origamist in California. He understood that some engineering problems resulted from the need to fold a large piece of material, without cutting it, and make it fit a flat surface, which is what origami is all about. One day Lang was approached by a German engineering company that had a problem and was hoping he had a solution. They had a very large airbag that needed to be fit into a small compartment in the steering wheel. Lang already had procedures designed for a computer to follow to flatten a set of polygons. He then applied those procedures to a three dimensional simulation of a large airbag resulting in a way to fold the airbag so that it would fit into the space allotted.
A professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Erik Demaine, is hoping that using computational origami to examine the way proteins fold will lead to a method of designing custom proteins that will fight diseases like Cystic Fibrosis. Although computational origami could be an effective tool in finding the how's and why's of proteins structures and their sequences, unfortunately, the computers available at this time don't have the speed and capacity that will be required to compare and map all the possibilities.
Cell phones keep getting smaller. More and more options are being added to cell phones. The cell phone is no longer just an instrument used to call for a tow truck. You can still make phone calls but you can also text message, take still photos, take video photos, listen to your favorite music or watch your favorite movie. One of the problems the manufacturer faced was that the consumer liked the small size of the phones but didn't want to have to watch a movie on a two-inch screen. Enter computational origami and the development of a small cell phone, which has a screen that unfolds when the phone is opened and folds back up when the case is closed. The same technology is being applied to a portable DVD player. Another product that uses the origami basics is a small portable unit about the size of a camcorder that can be folded and pivoted in different ways to perform eight electronic functions including digital camera, PDA or a videoconference terminal.
All kinds of containers and shipping boxes are cut from a single piece of cardboard, shipped flat and folded into shape when needed. One company even makes chairs that are self-contained. The packaging is part of the chair. When it arrives, you unfold the packaging, which forms the frame of the chair, remove the cushions and covers that were packed inside and you have a chair with no extra packing that has to be disposed of.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Educational Benefits of Origami
No doubt it's difficult for a teacher to continuously make a subject, such as math interesting for their students. Many students, especially younger children find mathematics boring. One great way to spice up a math class is to introduce the art of origami. This activity will ensure the students have fun while learning many beneficial and educational things. First of all origami can be used as a history lesson and a look into other cultures such as the Japanese culture. This activity is very prominent in Japan and students can learn how this activity is used and why it is important there.
Educational benefits of origami include learning how to listen and be attentive. In order to ensure success in an origami project, the student must listen carefully to instructions and pay very close attention to their actions. Origami requires precision and neatness which will demand the student to be focused. These learning tools will teach a student to have pride in their work which will in turn promote self-esteem.
The art of origami has the potential to teach children cooperative learning. This too is an important lesson in the classroom as well as in life. Learning how to communicate and interact with others is essential. Origami is an activity that encourages students to help others. Some children will catch on to origami faster than others. Helping other students can promote feelings of pride and self-esteem. Of course the positive interaction is quite beneficial.
The mathematics of origami is significant. Using this activity is definitely an educational benefit in the area of math. Using just a single, flat piece of paper, the students will create objects that are three dimensional. This will require the students to use logical reasoning and explore mathematical aspects such as symmetry, algebra and geometry. The students, while doing origami will be learning these concepts perhaps without even realizing it. The art of paper folding involves the use of these three mathematical concepts which when practiced are educational benefits.
Origami encourages cognitive development. Practicing the art of origami requires students to use their motor skills. Using both hands; working together, the student must learn how to manipulate the paper to achieve their goal. The student must repeatedly carry out certain steps in order reach the suggested result. These actions require memory and motor skills, both necessary for the project and in every day life.
The educational benefits of origami are great. This activity when used in the classroom or in a school teaches students how to behave and get along in a group setting. It's also a terrific project to work on as a group activity and goal. It's imperative to teach students to maintain a healthy relationship with other students. It's essential to teach a group of students how to use their individual skills to achieve one goal.
To learn more about the educational benefits of origami, you can find plenty of valuable information on the Internet. Because this activity is being recognized for its many advantages, there is plenty of written material available both printed and on the Internet. Using one of the Internet's search engines, you can quickly be linked to a world of origami details.
Educational benefits of origami include learning how to listen and be attentive. In order to ensure success in an origami project, the student must listen carefully to instructions and pay very close attention to their actions. Origami requires precision and neatness which will demand the student to be focused. These learning tools will teach a student to have pride in their work which will in turn promote self-esteem.
The art of origami has the potential to teach children cooperative learning. This too is an important lesson in the classroom as well as in life. Learning how to communicate and interact with others is essential. Origami is an activity that encourages students to help others. Some children will catch on to origami faster than others. Helping other students can promote feelings of pride and self-esteem. Of course the positive interaction is quite beneficial.
The mathematics of origami is significant. Using this activity is definitely an educational benefit in the area of math. Using just a single, flat piece of paper, the students will create objects that are three dimensional. This will require the students to use logical reasoning and explore mathematical aspects such as symmetry, algebra and geometry. The students, while doing origami will be learning these concepts perhaps without even realizing it. The art of paper folding involves the use of these three mathematical concepts which when practiced are educational benefits.
Origami encourages cognitive development. Practicing the art of origami requires students to use their motor skills. Using both hands; working together, the student must learn how to manipulate the paper to achieve their goal. The student must repeatedly carry out certain steps in order reach the suggested result. These actions require memory and motor skills, both necessary for the project and in every day life.
The educational benefits of origami are great. This activity when used in the classroom or in a school teaches students how to behave and get along in a group setting. It's also a terrific project to work on as a group activity and goal. It's imperative to teach students to maintain a healthy relationship with other students. It's essential to teach a group of students how to use their individual skills to achieve one goal.
To learn more about the educational benefits of origami, you can find plenty of valuable information on the Internet. Because this activity is being recognized for its many advantages, there is plenty of written material available both printed and on the Internet. Using one of the Internet's search engines, you can quickly be linked to a world of origami details.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Finding Information about Origami
Origami, initially used as a hobby or pastime has various uses in today's society. This art form is still enjoyed by many as a hobby however it has found a place in other different areas. Because it includes mathematics, origami is used in schools to teach children. Using origami as a teaching tool helps to make learning math more enjoyable. This activity is also used by medical professionals for various types of therapy including therapies for mental health patients. Origami is also used in the technical world as well.
Where would people find information about origami? Since origami is primarily considered art or crafting, a good place to look for details might be in an arts and crafts store. A store such as this usually sells a selection of any and all crafting activities. A store such as this will likely sell origami materials and instruction booklets. If visiting an arts and crafts store and learning they do not carry origami supplies, it's likely a salesperson can point the individual in the right direction.
Information about origami can probably be obtained from a library. Since this activity is used by many people in society, the library will certainly carry some literature about it. Many articles that are written about origami have references provided that will lead to even more details about the activity.
Magazines are a great source or information about origami. There are many craft magazine publications, some printed on a weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc. basis. Browsing these various magazines a person will likely find beneficial origami details. Other magazines that might have information about origami are mathematical and technical publications. Because this concept is used in many modern day situations, occasionally these magazines may print related articles.
If looking for information about origami, a person's best bet is to search the web. The Internet provides a worldwide database for just about any subject imaginable. One great of advantage of searching the Internet is the search engine. There are different search engines provided on the Internet such as Google and Yahoo. Using either of these search engines a person could quickly find information about origami. Searching the relevant websites would educate people regarding the usefulness of the art of origami. They would learn that this popular activity is not just a form of art but a form of therapy, rehabilitation and education as well. When connected to an origami-related website there will likely be links provided to similar sites. If really interested in learning about this activity, an individual has ample opportunity if using the Internet. This resource can also put people in touch with origami information in the community.
There are many towns and cities that host regular origami events which include competitions. Art shows are also great places to look for details and examples of origami compositions. People who design origami compositions and create unique objects will frequently display them at art galleries and art shows. To learn what is possible in the world of origami, an art gallery would definitely be a great place to visit.
Where would people find information about origami? Since origami is primarily considered art or crafting, a good place to look for details might be in an arts and crafts store. A store such as this usually sells a selection of any and all crafting activities. A store such as this will likely sell origami materials and instruction booklets. If visiting an arts and crafts store and learning they do not carry origami supplies, it's likely a salesperson can point the individual in the right direction.
Information about origami can probably be obtained from a library. Since this activity is used by many people in society, the library will certainly carry some literature about it. Many articles that are written about origami have references provided that will lead to even more details about the activity.
Magazines are a great source or information about origami. There are many craft magazine publications, some printed on a weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc. basis. Browsing these various magazines a person will likely find beneficial origami details. Other magazines that might have information about origami are mathematical and technical publications. Because this concept is used in many modern day situations, occasionally these magazines may print related articles.
If looking for information about origami, a person's best bet is to search the web. The Internet provides a worldwide database for just about any subject imaginable. One great of advantage of searching the Internet is the search engine. There are different search engines provided on the Internet such as Google and Yahoo. Using either of these search engines a person could quickly find information about origami. Searching the relevant websites would educate people regarding the usefulness of the art of origami. They would learn that this popular activity is not just a form of art but a form of therapy, rehabilitation and education as well. When connected to an origami-related website there will likely be links provided to similar sites. If really interested in learning about this activity, an individual has ample opportunity if using the Internet. This resource can also put people in touch with origami information in the community.
There are many towns and cities that host regular origami events which include competitions. Art shows are also great places to look for details and examples of origami compositions. People who design origami compositions and create unique objects will frequently display them at art galleries and art shows. To learn what is possible in the world of origami, an art gallery would definitely be a great place to visit.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Is Origami For You?
Origami is a fascinating activity which involves folding paper in specific patterns and sequences to achieve a particular goal. However interesting it may be for some people doesn't mean origami is for you. This activity requires the individual to possess or work on certain skills. In order to take on any origami project you must be patient. These projects take time and you need to be focused and capable of concentrating. This step-by-step or sequencing process needs to be followed to the letter. If you aren't someone who likes to follow instructions, origami is definitely not for you.
How are you with problem solving? How about logical thinking? Both of these skills are needed in order to make origami, especially advanced origami a success. The individual needs to be able to look beyond the current step and know what should come next. They need to be capable of forecasting the outcome of each step of the origami process. If a mistake is made or a step is skipped, it is quite helpful if the person can figure out where they went wrong. Again patience is needed since an origami project or particular portions of the project may need to be repeated several times.
Other advantages of origami have been seen in people with behavioral issues and problems interacting with others. Do you fall into either of these categories or do you know someone who does? If so origami may be able to help. Origami has been shown to help people develop social skills by taking part in a group project where they are compelled to help each other. Therapists have found that origami is a great way to break the ice and build bridges. Origami can make a person stop and think instead of making rash decisions.
Are you are person who likes to set goals? Are you someone who needs something to work towards? Origami is a great activity for goal setting. Looking at a picture of the intended outcome provides the individual with a motive to complete a project. With each fold they are closer to their goal. Once the object is finished and the goal is reached, they experience a sense of achievement. Goal setting is great to teach children as well. Achieving a goal helps them to feel empowered and equipped for the next new challenge.
Is origami for you? Only you can answer that question. It is certainly worth trying. You may like it or you may hate it. However if you'd like to learn more about origami before attempting your first project, why not log onto the Internet and take a look at just what you are signing up for. There are hundreds of origami-related websites. Some of these sites are created by people who use origami as a hobby. Other sites are created by serious origamists, people who are considered to be origami artists. Browsing the information and pictures provided on these websites may help you make a decision as to whether or not origami is right for you.
How are you with problem solving? How about logical thinking? Both of these skills are needed in order to make origami, especially advanced origami a success. The individual needs to be able to look beyond the current step and know what should come next. They need to be capable of forecasting the outcome of each step of the origami process. If a mistake is made or a step is skipped, it is quite helpful if the person can figure out where they went wrong. Again patience is needed since an origami project or particular portions of the project may need to be repeated several times.
Other advantages of origami have been seen in people with behavioral issues and problems interacting with others. Do you fall into either of these categories or do you know someone who does? If so origami may be able to help. Origami has been shown to help people develop social skills by taking part in a group project where they are compelled to help each other. Therapists have found that origami is a great way to break the ice and build bridges. Origami can make a person stop and think instead of making rash decisions.
Are you are person who likes to set goals? Are you someone who needs something to work towards? Origami is a great activity for goal setting. Looking at a picture of the intended outcome provides the individual with a motive to complete a project. With each fold they are closer to their goal. Once the object is finished and the goal is reached, they experience a sense of achievement. Goal setting is great to teach children as well. Achieving a goal helps them to feel empowered and equipped for the next new challenge.
Is origami for you? Only you can answer that question. It is certainly worth trying. You may like it or you may hate it. However if you'd like to learn more about origami before attempting your first project, why not log onto the Internet and take a look at just what you are signing up for. There are hundreds of origami-related websites. Some of these sites are created by people who use origami as a hobby. Other sites are created by serious origamists, people who are considered to be origami artists. Browsing the information and pictures provided on these websites may help you make a decision as to whether or not origami is right for you.
Friday, 9 March 2012
Modern Origami
Traditional origami has always been shrouded in secrecy, with instruction being given orally and passed down from generation to generation. Modern origamists regard their models as designs that deserve recognition, meant to be seen and appreciated.
Uchiyama Koko, one of the early modern origamists went so far as to patent his models. Many modern origamists believe that the folding sequences should be viewed as intellectual property. Modern origami holds the creativity of the designers in high regard and has a great appreciation for the folders. One of the most important aspects of modern origami is that the models can be easily reproduced. The diagrams of the folding sequence correspond to the models themselves and having the complete sequence in the exact order is vital to the folder who needs to recreate the model the way it was meant to be. What diagrams there were in the traditional origami did not always show the complete sequences.
Modern origamists prefer to use the pure single sheet origami. Using only Origami paper, no glue, and no scissors. Using more than one sheet of paper is acceptable only if all the sheets of paper were the same size and no glue was used in the process.
In the 50's and 60's a group comprised of creators and folders established and international origami group to promote the popularity of origami. This group went on to form local as well as national organizations and also published the models of American, Japanese and European designers.
Artistic Origami
To the mathematicians and modern origamists origami is a puzzle. They see squares, triangles and rectangles that they can manipulate geometrically. They see competition as to who can develop the most intricate design. On the other hand the artistic origamists are more concerned with the figure's expressiveness and creativity. They are concerned only with the beauty of the model and don't intend their pieces to be done over and over again by others. The artistic origamist's concern is bringing out the expression of the paper. The paper itself is extremely important to their work. They employ methods like wet folding, cutting edges or making their own paper. Unlike the mathematician or even the modern origamist they are not concerned with sequences or the ability to reproduce any model. They feel it is their design and their expression and it is meant to be seen and appreciated not mass produced. Also since every folder has a slightly different touch and technique an artistic origamist's piece would be almost impossible to duplicate.
Many of the Origami models back in the Edo era were made possible only due to the use of Washi. Washi is a very strong Japanese paper, which unlike the western papers didn't tear easily when being folded. Without the Washi paper the folders would have been unable to do models such as The Catfish or the Water Lily. Besides the creativity and the expressiveness the folder's sincerity was an important factor when it came to ceremonial origami.
Uchiyama Koko, one of the early modern origamists went so far as to patent his models. Many modern origamists believe that the folding sequences should be viewed as intellectual property. Modern origami holds the creativity of the designers in high regard and has a great appreciation for the folders. One of the most important aspects of modern origami is that the models can be easily reproduced. The diagrams of the folding sequence correspond to the models themselves and having the complete sequence in the exact order is vital to the folder who needs to recreate the model the way it was meant to be. What diagrams there were in the traditional origami did not always show the complete sequences.
Modern origamists prefer to use the pure single sheet origami. Using only Origami paper, no glue, and no scissors. Using more than one sheet of paper is acceptable only if all the sheets of paper were the same size and no glue was used in the process.
In the 50's and 60's a group comprised of creators and folders established and international origami group to promote the popularity of origami. This group went on to form local as well as national organizations and also published the models of American, Japanese and European designers.
Artistic Origami
To the mathematicians and modern origamists origami is a puzzle. They see squares, triangles and rectangles that they can manipulate geometrically. They see competition as to who can develop the most intricate design. On the other hand the artistic origamists are more concerned with the figure's expressiveness and creativity. They are concerned only with the beauty of the model and don't intend their pieces to be done over and over again by others. The artistic origamist's concern is bringing out the expression of the paper. The paper itself is extremely important to their work. They employ methods like wet folding, cutting edges or making their own paper. Unlike the mathematician or even the modern origamist they are not concerned with sequences or the ability to reproduce any model. They feel it is their design and their expression and it is meant to be seen and appreciated not mass produced. Also since every folder has a slightly different touch and technique an artistic origamist's piece would be almost impossible to duplicate.
Many of the Origami models back in the Edo era were made possible only due to the use of Washi. Washi is a very strong Japanese paper, which unlike the western papers didn't tear easily when being folded. Without the Washi paper the folders would have been unable to do models such as The Catfish or the Water Lily. Besides the creativity and the expressiveness the folder's sincerity was an important factor when it came to ceremonial origami.
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Notable Origamists
Yoshizawa, a Japanese artist helped revive the art of origami when he developed a process of dampening the paper so he could mold sculptural forms. He called the process "wet folding". With his geometric skills, great imagination and precision he created magnificent dragons, elephants and birds using a single sheet of paper. His directions for folding have been cited in a great number of origami primers. Yoshizawa received world recognition in the 1950's and later was the cultural ambassador for Japan.
Issey Miyake is a fashion designer who's unique style merged eastern fashion with western by incorporating the concepts of origami into his creations. In 1993 he designed two clothing lines, one called "Pleats Please" and the other "A POC" (A Piece of Cloth). Pleats Please was a clothing style that allowed for unrestricted movement without the fabric losing its shape. A POC was a piece of cloth that was woven from a single thread. This was accomplished by a weaving machine that was programmed by a computer. The A POC wasn't released commercially until 1999. In 2006, the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Literature for lifetime achievement was awarded to Miyake for his designs, this being the first time the award was ever given to a fashion designer.
While he was still in kindergarten Hojo Takashi was introduced to origami for the first time. Later when he was in junior high he read the book Viva Origami that showed him the vast possibilities of the art of origami and increased his dedication to the art. Throughout his lifetime he has used the wet folding techniques invented by Yoshizawa and created unique figures with soft curves that have had a great emotional impact of the people who see them.
Unusual Uses for Origami
Furniture: Dakota Jackson designed a chair for the Lane Company, called the Coda, that was made from folded paper. Recently a chair, whose base is actually the packaging it is shipped in was developed using principles of origami. This was done in an effort to cut down on the amount of packing material that had to be disposed of. Just unfold the packaging to form the base of the chair, add the cushions and covers that are packed inside and your chair is ready for use with nothing that has to be thrown out or recycled.
Buildings: Fumihiko Maki designed the Kirishima International Concert Hall. This hall was built using the architect's trademark brushed silver surfaces and was located on a secluded mountain site. In a style that resembled an origami figure the building had "folded" stainless steel planes that peaked into one of his "cloud" roofs. Yokohama International Port Terminal which was designed by Foreign Office Architects is another building that had a steel plate ceiling that resembled folded origami paper.
Therapy: Origami has been used in both physical and mental therapy sessions. It has been found to be flexible and convenient, readily accepted, simple, safe and helpful for evaluating things like concentration levels, degrees of cooperation and ability to solve problems. It is also useful as a relaxation tool.
Issey Miyake is a fashion designer who's unique style merged eastern fashion with western by incorporating the concepts of origami into his creations. In 1993 he designed two clothing lines, one called "Pleats Please" and the other "A POC" (A Piece of Cloth). Pleats Please was a clothing style that allowed for unrestricted movement without the fabric losing its shape. A POC was a piece of cloth that was woven from a single thread. This was accomplished by a weaving machine that was programmed by a computer. The A POC wasn't released commercially until 1999. In 2006, the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Literature for lifetime achievement was awarded to Miyake for his designs, this being the first time the award was ever given to a fashion designer.
While he was still in kindergarten Hojo Takashi was introduced to origami for the first time. Later when he was in junior high he read the book Viva Origami that showed him the vast possibilities of the art of origami and increased his dedication to the art. Throughout his lifetime he has used the wet folding techniques invented by Yoshizawa and created unique figures with soft curves that have had a great emotional impact of the people who see them.
Unusual Uses for Origami
Furniture: Dakota Jackson designed a chair for the Lane Company, called the Coda, that was made from folded paper. Recently a chair, whose base is actually the packaging it is shipped in was developed using principles of origami. This was done in an effort to cut down on the amount of packing material that had to be disposed of. Just unfold the packaging to form the base of the chair, add the cushions and covers that are packed inside and your chair is ready for use with nothing that has to be thrown out or recycled.
Buildings: Fumihiko Maki designed the Kirishima International Concert Hall. This hall was built using the architect's trademark brushed silver surfaces and was located on a secluded mountain site. In a style that resembled an origami figure the building had "folded" stainless steel planes that peaked into one of his "cloud" roofs. Yokohama International Port Terminal which was designed by Foreign Office Architects is another building that had a steel plate ceiling that resembled folded origami paper.
Therapy: Origami has been used in both physical and mental therapy sessions. It has been found to be flexible and convenient, readily accepted, simple, safe and helpful for evaluating things like concentration levels, degrees of cooperation and ability to solve problems. It is also useful as a relaxation tool.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Origami as a Hobby
Are you looking for a new and interesting hobby? Have you tried crafts such as knitting, cross-stitching, building model cars or paint-by-number? Are you finding your current hobby isn't challenging you or perhaps it's too expensive to continue? There are many reasons people decide to choose a new hobby. One enjoyable and inexpensive hobby to consider is origami. Origami is an ancient idea that began in the early 1600's. This activity began in either China or Japan. The exact location is still unknown. However Japan is recognized for its highly developed origami art. What originally began as a pastime has been transformed into a form of art that is admired by many.
Origami involves making a given number of folds and creases in a single piece of paper. This can be achieved in basic origami projects such as a paper airplane or demonstrated in complex origami projects such as spaceships. How deeply involved in origami as a hobby an individual would like to become depends totally on their interest. Origami as a hobby can be time-consuming if a person gets into the advanced forms of the art.
Origami can begin as a hobby but turn into an obsession. Some people get so involved in their projects and developing their origami skills. Once they begin to design their own origami compositions, people find themselves entering contests and competitions to showcase their work. Going beyond the point of using origami as a hobby can put a person in the category of a serious origami artist. This is great if that is what the individual wants and enjoys.
When a person chooses origami as a hobby, they are choosing an activity with plenty of hidden benefits. Unknown to them perhaps, they are choosing to develop skills in awareness, concentration, patience and creativity. This is a great hobby for children to be involved it. It helps them develop reading and writing skills, teaches them about sequencing, as well as teaching them to concentrate, be patient, be attentive and use their imagination. Because children tend to change their minds quite often, choosing origami as a hobby is a smart choice since it is relatively inexpensive. If the child tries it for awhile and decides they don't like it, there is no big concern about the initial investment for materials. To get a child started with origami, using plain computer paper would be a good idea. Until you are certain it is something they'd like to continue, perhaps you should stick with using inexpensive paper.
If you think you'd like to try origami as a hobby, the Internet is a great source of information regarding this activity. There are hundreds of sites filled with valuable tips and advice about choosing and completing origami projects. There are sites which provide free origami diagrams and instructions for you to download and print. There are sites where you can buy origami materials and order books written by serious origamists. Using search engines such as Google and Yahoo can quickly link you to a world of beneficial information about the art of origami.
Origami involves making a given number of folds and creases in a single piece of paper. This can be achieved in basic origami projects such as a paper airplane or demonstrated in complex origami projects such as spaceships. How deeply involved in origami as a hobby an individual would like to become depends totally on their interest. Origami as a hobby can be time-consuming if a person gets into the advanced forms of the art.
Origami can begin as a hobby but turn into an obsession. Some people get so involved in their projects and developing their origami skills. Once they begin to design their own origami compositions, people find themselves entering contests and competitions to showcase their work. Going beyond the point of using origami as a hobby can put a person in the category of a serious origami artist. This is great if that is what the individual wants and enjoys.
When a person chooses origami as a hobby, they are choosing an activity with plenty of hidden benefits. Unknown to them perhaps, they are choosing to develop skills in awareness, concentration, patience and creativity. This is a great hobby for children to be involved it. It helps them develop reading and writing skills, teaches them about sequencing, as well as teaching them to concentrate, be patient, be attentive and use their imagination. Because children tend to change their minds quite often, choosing origami as a hobby is a smart choice since it is relatively inexpensive. If the child tries it for awhile and decides they don't like it, there is no big concern about the initial investment for materials. To get a child started with origami, using plain computer paper would be a good idea. Until you are certain it is something they'd like to continue, perhaps you should stick with using inexpensive paper.
If you think you'd like to try origami as a hobby, the Internet is a great source of information regarding this activity. There are hundreds of sites filled with valuable tips and advice about choosing and completing origami projects. There are sites which provide free origami diagrams and instructions for you to download and print. There are sites where you can buy origami materials and order books written by serious origamists. Using search engines such as Google and Yahoo can quickly link you to a world of beneficial information about the art of origami.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Origami Expresses Individuality
Origami, considered the Japanese art of paper folding has long been and continues to be a fun and educational activity. There are different levels of origami from very basic to extremely complex. Little did you know that when you were making a paper airplane as a child, you were doing an origami project. This is an example of basic origami. Many people's interest in folding paper stops at the paper airplane. However for many other people, origami is quite fascinating. These people take their interest to more advanced origami projects.
Origami falls in the category or art. Of course it's common knowledge that art is a way for a person to express themselves. Through art projects such as origami, a person's individuality is revealed. This can be accomplished by using the origami skills you have and designing your very own composition. For the many people who work tirelessly on their compositions, the end result certainly brings a sense of accomplishment.
Designing origami requires vision. An individual must be capable of visualizing what the outcome ought to look like before making a single fold. It is then up to the artist to figure out what steps or folds needs to be made in order to accomplish their goal. This definitely requires plenty of thought, concentration and problem solving. It allows the individual to devise their own plan and create a plan of their own to achieve the final outcome.
Origami expresses individuality when an artist chooses to use different papers and colors. Although a project might be similar in style to another, it can be made unique by using alternate techniques for example, by using wet folds instead of dry folds. Wet folding permits the artist to sculpt the origami project to satisfy their personal objectives. To make a composition more interesting an artist might choose patterned paper or foil-backed paper. There are many things an artist can do to express their individuality.
Serious origami artists often compete in competitions. Here is a place, a competition, where people showcase origami that expresses individuality. This is an opportunity to compare their work with other artists. It's also a great place to get new ideas that can later be used to create individual pieces. Art galleries frequently display origami work. Again, this is another good source for new ideas and techniques.
The Internet has many sites related to the art of origami. Many serious artists have websites of their own where they showcase their creations. These sites will certainly have vivid photos of origami that expresses individuality. You may be surprised at the objects that can actually be made using origami. You'll be amazed as you browse the various origami-related sites. If you are interested in learning how to do this activity or if you are looking for new ideas, it would be worthwhile to log on to the Internet and begin searching. With websites created by people worldwide, you'll be tapping into the best in the art of origami.
Origami falls in the category or art. Of course it's common knowledge that art is a way for a person to express themselves. Through art projects such as origami, a person's individuality is revealed. This can be accomplished by using the origami skills you have and designing your very own composition. For the many people who work tirelessly on their compositions, the end result certainly brings a sense of accomplishment.
Designing origami requires vision. An individual must be capable of visualizing what the outcome ought to look like before making a single fold. It is then up to the artist to figure out what steps or folds needs to be made in order to accomplish their goal. This definitely requires plenty of thought, concentration and problem solving. It allows the individual to devise their own plan and create a plan of their own to achieve the final outcome.
Origami expresses individuality when an artist chooses to use different papers and colors. Although a project might be similar in style to another, it can be made unique by using alternate techniques for example, by using wet folds instead of dry folds. Wet folding permits the artist to sculpt the origami project to satisfy their personal objectives. To make a composition more interesting an artist might choose patterned paper or foil-backed paper. There are many things an artist can do to express their individuality.
Serious origami artists often compete in competitions. Here is a place, a competition, where people showcase origami that expresses individuality. This is an opportunity to compare their work with other artists. It's also a great place to get new ideas that can later be used to create individual pieces. Art galleries frequently display origami work. Again, this is another good source for new ideas and techniques.
The Internet has many sites related to the art of origami. Many serious artists have websites of their own where they showcase their creations. These sites will certainly have vivid photos of origami that expresses individuality. You may be surprised at the objects that can actually be made using origami. You'll be amazed as you browse the various origami-related sites. If you are interested in learning how to do this activity or if you are looking for new ideas, it would be worthwhile to log on to the Internet and begin searching. With websites created by people worldwide, you'll be tapping into the best in the art of origami.
Monday, 5 March 2012
Origami for Children
As far back as the mid 1800's it was discovered that origami was a delightful project for young children. Besides teaching eye hand coordination and developing concentration the child had a toy they had made themselves when they were finished. With practice a child of any age can even create a number of the more advanced figures.
For young children there is often the satisfaction of being able to fold a piece of paper into a figure that they aren't yet capable of drawing. Origami teaches children much more than just how to make cute toys. They learn dexterity, they learn to listen and follow directions. They learn creativity and perception and surprisingly they learn to relax. In a world where so much is rushed, sitting quietly and folding paper figures can bring a sense of balance and peace to even young children.
When doing origami with young children it is important to remember certain things:
1. Practice folding the figures you plan to teach them yourself so you can pick out the steps that may cause them problems.
2. Some figures may need to be slightly simplified for younger children. Maybe just leaving out the final finishing steps will help.
3. Have a light friendly workplace for the children and plenty of materials
4. Be sure to explain each fold in simple words, showing them (possibly on a large piece of paper) what they need to do each step of the way.
5. You want to be sure the children understand what they need to do and make sure you give them enough time to work it out themselves - don't jump in too quickly to help them.
6. Let them try to fix their own mistakes without too much assistance. Let them know they can "try again" as many times as they need.
7. Children enjoy the repetition and they need time and repetition to work things out
8. Praise, praise and more praise - if the figure is somewhat crooked or a little wrinkled, so what?
9. Let the child express what he thinks of his piece. Everyone has different taste and opinions as to what is nice.
10. Children and abstract forms don't always mix well. If it helps to let them color or paint faces on their animals - let them!
Some tips for beginners - pick a well lighted relaxing area to work in, start with simple figures and work your way up (some figures will have both simple and advanced instructions for the same animal). Don't use really good paper to start with and for true beginners one of the best pieces of advice is to start with a larger piece of paper than what is called for. Make your folds as sharp and precise as possible, press down on the center of the fold with one finger then run a finger from your other hand across the fold in both directions. You can give your piece a somewhat different look or create an entirely different piece just by making a fold in a slightly different place.
For young children there is often the satisfaction of being able to fold a piece of paper into a figure that they aren't yet capable of drawing. Origami teaches children much more than just how to make cute toys. They learn dexterity, they learn to listen and follow directions. They learn creativity and perception and surprisingly they learn to relax. In a world where so much is rushed, sitting quietly and folding paper figures can bring a sense of balance and peace to even young children.
When doing origami with young children it is important to remember certain things:
1. Practice folding the figures you plan to teach them yourself so you can pick out the steps that may cause them problems.
2. Some figures may need to be slightly simplified for younger children. Maybe just leaving out the final finishing steps will help.
3. Have a light friendly workplace for the children and plenty of materials
4. Be sure to explain each fold in simple words, showing them (possibly on a large piece of paper) what they need to do each step of the way.
5. You want to be sure the children understand what they need to do and make sure you give them enough time to work it out themselves - don't jump in too quickly to help them.
6. Let them try to fix their own mistakes without too much assistance. Let them know they can "try again" as many times as they need.
7. Children enjoy the repetition and they need time and repetition to work things out
8. Praise, praise and more praise - if the figure is somewhat crooked or a little wrinkled, so what?
9. Let the child express what he thinks of his piece. Everyone has different taste and opinions as to what is nice.
10. Children and abstract forms don't always mix well. If it helps to let them color or paint faces on their animals - let them!
Some tips for beginners - pick a well lighted relaxing area to work in, start with simple figures and work your way up (some figures will have both simple and advanced instructions for the same animal). Don't use really good paper to start with and for true beginners one of the best pieces of advice is to start with a larger piece of paper than what is called for. Make your folds as sharp and precise as possible, press down on the center of the fold with one finger then run a finger from your other hand across the fold in both directions. You can give your piece a somewhat different look or create an entirely different piece just by making a fold in a slightly different place.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Origami is Good for You
Origami, the art of paper folding has proven to be so much more than just a beautiful craft idea. Origami is good for you. This realization has been taken to the classroom and used by many teachers to broaden the student's way of thinking. Origami compels the student to develop skills in an interesting way. This activity teaches skills that are necessary and beneficial in every day living.
Patience is something that we all need to learn. Each and every day, whether at school, at work, at home or at the grocery store, people need to practice patience. This is difficult for some individuals, especially for the child who is waiting their turn for the swing for example. Origami can be used to instill this importance of patience in both children and adults alike. Because this activity requires careful attention and precise folds, it cannot be rushed if hoping to achieve the intended result. One must be very patient when attempting an origami project.
Attentiveness or awareness is also essential in our daily existence. Whatever environment we find ourselves in it is important to be aware of the situation and activity around you. The art of origami teaches people to be aware and to pay attention. This is imperative in order to complete an origami project accurately. In a group setting the instructions are normally relayed by one person for example a teacher or instructor. To know which folds to make, the student or individual needs to listen attentively. This is a good practice for anyone.
Origami is great for fine tuning motor skills. This activity requires an individual to use their hands, both hands to fold the paper in order to achieve their goal. Our hands are needed to do just about everything. Origami would be beneficial for people who are experiencing difficulties with their hands, especially where fine motor skills are required.
Sequencing is important to learn. No matter what activity a person sets out to do there are steps to be taken. If the third step is taken before the first, it's unlikely the outcome will be favorable. Let's use baking a cake for example. First of all the ingredients need to go in the bowl, then they need to be mixed adequately and then put in a pan to bake. If the ingredients were all thrown into the baking pan without first of all being mixed, the result would be a mess not a cake. The same idea works with origami. If steps are skipped the results would be less than expected.
Origami is good for kids and their self-esteem. Kids are easily intimidated by other kids. Being able to complete an origami project can be gratifying for children. Realizing they independently created a work of art can make them proud. Not only will they feel proud but they may feel equipped to take on projects that otherwise may have been avoided. There'll definitely come a day when everyone will be demanded to work independently. Origami projects are good for you.
Patience is something that we all need to learn. Each and every day, whether at school, at work, at home or at the grocery store, people need to practice patience. This is difficult for some individuals, especially for the child who is waiting their turn for the swing for example. Origami can be used to instill this importance of patience in both children and adults alike. Because this activity requires careful attention and precise folds, it cannot be rushed if hoping to achieve the intended result. One must be very patient when attempting an origami project.
Attentiveness or awareness is also essential in our daily existence. Whatever environment we find ourselves in it is important to be aware of the situation and activity around you. The art of origami teaches people to be aware and to pay attention. This is imperative in order to complete an origami project accurately. In a group setting the instructions are normally relayed by one person for example a teacher or instructor. To know which folds to make, the student or individual needs to listen attentively. This is a good practice for anyone.
Origami is great for fine tuning motor skills. This activity requires an individual to use their hands, both hands to fold the paper in order to achieve their goal. Our hands are needed to do just about everything. Origami would be beneficial for people who are experiencing difficulties with their hands, especially where fine motor skills are required.
Sequencing is important to learn. No matter what activity a person sets out to do there are steps to be taken. If the third step is taken before the first, it's unlikely the outcome will be favorable. Let's use baking a cake for example. First of all the ingredients need to go in the bowl, then they need to be mixed adequately and then put in a pan to bake. If the ingredients were all thrown into the baking pan without first of all being mixed, the result would be a mess not a cake. The same idea works with origami. If steps are skipped the results would be less than expected.
Origami is good for kids and their self-esteem. Kids are easily intimidated by other kids. Being able to complete an origami project can be gratifying for children. Realizing they independently created a work of art can make them proud. Not only will they feel proud but they may feel equipped to take on projects that otherwise may have been avoided. There'll definitely come a day when everyone will be demanded to work independently. Origami projects are good for you.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Origami in Spain
The Spanish philosopher Miguel Unamuno wrote an essay on origami from a philosophical point of view. Miguel discovered the bird base and then discovered the sideways turn which enabled him to produce a string of birds and animals. His figures were quite angular and without the graceful forms of the later origamists. Fortunately for Miguel the ban on representational origami that had been in effect had expired or he would not have been allowed to design these birds and animals. Miguel went on to create original models including vultures and gorillas. Paper folding was virtually unheard of outside of Spain and Argentina at this point in time but by the 1030's Miguel's followers had helped to spread his art to the people of South America.
Origami in Germany
The German founder of the Kindergarten Movement, Friedrich Froebel brought paper folding into the kindergarten classroom primarily as an entertainment for the children. The children were taught three types of paper folding. The first was mathematical origami. The second, was the traditional origami and the third, was primarily decorative origami. The word origami was never used at this time; the activity was referred to as Papierfalten (paper folding). It wasn't until after his death that his followers spread the art of origami throughout Germany.
Origami in the East
There is still debate as to whether paper folding had spread from Japan to China or from China to Japan. Those who feel it was originated in China believe that the Chinese had been practicing the craft as far back as the second century and it didn't reach Japan until around the 6th century. Regardless of whether origami originated in China or Japan the one thing that is agreed upon is that it was initially a pastime reserved for the wealthy. Because paper was so expensive it wasn't something that was within the reach of the middle and lower classes. As the Chinese trade expanded and paper became more affordable the craft became something to be enjoyed by people of all classes.
Origami in the West
The art of Paper folding was brought to Spain by the Moors and Muslims of North Africa, however, because their religion did not allow the making of any representative figures, the Spanish were instructed on more of the geometric and ceremonial aspects of the craft. There was a good deal of ceremonial origami but the artistic aspects of the craft stayed undeveloped until the ban was eventually lifted.
In the early years in the western nations origami was looked at as a child's pastime and even the books that dealt with the subject were aimed at youngsters. In Victorian England children loved origami. They practiced origami in the classrooms and there were even children's stories like Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass that contained drawings of origami hats (a pillbox and a three cornered hat). Again as time went on the art spread to adults who became fascinated either by its artistic or its mathematical features.
Origami in Germany
The German founder of the Kindergarten Movement, Friedrich Froebel brought paper folding into the kindergarten classroom primarily as an entertainment for the children. The children were taught three types of paper folding. The first was mathematical origami. The second, was the traditional origami and the third, was primarily decorative origami. The word origami was never used at this time; the activity was referred to as Papierfalten (paper folding). It wasn't until after his death that his followers spread the art of origami throughout Germany.
Origami in the East
There is still debate as to whether paper folding had spread from Japan to China or from China to Japan. Those who feel it was originated in China believe that the Chinese had been practicing the craft as far back as the second century and it didn't reach Japan until around the 6th century. Regardless of whether origami originated in China or Japan the one thing that is agreed upon is that it was initially a pastime reserved for the wealthy. Because paper was so expensive it wasn't something that was within the reach of the middle and lower classes. As the Chinese trade expanded and paper became more affordable the craft became something to be enjoyed by people of all classes.
Origami in the West
The art of Paper folding was brought to Spain by the Moors and Muslims of North Africa, however, because their religion did not allow the making of any representative figures, the Spanish were instructed on more of the geometric and ceremonial aspects of the craft. There was a good deal of ceremonial origami but the artistic aspects of the craft stayed undeveloped until the ban was eventually lifted.
In the early years in the western nations origami was looked at as a child's pastime and even the books that dealt with the subject were aimed at youngsters. In Victorian England children loved origami. They practiced origami in the classrooms and there were even children's stories like Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass that contained drawings of origami hats (a pillbox and a three cornered hat). Again as time went on the art spread to adults who became fascinated either by its artistic or its mathematical features.
Friday, 2 March 2012
The Mathematics of Origami
If you have ever held a piece of origami in your hand you have in all probability been at least tempted to open it just to see how the folding was done. The geometry involved in the piece is something you could easily see in the creases displayed on the opened paper.
Scientists and artists have studied these geometric aspects as well as origamists and mathematicians. Mathematicians throughout time have developed ways to use geometry to define origami; they have designed highly sophisticated models using fundamental theorems. They have studied and found amazing similarities between tessellations and origami (tessellations is the name for a figure comprised of a shape that is repeated over and over again with no gaps or overlap when fitted to a flat surface). Teachers around the world have used origami to teach different concepts in chemistry, physics and architecture as well as math.
Origami construction is defined as the folding of paper using the raw edges, points of the paper and any creases or points subsequently created by those folds. The folded paper is seen as both an art piece and a geometric form. The folds produce varying sizes of triangles, rectangles and other shapes. A single fold can bisect and angle twice or as in the case of a reverse fold, make 4 triangles at once.
When the first steps to making a figure are applied to other figures, resulting in a number of figures having common shapes, the common shapes are called bases. There are several established bases such as the bird, the kite, the windmill and the water-bomb to name a few. Modern origami relies heavily on these existing bases alone and in combination when designing new figures. As an example the kite base is used to make quite a few of the different zoo animals. Studying the creases of existing models has led to the creation of many new models. These creases show definite patterns of triangles, rectangles and other shapes. The geometric study of the crease lines over the last twenty-five years has paved the way for the discovery of new bases. Not all designs are combinations or parts of other bases; some like the box pleat are completely original.
Some origamists saw the base as a set of areas each independent of the other differing only in their length and arrangement. With this in mind they went on to develop computer programs that are capable of doing all the math necessary to generate crease patterns for any base from a given length and area arrangement. With the aid of computer programs using intricate mathematical theorems origami has become as much a puzzle as a piece of art. Mathematical origamists are now designing more and more complex, realistic models still sticking to the simple rule of one sheet of paper with no cuts. These programs are also used to solve problems involving getting large pieces of paper folded to fit a specific sized flat surface.
Scientists and artists have studied these geometric aspects as well as origamists and mathematicians. Mathematicians throughout time have developed ways to use geometry to define origami; they have designed highly sophisticated models using fundamental theorems. They have studied and found amazing similarities between tessellations and origami (tessellations is the name for a figure comprised of a shape that is repeated over and over again with no gaps or overlap when fitted to a flat surface). Teachers around the world have used origami to teach different concepts in chemistry, physics and architecture as well as math.
Origami construction is defined as the folding of paper using the raw edges, points of the paper and any creases or points subsequently created by those folds. The folded paper is seen as both an art piece and a geometric form. The folds produce varying sizes of triangles, rectangles and other shapes. A single fold can bisect and angle twice or as in the case of a reverse fold, make 4 triangles at once.
When the first steps to making a figure are applied to other figures, resulting in a number of figures having common shapes, the common shapes are called bases. There are several established bases such as the bird, the kite, the windmill and the water-bomb to name a few. Modern origami relies heavily on these existing bases alone and in combination when designing new figures. As an example the kite base is used to make quite a few of the different zoo animals. Studying the creases of existing models has led to the creation of many new models. These creases show definite patterns of triangles, rectangles and other shapes. The geometric study of the crease lines over the last twenty-five years has paved the way for the discovery of new bases. Not all designs are combinations or parts of other bases; some like the box pleat are completely original.
Some origamists saw the base as a set of areas each independent of the other differing only in their length and arrangement. With this in mind they went on to develop computer programs that are capable of doing all the math necessary to generate crease patterns for any base from a given length and area arrangement. With the aid of computer programs using intricate mathematical theorems origami has become as much a puzzle as a piece of art. Mathematical origamists are now designing more and more complex, realistic models still sticking to the simple rule of one sheet of paper with no cuts. These programs are also used to solve problems involving getting large pieces of paper folded to fit a specific sized flat surface.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
The Origins of Origami
It is very difficult to try to determine the history of origami since not even the experts can agree on what or where it was. While most people think of Origami as being a strictly Japanese art form, many say it actually has it's roots in China going all the way back to the first or second century. Back in those early days paper was so rare and expensive that origami was a pastime reserved for the wealthy. Certain set shapes were fashioned from folded paper for special occasions like weddings, while serrated strips of white paper were used to adorn sacred objects in the shrines, a practice that continues to this day. There wasn't a lot of origami just as an art form at that time.
In Japan from the early 1600's through the late 1800's, several forms of entertainment were developed for the common people; origami, now as an art form was one of those entertainments. The popularity of origami was due in part to its simplicity and the fact that there was no need for special tools. The popularity of origami continued to grow through about the middle of the 19th century then, except for ceremonial usage it's popularity started to decline during the modernization of Japan.
It has been argued by some people that since paper was invented in China in105AD that logically paper folding must have followed shortly after. On the other hand, since there are no known records of Chinese paper folding and the oldest Japanese records only go back to the 18th century some still believe that the invention must have been Japanese.
Buddhist monks brought paper with them to Japan in the late 6th century along with the art of paper folding. Although paper was very expensive it was still used quite extensively in Japan especially in its architecture with paper screens, doors etc. The Shinto religion incorporated the use of origami in its ceremonies and these shapes have remained unchanged for centuries.
Although the experts can't agree on where origami originated, most of them agree that the Japanese are the ones who developed the traditional art form. This art form was passed down from generation to generation with nothing in writing. Due to all information being passed on orally, only the simplest designs were passed on. Around the year1797 the first written instructions appeared. The publication they were in was called the Senbazuru Orikata (Thousand Crane Folding). It was followed nearly 50 years later with an encyclopedia that contained a full collection of these figures.
Modern origami has progressed to what it is today in great part due to a man named Yoshizawa Akira who in the early 1950's published books containing all new figures. In collaboration with San Randlett, an American, he developed the diagram symbols that are still used today. Today Yoshizawa is remembered as the grandmaster of origami and there are thousands of origami lovers worldwide. Thanks to the development of the diagram symbols it has been easier to record the instructions for the new shapes as they come along ensuring future generations of the information.
In Japan from the early 1600's through the late 1800's, several forms of entertainment were developed for the common people; origami, now as an art form was one of those entertainments. The popularity of origami was due in part to its simplicity and the fact that there was no need for special tools. The popularity of origami continued to grow through about the middle of the 19th century then, except for ceremonial usage it's popularity started to decline during the modernization of Japan.
It has been argued by some people that since paper was invented in China in105AD that logically paper folding must have followed shortly after. On the other hand, since there are no known records of Chinese paper folding and the oldest Japanese records only go back to the 18th century some still believe that the invention must have been Japanese.
Buddhist monks brought paper with them to Japan in the late 6th century along with the art of paper folding. Although paper was very expensive it was still used quite extensively in Japan especially in its architecture with paper screens, doors etc. The Shinto religion incorporated the use of origami in its ceremonies and these shapes have remained unchanged for centuries.
Although the experts can't agree on where origami originated, most of them agree that the Japanese are the ones who developed the traditional art form. This art form was passed down from generation to generation with nothing in writing. Due to all information being passed on orally, only the simplest designs were passed on. Around the year1797 the first written instructions appeared. The publication they were in was called the Senbazuru Orikata (Thousand Crane Folding). It was followed nearly 50 years later with an encyclopedia that contained a full collection of these figures.
Modern origami has progressed to what it is today in great part due to a man named Yoshizawa Akira who in the early 1950's published books containing all new figures. In collaboration with San Randlett, an American, he developed the diagram symbols that are still used today. Today Yoshizawa is remembered as the grandmaster of origami and there are thousands of origami lovers worldwide. Thanks to the development of the diagram symbols it has been easier to record the instructions for the new shapes as they come along ensuring future generations of the information.
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