
A simple module which will make a 30 piece dodecahedron. I will show ways of coloring with 3,5 or 6 different colors.
Fold a version of the traditional crane from two $1 bills; then fold a version of the traditional Lily from two more $1 bills.
This butterfly shows how we can take the traditional/Yoshizawa concept of a butterfly from a Waterbomb base and, with just a few extra folds, give it a very nice shape indeed! Nothing harder than swivel folds, but precision and ability to fold precisely through thick layers are a must.
These are two action models, made from letter-size paper. When the sides of the Elephant's head are brought together, she curls her trunk; when the sides of the Baboon's head are brought together, he furrows his brow and yaps.
This model has color change on both faces. It isn't very hard to fold but experience with 22.5 degree origami pre-creasing and collapsing is highly recommended to get a clean result.
This Brontosaurus is formed from only simple valley and mountain folds, following the Pureland origami definition championed by the late John Smith. There are some unusual reference points, elevating this folding sequence to a "low intermediate" level designation. Diagrams for this can be found in the book Prehistoric Origami:
https://origamiusa.org/catalog/products/prehistoric-origami
A single square of larger kami is recommended (10"/25cm). With more practice you can use smaller sheets.
This is a flat 8-unit modular model. Back side can be plain or you can have a star by adding two extra folds on each unit. Folding units and assembly are both fairly simple but need to be precise.
Learn to fold a tessellation with both open and closed hexagon and triangle twists, folded one twist at a time without precreasing. Criss Crossed is higher in conceptual complexity than in folding complexity and demonstrates a unique way to apply symmetry points to an alternating-hexagons-and-triangles-structure tessellation.
If you can fold and origami cup, you already know most of the steps to fold this cute snake.
You can make it as long as you are willing to fold pieces.
While tessellations follow strict symmetry rules, there are many choice points along the way to a finished design.
This lecture will be an elaboration and demonstration of the party trick of getting people's input to fold a tessellation that I described in the spring 2023 issue of The Paper.
Fold a mini tessellation with hexagon, triangle, and rhombus twists on a 16-fold triangle grid on a hexagon.
There will be no precreasing, just folding one twist at a time.
This tessellation is called Dancing Ribbons and you can find a video of me teaching it (and several precursors to learn first) here: https://youtu.be/fCg3f3j7AU4
This design is loosely based on the iconic Fender Stratocaster guitar. There is plenty of asymmetry to keep the folding sequence interesting and a few swivel folds to give this an "intermediate" level designation. Diagrams for this can be found in the book Origami Fun and Games:
https://origamiusa.org/catalog/products/origami-fun-and-games
A single square of larger kami is recommended (10"/25cm). With more practice you can use smaller sheets. Foil paper can be a fun choice for a metallic look.
We will take 30 pieces of paper 1 x 3 and fold into 5 tetrahedrons that intersect.
This is a simple action model which has been described (fairly accurately) as "the origami equivalent of popping bubble-wrap". The model is very simple to fold - only valleys and mountains. Beyond the folding, the assembly is straightforward and easy to grasp, but will require accurate folding to ensure that the resulting strips to make the assembly easy - hence the LI rating. That said there are a few cheats available on the assembly side should they be needed. Please be very assured that the resulting model is WELL worth the effort!
Flower Ball Box ("B" version) is a clever one-sheet container! The box appears to have three layers but is actually folded from 1 square sheet of paper with no cuts and no glue. You should be comfortable folding a blintzed waterbomb, open squash and petal folds. The depth of the box can be adjusted to a deep box or a shallow box. The Flower Box can be gently flattened for transport.
In class, I will provide 1 sheet of 24 cm (~9.5 inch) plain kami for folding.
All dimensions are approximate: folded from 24 cm square sheet creates a box 17 cm (6.75 in) length x 17 cm (6.75 in) width x 5 cm (2 in) tall.
Folded from 15 cm (~6 in) = 11 cm (4.5 in) length x 11 cm (4.5 in) width x 3 cm (1.25 in) tall.
Folded from 10 cm (~4 in) = 5cm (2.25 in) length x 5cm (2.25 in) width x 1.5cm tall.
This is Jun Mitani's "egg-wrapping" idea , modified to give larger top area for more detailed look of flowers.
Attendees will score two kinds of crease lines; straight and curved portion.
A straight edge is used to score the former, and the latter will be done "Free Hand".
No prior experience with curved folding required !
Attendees can have a preview of the class referring to the following web site prepared for 2022 convention.
http://www.takayaiwamoto.com/origami_note/newyork/2022_class.html#class-1
in 2023, Paul is celebrating 40-years teaching 'Folding as a Language of Design', to students of Design in 12 countries.
He will give a short summary of his teaching work, describe why he sees folding as a valuable component of Design education and show examples of what his students have made.
Folding this stylized Fossil will exercise your squash folding skills. Even with all the color changed patterns, there are no wrap around folds. This model has an "intermediate" level designation. Diagrams for this can be found in the book Prehistoric Origami:
https://origamiusa.org/catalog/products/prehistoric-origami-0
A single square of larger kami is recommended (10"/25cm). With more practice you can use smaller sheets.
As a tribute to George Rhoads, this workshop will step through his moderately complex model of an elephant. This famous model is now over 50 years old and was an Origami groundbreaker at the time.
A one piece octagonal box by Robin Glynn, apparently inspired by my own Octagonal bowl. This is an (as yet) unpublished model, and contains nothing more complicated than some squash folds. With careful folding it is possible to fold this such that there will be no creases on the bottom of the box.
This Grim Reaper is both scary and cute! It is from a single square using the classic Frog Base. There is a bit of pulling flaps out and wrapping layers around, so you should be comfortable with steps like
that. This model has a "high intermediate" level designation. Diagrams for this can be found in the book Spooky Origami:
https://origamiusa.org/catalog/products/spooky-origami
A single square of very large kami or foil paper is recommended (15"/38cm). With more practice you can use smaller sheets.
It's a bit early, but let's start practicing a model for Halloween! This is a variation of Nobuko's Puff Ring (https://origamiusa.org/thefold/article/nobukos-puff-ring-and-3-d-variations ). The assembly is the same as the original Puff Ring. How to convert the Puff Ring units into a pumpkin, a tomb stone, a cat and a bat will be shown in the class.
A scary looking spider! Complex, but hopefully not too scary to fold.
This flower is folded from a pentagon. We will be cutting out a pentagon from square paper during the class.
Model is a hang glider with person, all from 1 sheet square.
This is a fun rabbit intended as a napkin holder, messenger carrier, or Easter egg container.
If you have folded the origami crane, you have the necessary skills to fold this rabbit.
The Harlequin Heron is a variation of the traditional crane, but with an unusual twist which allows for the motley color change. The model is the same size as the traditional crane. It is not an iso-area fold, though it looks a bit like one -- peri-iso-area, from the Greek for kinda sorta equal area.
The Harlequin Heron is high intermediate on the Origami ISO Difficulty Scale and involves stretching a grafted bird base and collapsing it. (Not as scary as it sounds.)
This model is Creative Commons licensed and may be freely shared -- once you've learned it, you may teach it, modify it, diagram it without permission.
There are two ways to look at twists:
- Where should the pleats go relative to the center of the twist?
- Where should the center of the twist go relative to these particular pleats?
These different perspectives let you see different options and I call them the designing and the folding perspective, respectively.
Using these perspectives we can see that different sizes of square twists create a line that extends to those same sizes on the opposite side of the page.
We also see a zone around that line where properties of two different sizes of square twist can be hybridized together.
In box pleating terms this creates a level shifter and in tessellations it moves the pleats around in unusual ways, affording different symmetry styles that can be codified as design equations.
This lecture is a preview of the paper I'll be presenting at the Bridges conference in July 2023.
Miri will teach this new Pureland model (made only with Valley and Mountain folds). Many variations are possible.
This fish is formed from the classic Fish Base, however the way the flaps are used is nontraditional. There are some outside reverse folds, squash folds and unusual reference points giving this model an " intermediate" level designation. Diagrams for this can be found in the book Origami by the Sea:
https://origamiusa.org/catalog/products/origami-sea
A single square of larger kami is recommended (10"/25cm). With more practice you can use smaller sheets. Of course, be sure to have red/white paper on hand for the classic color scheme.
This is a design I created inspired by geckos that I kept as pets for years. There are quite a variety of leaf-tailed gecko species; this fold is modeled after the Uroplatus phantasticus.
This model is high-intermediate complexity, requiring familiarity with pre-creasing reference points, open sinks and point-splitting. Final shaping of the model will be discussed, and I encourage you to study photos of these geckos to find a unique interpretation of your own. This design is single color with no color change. Earthy colors to mimic a brown leaf are recommended.
Bring your kami paper and join us to have fun folding this little spider
An introduction to origami design centered on a live design demonstration. After introducing basic design theory, Chris will design and fold a new original model live and unscripted based on an audience prompt, talking through his process as he works. A good class for those interested in learning both the basics of origami design and advanced techniques. Participants will be invited but not expected to fold along with Chris.
Made from a strip of paper. It is simple enough but there are several steps in the folding that are tricky. I hope to ease you over these steps so you can be successful.
This is repeating 2023 class "Flower-Inside Out" 3 times for 3 different sizes.
The resulting 3 pieces can be combined into one in a similar fashion like "Russian Doll" Matryoshka !
Participants will score and fold 3 different sized models , straight lines portion using straight edge and
the curved portion by "Free Hand".
No experience with the curved folding is required. Participants will learn the basic skill during making
the largest model , and they can go to the next two smaller scale models.
Model papers with crease lines and pictures will be provided.
It helps participants preview what to expect in the class by looking into the class note written for 2022 convention.
www.takayaiwamoto.com/origami-note/newyork/2022_class.html
During the COVID lockdowns, Paul returned to creating origami models, designing more than 100 in a frenetic burst of creativity. He will be teaching 4-7 of them, as time permits.
A lotus flower on leaf from a single sheet of paper. We will also discuss variations in class, time permitting.
A fun and fierce-looking angler fish. This model features natural color change and a fun folding sequence. Attending this class will also give you exclusive access to the diagrams.
Attendees will use "curved folding" to make two orchids with distinctly different shapes:
Oblong "Dancing-Lady" and most popular rather flat "Moth" orchid.
The printed papers with crease lines and pictures will be provided, and no prior experience of "curved folding" is required.
We will use the ancient art of Japanese paper folding (origami) to discover and prove the properties of a square by using origami paper (which is always a square), pencils and markers. We will make three models and the properties of a square will be written on one of the finished origami models.
This is a complex model. You must be comfortable with sink folds and basic shaping before attempting to fold it.
Join the Battlemage class to get hands-on experience in folding and shaping fantasy-human models. This model features a smooth folding sequence and can balance on its own if folded precisely. This class will require paper larger than 25cm for the best results. Tissue foil will also allow this model to be completed without wet-shaping.
This was one of Laura's Kruskal's favorite crowns, made from her famous Canoe Module. Wendy will teach an undiagrammed technique for making this model. A rainbow of paper colors will be provided in two sizes. To make a crown from the letter paper takes 10 modules. To make a crown from one-quarter of letter size takes 20-24 modules depending on your head size. Students can complete the letter-paper crown in class. The crown from smaller paper requires a bit of glue-- but it's worth it! No glue is needed for the Letter size. See photos! Bring your own gluesticks!
This container from one sheet looks like a flower in a vase and can be used as a box for a small gift or candy. We will learn the box and several variations for the petals.
Mi Wu's excellent designs inspired me to experiment with color change origami. This pawprint in the style of his color change coin designs in "Duo-color Origami" is one result of that experimenting. This model begins with the same base as Froebel's folds of beauty and is foldable from kami.
Origami pegasus folded from a blintzed preliminary base. It is best folded from at least a 10 inch square. The most complex folds in this model are double rabbit ears for the legs.
An intermediate level modular design. Folders must have prior experience of modular assembly.
This is an evergreen tree that can be decorated with a lucky star for Christmas or can be enjoyed as is. The folding process is fun and the way to inflate it is surprising. If you have ever folded a waterbomb, you have the skills needed to make this tree.
Technology and art are connected more than ever before. You’ve heard rumblings about using home crafting tools, vinyl cutters, and laser cutters to score paper for origami—but how do you get started? What can you achieve?
Over the last 4 years, I’ve been on a journey use what I know about technology to enhance the art that I love: origami. This session will include a presentation about my experiences using cutting and scoring technology to make and study origami. We will follow the story from my first Cricut machine to using industrial laser cutters to achieve a large-scale origami tessellation. I’ll bring along some of my successes and failures for you to see. We will open the class up for discussion and questions.
There will be no specific hands-on instruction. No folding experience is required; however, I will be discussing technological topics to include vector drawing, file types, laser technology, paper types, and some material science. It will be useful to have basic experience with drawing programs and vocabulary for using computers.
Lecture on designing and folding beautiful 3-D geometric shapes out of a single sheet of paper.
The origami snail by Shiri Daniel is a low Intermediate or intermediate origami that is both simple and elegant.
An exploration of many of the possibilities of Mitsunobu Sonobe's famous module. No experience necessary, but those already familiar with Sonobe Modules can find something new. Literally dozens of models are presented, and the workshop format allows each student to learn the one(s) they like. Good for those looking for an introduction to modular origami as well as those who want more of a challenge. Models made from 1 to 60 modules will be shown. Construction ranges from low intermediate up to challenging. The basic module and some variations will be shown.
This is a super-complex design that mixes 22.5 and box-pleating techniques to produce an elegant result with lots of room for original interpretation. The design requires a number of difficult collapsing maneuvers. Methylcellulose or glue is recommended to achieve the best result, but not required.
We will take 30 pieces of two sided paper and fold them into a beautiful Star ball.
Telling a story while folding a model, often with a surprise ending.
This 13-sided, hat-shaped polygon is the first known example of an “einstein,” a single shape that can be tiled to cover a plane with a pattern that never repeats. The word means one stone in German.
This origami version is folded from a single square piece of paper. You can start to play with the tiling puzzle once you have completed several identical pieces. See issue 76, The Fold, OrigamiUSA for the detail.
This is a model of a person holding an origami crane, which seems like a relevant subject at an origami convention. To make this, you should be familiar with sinks as well as collapsing a bird base. A large, thin sheet of paper that can hold its shape would work well here.
Follow along my multi-year journey in achieving pieced origami tessellations using laser cutting. From concept to final product, we will discuss the challenges I experienced:
• determining the final project size
• learning to make laser cut files
• paper size and the challenges it brings
• paper type and the final look
• helper creases: yay or nay
• precision, precision, precision
• strategies for clean overlapping
• bringing it all together
There will be no specific hands-on instruction. No folding experience is required; however, I will be discussing technological topics to include vector drawing, file types, laser technology, paper types, and some material science. It will be useful to have basic experience with drawing programs and vocabulary for using computers.
You'll learn to fold triangle grids on rectangles in two orientations so that you aren't reliant on hexagonal paper to fold triangle-grid tessellations.
If there is time I'll also demonstrate a tessellation that works particularly well on these grids.
This witch is very efficient and flat, making it an excellent choice for Halloween cards and decorations. There are some outside reverse folds, squash folds and unusual reference points giving this model a "high intermediate" level designation. Diagrams for this can be found in the book Origami Dress Up:
https://origamiusa.org/catalog/products/origami-dress
A single square of larger kami is recommended (10"/25cm). With more practice you can use smaller sheets.
Inspired by Tomoko Fuse. A modular from 10 strips and 12 rosettes.
Ever tried to make a sphere from 10 strips ? You need paperclips and it is quite a mess.
Rosettes will hold the paper for you and make the assembly fool-proof.
Pre-cut strips and diagram will be provided.
Final model diameter is 3,5 inches and strips width less than 1/2, so fine motor skills are required to enjoy this class.
Use at least 10-inch or bigger paper for this fun two-legged dragon. The folding sequence has some interesting spread squash folds. Many thanks to John Montroll for permission to teach this model.