Today’s Theme: Wet Folding
Learn two different styles of wet-folding, "Zone" and "Full Sheet."
Wet-folding has many advantages over dry-folding. Besides expressive shaping, wet-folding preserves the integrity of the fibers in your paper (dry-folding breaks and weakens them!). Wet-folding allows you to use many more kinds of papers for origami, including heavy paperboard. Michael LaFosse is known for the expressiveness of his models, which he often achieves through wet-folding. Michael will teach two models to help demonstrate the fine points and advantages of each style.
You will practice "zone" wet-folding with an origami butterfly that Michael named for Lillian Oppenheimer, whose birthdate, October 24, begins "World Origami Days." Zone wet-folding moistens only the line or small area that is about to be folded, leaving most of the paper dry. This style of wet-folding produces a crisp, resilient model and may be used on almost any kind of paper, including standard origami paper. It is an excellent choice when a clean, geometric style is to be preserved in the model.
You will practice "full sheet" wet-folding by way of Michael's "Happy-Good-luck Bat." Full sheet wet-folding allows for lyrical, rounded shapes, and expressive 3-D modeling. This bat is a delightful model in time for the Halloween season!
Paper for Butterfly for Lillian: Solid-color "duo" paper at least 15 cm square (a.k.a "six-inch"). May be larger—any colors you like.
Paper for Bat: "TANT" or "Canford 150gms" paper at least 15 cm square (a.k.a "six-inch") 8-inch maximum. Any color you like. Cut the square diagonally in half, producing two half-square triangles.
Tools: Paper towels, water (a spray bottle or a cup), a bamboo skewer, or a thin knitting needle.