What is Origami?
Some people are stuck in a cave somewhere and haven’t heard about origami yet.
Origami (from ori meaning “folding”, and kami meaning “paper”) is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding.
The goal of this art is to create a given result using geometric folds
and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the
paper medium. “Origami” nowadays refers to all types of paper folding,
even those of non-Asian origin. Other cultures have developed their own popularity in origami, including papiroflexia (spanish) and papierflieger (german).
Origami only uses a small number of different folds, but they can be
combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs. In general,
these designs begin with a square sheet of paper whose sides may be different colors. Contrary to most
popular belief, traditional Japanese origami, has often been less strict about these conventions, sometimes cutting the paper during the creation of the design.
Kirigami is a variation of origami where the artist is
allowed to make small cuts in the paper (from Japanese “kiru” = to cut,
“kami” = paper). This enables the artist to enhance the visual
presentation of the artwork, at the expense of simplicity.Kirigami is usually made when certain folds are made in the paper to
make a base, or the model without the cuts in it. Then, cuts are made
in the base. When all the cuts are made, the base is opened out and
flattened to make the finished kirigami. Usually symmetrical objects
are made, such as snowflakes, pentagrams, or orchid blossoms.
Know the force, you must, before origami, you do, young padwan.
Full Contact Origami
Origami has a dark underground section of existence, much like fight club, that sucks you in and never lets you go. This is for the committed people who like going to origami club meetings, who have weird paper folding dreams, and who actually enjoy the super difficult projects. Many people call this modular origami, which takes more than one piece of paper.
Scary how into something people can get.
Our favorite paper folding is not your ordinary arts and crafts project. It is making the headlines as a current event.
When it comes to creating inspiring Japanese art, any piece of paper will do, but there is something to be said for having a paper supply at hand. Here are a few locations to find quality paper supplies.
A thinner paper is usually a good paper supply for folding and includes invitation paper, notebook paper (main paper source during meetings or classes), commercial paper, grid, lined, or graph paper can help you learn complex folds faster, recycled paper, scrapbooking paper, tissue paper, velum paper, linen paper, writing paper, and even paper napkins.
The thicker papers can still be used for paper supplies, but makes folding a little more difficult. They include construction paper, handmade paper, parchment paper, and rice paper.
You can even use some paper supplies close at hand like magazines (a bit smelly), newspapers (a bit messy), phone books, and catalogs; just make sure they are yours or that you have permission.
They also have books on how to do origami techniques and where to find famous authors and artists including John Montroll, Joseph Wu, and Tammy Yee.
Playful Origami
This is origami with a purpose: make it through classes or a super important meeting. Includes paper airplanes, jumping frogs, catapults, dollar bill origami, kusudama (paper balls), and much much more.
Origami for Your Health
Some of us practice origami to relax, become tranquil, and to be at peace with the cosmos. Others find it to be frustrating and maddening when you can’t get a fold right. Here are some resources:
Bending and hunching over for hours at a time doing endless amounts of folding can really stress out the neck and back. Now there is healthcare available for those origami-induced health issues.
Many origamists have experienced persecution when out and about on the town. A simple dinner can turn into an uncomfortable debate when making a crane out of the napkin holders. Origami-friendly restaurants are hard to come by and have been painfully researched for your benefit. Enjoy!
Simple Origami
Children (and many adults) like doing origami, but may lack the motor skills and / or the patience for it. This is your world, including paper arts and crafts projects, art projects for the kids (or a crane garland for work), and craft ideas as a hobby or as a kid activity time.
Libraries are good places to rent a book or hold club meetings when you don’t want to invest the money into such an expensive hobby.
Origami On The Go
One of the best things about origami is that it is one of the only hobbies you can do almost anywhere at any time. In your apartment, in your hotel room while on vacation, in the airplane, in a restaurant, while waiting for your car to get fixed, at a doctor’s office, a dentists office, and pretty much any kind of waiting room. WARNING: If you practice origami in public, it may initiate conversation. MORE WARNING: The times it is not suggested to practice origami is while driving, having your teeth drilled, or if your wife, boss, or teacher is talking to you.
Presidential Origami
There are many pieces of origami art that allude to the president, so, we just have to wait a bit for Obamagami to happen.
More Obamagami
If Obama becomes popular enough to get printed on some money, that would make the best kind of Obamagami.
Basic Origami
These kinds of patterns are for those who don’t give a flying fart about origami. Just for you, a simple three step process for making a human lower intestine and a human brain is demonstrated below.
The Origami Human Lower Intestine
The Origami Human Brain
Here is one example of where you can go to learn more basic origami patterns.
Ask any student for help because they should know how to teach you many other basic patterns.
Secret Kirigami Technique
Once you have perfected the full contact origami techniques, you can learn how to do masterful kirigami techniques like this one:
Completed Secret Kirigami Technique
And Now, The Moment You Have Been Waiting For...Imagiro!
Step 1: Take a completed origami work of art.
Completed Imagiro Technique
In case, you haven’t picked up on the hint yet, Imagiro is the art and craft of unfolding paper and imagiro spelled and performed backwards is Origami.
.jpg)
.jpg "Cheap Ass Denver Dates")
.jpg "Denver - Where to Live")
.jpg "Denver Trail Runs")
.jpg "Make Sushi at Home")
.jpg "Make Your Own in Boston")
.jpg "Denver Girls: A Field Guide")
.jpg "jimthedoctorirelan")
.jpg)
Comments
Add a Comment
CancelYou must be logged in.
Click here to log in.send me a note when you stop removing my comments
hahahaha, sweeeeeeet!
Fantastic guide! Never would’ve thought to create that one :)
Clever!
Yoda? You gotta get a life.
I think someone has too much time on their hands…
Hey! I am the mayor of awesometown and I order you to cease and desist! Those are trademarked words.
OMG! Ive never seen awesomeness as awesome as this before! Great Job!
LOL! Can you fold me a boyfriend? I would love to see that! JK
Can you make origami out of coffee beans?
OMG! I never thought orgami could be funny! Nice Job!
Thats Funny Stuff
I like to make paper things while i’m rollin with my homies down in tha hood! You getz my thumbs up holmes.
Is there origami for kitties?
Origami! omg, that’s some good stuff.
Two words—FREAKING AWESOME!
Chewagami!!!
Ahh! The Japanese art of paper folding… A little hard to accomplish with hooves. I practice the chew and regurgitate method to create my own version. I call it chewed food origami
We must collaborate! I have always wanted an instant shade tree, but in the spirit of Guerrilla Gardening, I must do it for free. As of yet, I’ve not found a way to transplant a full grown cottonwood and stick to my frugal philosophy. You, Master of the “O”, are the answer to my prayers. I’ll let you know when I have completed making the paper from weed fibers…
You say Origami, I say better than suicide stress relief. We agree to disagree and remain friendly due to the healing powers of this guide. Let’s see, SQUISH – my brain, rolling your intestines, vs. jumping in front of a speeding light rail train??? I like the paper version better. YOU may have saved my miserable life! Just reading through the tags has given me a reason to live! YAHOO!
Jimmy! {Pronounced Yim-E}
Ayudame!... I was practicing origami with my Mexican friend, but he’s just not that flexible…
Ai-yi-a-yi
Ciao Amigo y bueno suerte ;)
Whose brain was the model for this?
The list wont stopppppppp!
I am thinking that Full Contact Origami might just be the new pick-up line.
I like origami – artistic/structured – but sometimes all I want to do is go squish “see, human brain.”
I find your guide lollerific.