Fold here...

Jul 29, 200815 min read

Deviation Actions

Published: Jul 29, 2008

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How did you get started doing your origami?

Origami as we know it's paper folding art. Why origami? Well it begins with amazing works made of paper which appeared in my classroom (it will be about 3 years ago). I asked a Math teacher which exposed her works to suggest me some easy diagrams (some kind of instruction how to fold it step by step) with interesting design. I didn't expected that boring, for me (in this time), paper folding could be so amazing and astonishing. I felt in love with so many variations of one design. I like the possibilities of colouring them by expanding them with coloured paper sheets. Also I was surprised that I can fold it everywhere. I don't need to bring with me lot of heavy things, just some paper sheets in my metal pencil case. Also I don't need to much time for one unit, up to 5 minutes for one and it depends on it's complexity. Of course I'm folding in free time so it's my hobby and for now I won't go of it.

What tools and materials do you use?

To fold next amusing model I need neat paper (patterned, coloured or whatever). I'm buying paper in typical shops with equipment for offices (coloured xerox paper) or in our polish origamist secret place in which we can buy some really astonishing and colourful paper sheets. Sometimes they're sold in big sheets and then I need to cut them or in squares up to 15x15cm. Special tools? Yes, I'm using my lovely knife to cut big paper sheets into small squares or rectangles or rarely into triangles, pentagons etc. Also I'm using my special rubber pad to not scratch floor (where usually I'm cutting big paper sheets) or my desk. Well, cutting big paper sheets need lot of space because they're about 100x70cm

What other crafts do you do?

Instead of paper folding I'm making some jewelry for my own use or really rarely for somebody's order. Usually I'm making earrings. I'm using wire, different kind of beads (glass, wooden, in not typical shape etc.), steel wire, lot of stuff needed for making earrings or jewelry (clamps, ear wires, some specialist tools like: Round nose pliers, Chain nose pliers, Wire cutters, etc.) I don't have any special technique. Usually my jewelry is made in the simplest way. Also from time to time I'm cross – stitching, making friendship bracelets mostly hand – works.

Can you give us a short tutorial on making origami?

My whole work with paper begins from picking neat model. Some are in books and some are in internet which I'm saving on my computer. At first I'm trying to fold this unit using white xerox paper. I'm reading carefully diagram and I'm folding it step by step. When unit is quite easy and ultimate result gives me satisfaction I'm printing this diagram out (diagrams from net) or at once I'm cutting paper from big paper sheets (diagram in book or next step of diagram found in internet). After it I'm folding needed amount of units (during folding first 5 or 10 units I need diagram, but then I'm not looking, because I remember every step). When I finish my unit folding work I'm assembling them in one whole model or I'm doing that during folding units. For example I've folded one part of units and I can connect them. Then I'm folding next part which I can assembly to the previous one. After all I'm giving this work for somebody as a gift or I just put it on shelf and it's waiting for his owner or it's decorating my house.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Hmm, inspiration. Sometimes it comes to me suddenly, when I'm looking at something not connected with paper folding. I don't know what's the reason, sometimes colour of this thing or shape and sometimes it comes independently. Mostly I'm picking colours and patterns because I have such vision or somebody suggest me this composition of colours or I'm looking at my collection of paper sheets and I'm combining them. Also when I'm going to our origamist secret place I know what I want for example I'd like to buy something with slight pattern and seller is showing to me some paper sheets. Intuition prompts me to pick this or this one. Seldom happens that this paper would not suit to other one and it's waiting for its use.

Can you give us examples of easy, medium and difficult pieces?

My first works were I think very easy and basic. Without them you can't try something hardest but it's not a rule. I began with Zig - Zag unit (called PHIZZ Unit), then Sonobe unit which is more popular and allows for lot variation. This units were very easy but assembling last units can be tricky but I did not gave up. Now you can see more or less complex works. The most difficult for me was K2 designed by Robert Lang. It has complicated method of intersecting so I spend at this model lot of time. I was able to throw it away but finally I did it and now it's standing on my TV. I can be proud of this model. Medium models? It depends mostly on your experience. For me now almost everything is easy, but I'm trying to look at this model from perspective of beginner and I can see some tricky folds or assembly points. I'm trying to make a scale of difficulty and I'm adding it to my models. Every unit on the beginning take lot of time. I need to read carefully diagram then I'm trying to fold it and after it I can decide to fold this 12,24,30,60,90,120 units or not (amount of units is changing with every model). Some models are so ugly or so complicated that I'm not folding them. Sometimes I need to much attention to fold this model and ultimate result isn't satisfactory.

Pop-up – Butterflies is a different technique, how do you go about creating a piece like this?

This technique is called pop-up cards. They're quite simple and easy at first you need to find some interesting pattern, they're available in the internet. Just type "pop-up cards pattern" (or something like that) in google and it will show you lot of sites which have interesting patterns. Then you should print such pattern out. And of course you need knife or other sharp thing to cut it. Then some creases and your pop up card is almost done. You can glue some colourful background and write some wishes and give it as a gift.

How difficult was it to make a piece like Five Intersecting Tetrahedra?

My first attempt I remember as difficult. But next FIT's (Five Intersecting Tetrahedras) were folded faster, because I've understood how it works. I tried folding FIT from white xerox paper (complicated), from four tetrahedras in one colour and fifth tetrahedra in different colour (also not easy). Best FIT's are from five paper sheets in different colours. For beginners this creation could be difficult but nobody should give up it's „fold-able".

Five Intersecting Tetrahedra by wolbashi

How do you assemble something like Alternative fixes?

This model and other creations from book called „Floral Origami Globes" has the same method of assembling. You ought to fold e.g. 30 base units which are a base of construction (black coloured part in Alternative Fixes), then you should fold another 30 faces (orange, yellow coloured elements) which are inserted into base units. Then such face + base unit can be assembled into 30 unit creation. As a result we have Alternative Fixes or other creation which comes from this book.

Do you take your own photos?

Yes, I'm taking my own pictures and almost every photo is reedited in Pain Shop Pro. Long time I was taking pictures with my blue carpet as a background and mostly they were taken at night with my night – lamp as a lighting. Now I'm trying to take pictures on different backgrounds which suits to my models e.g. „A Brood", „Morning Glory" etc. Also I'm taking pictures during day. Mostly I'm using manual program in my camera, because pictures are looking better than in „Auto" program. I'm not able to construct professional studio but I'm trying to do the best conditions for taking pictures. During digital edition in PSP I'm adding border, tittle, signature and I'm correcting brightness, sharpness and clarify.

Do you participate in any shows or exhibitions?

Once I did show for my class at school. I showed how to fold one unit and some of my works. Not everybody were interested in but some of them really enjoyed this show connected with small exhibition. I weren't able to make big exhibition and nobody offered me that. Mostly I'm showing my works during meetings with other polish origamist. It's good to exchange some experiences or help with tricky step in diagram. My dream is to take a part in polish origami convention where I will be able to show my works and chat with other about modular origami.

Do you market your creations?

I'm not selling my works because sending fragile paper works in packages aren't easy. Also I'm not making jewelry for sale. I've sold some jewelry but with big difficulties. My friends ordered some works and then they didn't wanted pay for them. Also I'm not selling origami works and I won't. I prefer giving them for free as a gift. I like when somebody got such work and he/she is happy because he/she got such amazing present. Also I'm not making commissions. The same purpose as above.

Do you belong to any organizations and what benefits are there?

I belong to "Polish Origami Association - Paper Fantasies". Also I belong to „Artisan Crafts Club". And that all I think.

wolbashi