This kit contains everything you need to make beautiful origami pieces. There is still plenty of room for variation and expressing your creativity. Trying out different sized papers and different colors or patterns will yield very different results. For that matter, you do not even have to confine yourself to paper. If you can fold it, it can be used for origami. Some origami artists prefer to use fine handmade papers, or at least papers made with extra long fibers. You can even paint your paper (watered down acrylic paint is a common paper colorant). Materials that are too flimsy can be made stiffer by applying a solution of methyl cellulose (the main ingredient in many wallpaper pastes). After such a treatment, most papers respond even better to a technique known as wet folding. Slightly dampening any paper causes the fibers to relax, and once dry it will hold its new shape.
Origami artists will share their ideas at conventions and group meetings. OrigamiUSA (http://origamiusa.org) maintains a list of origami organizations around the world, along with local groups in America. Contacting the international organizations will often uncover smaller regional groups. The Internet has a few hubs to exchange ideas. You can subscribe to the mailing list found at lists.digitalorigami.com. Mail can be sent to the members of the list (once subscribed) via [email protected]. You can also go to the bulletin board at snkhan.co.uk/forum. I also maintain a website at sakuraorigami.com. With the various resources mentioned above, you are bound to find the origami answers you are looking for.
Marc Kirschenbaum is a leading American origami artist who has been active in the art form since the 1970s. He has covered a wide range of subject matter and styles with approaches ranging from the cleverly simple to the insanely complex. His works have been shown in many museums and shows around the world, including the American Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian, Mingei International Museum, and Hangar-7. He has also had his works published in many books, magazines and periodicals. Marc is also an active member of OrigamiUSA, a premiere international origami organization. He is currently on the Board of Directors, and manages the production of many of this organization’s publications.
CREATIVE
ORIGAMI KIT
Marc Kirschenbaum
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore
Contents
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Introduction
Art is the expression of ideas through a medium, and origami challenges the artist with its stringent rules. These rules, of simply folding squares of paper, are not to be thought of as limitations of expression. Instead, they provide the artist with an opportunity to distill and highlight the features of his subject. The works in this book were developed with the additional rule of brevity. In developing these pieces, it was satisfying to see how a direct approach with fewer folds was often the best way.
A few of the works contained here were developed with yet another self-imposed rule. Most origami pieces involve maneuvers that involve both valley and mountain folds happening simultaneously.