Tag: origami

Origami bicycle

Posted on by Matthew Green

I have been ramping up my origami activity a bit recently, and wanted to make an origami bicycle for a friend. I tried to find instructions for one, but could only find references to two origami bike designs – and one is really a scooter, not a bike, while the other is a great design, but very complicated and not fully documented. So, I decided to try to come up with my own design. Because of the geometry of a bicycle, I decided to fold it from a long rectangle instead of a square. (While squares are more common, origami can be made out of different shapes of paper.) Here are my sketches and rough draft:

After another rough draft, I came up with this model:

It’s made from an single long rectangle with no cutting or glueing. It could still stand for some improvement, but I think it’s a good start!

– Matthew Green

 

 

Origami at the Farmer’s Market

Posted on by Matthew Green

Yesterday I got a slightly last minute invitation to go teach origami at the Gloucester Farmer’s Market with Art Haven / Tag / The Hive.  Fortunately my schedule was pretty clear, so I was able to go! I had so much fun, I think I got almost more out of it than the kids did… I hope to do it again, although next week I won’t be able to.

The funny thing is, I was wearing an origami shirt that I had put on before I knew I would be teaching, and I didn’t even notice until one of the parents of a student commented on it…

– Matthew Green

 

Origami Nazgul

Posted on by Matthew Green

Designed by Jason Ku, published in Origami Tanteidan Magazine #129. Folded by me from one 12″ uncut sheet of foil paper. Here’s a photo that gives you a better sense of the scale of the model:

nazgul2

 

This is a great model!  Jason Ku designs some amazing origami.  His lobster design is so awesome it’s almost NSFW, just because it might literally blow your mind, and your boss doesn’t want to have to call an ambulance when that happens. You can see it on his website. (Go ahead, I dare you! Scroll down on his page to see the detail on the bottom side of the lobster!)

– Matthew Green

Origami hippopotamus!

Posted on by Matthew Green

This happy hippo is folded from a single sheet of paper following diagrams found in John Montroll’s “African Animals in Origami“.

John Montroll has published many books with a variety of topics. Two of his books – “Origami for the Enthusiast” and “Animal Origami for the Enthusiast” – were a huge discovery and inspiration for me when I was first developing my origami skills.

Like Robert Lang (a contemporary and collaborator of John Montroll), John is a very nice person, and very approachable. I see him at the origami convention every year in New York, and we always have a nice conversation (which, in the origami world, is kind of like a musician sitting down to have a nice chat with Vivaldi). Actually, all of the great origami designers I have met have been unpretentious.

I will be scheduling more origami classes soon at The Hive and Art Haven, I hope, but in the meantime I am also open to giving private lessons to groups or individuals. Comment on the post if you are interested.

– Matthew Green

Origami goldfish

Posted on by Matthew Green

Another bit of fishy origami, on my last day of vacation away from Gloucester…

This little goldfish is not as complicated as the horseshoe crab, but just as delightful to me.  It is designed by the same artist – Robert Lang – and is found in the same book as well, “Sea Creatures in Origami“, a collaboration between Robert Lang and John Montroll (another of my favorite origami designers).

– Matthew Green

 

Origami horseshoe crab

Posted on by Matthew Green

At a cottage by the sea, I had to fold something appropriate!

This is my first try at Robert Lang’s origami horseshoe crab. Folded from a single uncut sheet of foil paper.  It would be better with brown paper, but I didn’t have the right kind on hand; foil was the strongest, thinnest paper I have with me right now on vacation…

 

It has a few challenging steps in it…

– Matthew Green

Origami Cats

Posted on by Matthew Green

A while ago I came up for a design for an origami cat:

 

Recently, a cat friend of mine named Neo (who lived with the family upstairs) died.  I wanted to give the bereaved family a cat in memory of the deceased, so I made this one, changing the pose from standing to sitting and making a few other tweaks to the design:

Then another friend (Alexander Thompson of Ma’s Brand fame) offered a bigger challenge: to make a black and white “cow cat” in memory of one of his beloved felines who now rests in peace, in exchange for a a jar of his (delicious) pickles. This is what I have come up with so far, based on a photo of the cat in question:

 

It needs a little bit of work still, but it was a happy coincidence that my original design for the cat easily allowed me to add a color change to get the black and white (one side of the paper is black, the other white, and I folded it such that the colors come out where I want them). I also need to fold it with better paper.  But it’s exciting to be dedicating time to this kind of origami creativity!

– Matthew Green

 

Origami for kids at Art Haven and Theatre Camp for Kids at the YMCA

Posted on by Matthew Green

This Thursday (3:30-5PM) is the last origami class for kids this month at Art Haven!  The content and level of difficulty of the class is entirely flexible according to the needs and interests of those who sign up.

So, for example, if your child (or a child you know) has an origami book and has stopped using it because he/she is stuck on a difficult model or discouraged, register them for the class and bring them with the book in question! I will help them through whatever difficulty they may be facing, and we can fold some model(s) from the book with the other students.

The possibilities are endless! Contact Art Haven for details on pricing and registration, and if you do register and have a specific interest or need, let me know ahead of time so I can prepare if necessary (you can comment on this post).  Here’s a photo from a previous class, showing me with budding origami artist Leon Calvo:

origami class photo

We folded a boat, a dragon, a lotus flower, and a Brontosaurus (aka Apatosaurus). Leon’s father David Calvo is a wood carver who does beautiful work and teaches classes as well.

It’s not too late to sign kids up for Theatre Camp at the YMCA! I’ve heard great things about this program. “Murder on Rocky Neck: The Opera” was the result of a similar program with Henry Allen in the past.1077257_395860890520460_1502729790_o– Matthew Green

Origami class for kids at Art Haven tomorrow, 3:30PM

Posted on by Matthew Green

Tomorrow there is an an origami class for kids scheduled at Art Haven, 3:30-5PM! But no one has registered yet, so the content and level of difficulty of the class is entirely flexible according to the needs and interests of those who sign up.

So, for example, if your child (or a child you know) has an origami book and has stopped using it because he/she is stuck on a difficult model or discouraged, register them for the class and bring them with the book in question! I will help them through whatever difficulty they may be facing, and we can fold some model(s) from the book with the other students.

IMG_5597
A glimpse at part of my own origami library…

Or, we can do basic water-themed origami, learning things like how to make a paper cup that holds water, origami boats that float, and the (in)famous “water bomb” that you can full up and throw like a water balloon! And maybe jumping frogs, made out of business cards. They are fairly easy to make, and the best jumpers I know (better than the traditional jumping frog made from an ordinary square). And a fish or two…

IMG_5599

The possibilities are endless! Contact Art Haven for details on pricing and registration, and if you do register and have a specific interest or need, let me know ahead of time so I can prepare if necessary (you can comment on this post).

– Matthew Green

Origami and Photography Workshops

Posted on by Matthew Green

I will be directing an origami workshop for kids at Art Haven and a digital photography workshop at The Hive this month! Here are descriptions of both. For pricing and additional details, see official websites (at the links provided).

Origami for Kids at Art Haven
Thursdays, June 27, July 4, 11, 18, 25, 3:30-5:00PM
“Origami for Kids” will introduce young artists to the world of origami. Besides learning a variety of basic fun models across a variety of themes, we will go over the essentials of origami terminology and symbols involved in reading origami diagrams, so that the children can learn to fold on their own more easily.

Digital Photography Workshop at The Hive
Tuesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23
July 2 and 16, 4-7PM: Before going out to shoot, we will meet at Art Haven, where the instructor will explain key camera features and shooting tips and techniques, including the differences between file formats (with their relative advantages and disadvantages), how to use manual settings, basics of composition, and shooting HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography. We will then go to shoot photographically interesting locations throughout Gloucester, with some suggested themes and perspectives.
July 9 and 23, 4-6PM: We will meet at The Hive to share our favorite photos from the past week and critique each other’s work. Besides providing creative feedback about the shots, the instructor will give instruction on techniques for post-processing using popular software.

– Matthew Green

Origami class at The Hive tonight!

Posted on by Matthew Green

As previously announced, I will be teaching an origami class at the Hive tonight. I can tailor the content to the interests and needs of those present. We can do some nautically themed origami, including a variety of boats, and maybe a sea serpent (as in the photo above).

Or, have you bought an origami book or kit for yourself or a family member, only to have it get dusty on the shelf because no one can figure it out?  You are not alone! Bring it to the class, and I can teach the group how to read the diagrams and fold some models from the book!  It doesn’t matter how simple or complex the model is – I can help you understand what’s going on.  Sometimes, the problem is that the diagrams are  poorly done, or just plain wrong. I can help you over those obstacles!

As a final option, if there’s something you’d like to learn how to make, sign up for the course and let me know what you want to learn (and what your skill level is), by commenting on this post or by some other means. I will do my best to find something to suit your interest! I have over 100 origami publications in my personal library, and can also find a variety of instructions on the internet.

I hope to see you there!

– Fr. Matthew Green

Origami class at The Hive this Thursday!

Posted on by Matthew Green

As previously announced, I will be teaching an origami class at the Hive on Thursday. I will tailor the content to the interests and needs of those present.

For instance, have you bought an origami book or kit for yourself or a family member, only to have it get dusty on the shelf because no one can figure it out?  You are not alone! Bring it to the class, and I can teach the group how to read the diagrams and fold some models from the book!  It doesn’t matter how simple or complex the model is – I can help you understand what’s going on.  Sometimes, the problem is that the diagrams are  poorly done, or just plain wrong. I can help you over those obstacles!

 

Or, we can also simply do some nautically themed origami, including a variety of boats, and maybe a sea serpent!

As a final option, if there’s something you’d like to learn how to make, sign up for the course and let me know today or early on Wednesday what you want to learn (and what your skill level is), by commenting on this post or by some other means. I will do my best to find something to suit your interest! I have over 100 origami publications in my personal library, and can also find a variety of instructions on the internet.

I hope to see you there!

– Fr. Matthew Green

An Impressive Use of Origami

Posted on by Matthew Green

People do all sorts of neat things with origami.  Last October during my vacation in Paris, I saw this impressive use of origami in advertising at a Peugeot store on the Champs Elysees:

 

 

The origami involved is actually pretty simple; the genius of this display is the way the origami is arranged (and the sheer amount of folding involved!).

Do you want to do neat things with origami? Come to my next class at The Hive in downtown Gloucester, on May 23 at 7PM.

– Fr. Matthew Green

An odd origami menagerie; upcoming origami class

Posted on by Matthew Green

I folded these stegosaurus, bull, mice, penguin, and Chinese dragon last night during “the Sing” at the Inn at Babson court.  The diagrams for the dinosaur and the bull are from the “annual collection” from the origami convention in New York City in 1991; the rest are from an origami book by Akira Yoshizawa.

I will teach another origami class at The Hive on Thursday, May 23.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Origami class at the Hive tonight!

Posted on by Matthew Green

Tonight, April 25, I will be teaching an origami class at The Hive at 7PM.  The cost is $15 students, $20 adults. Supplies are included.

The theme is “Spring!”  So I am going to offer a “menu” of models we can chose from, including flowers, butterflies, birds, and insects.  The ones in the photo are examples; which models we can do depends on the experience and skill of the workshop participants. I’ll have a range of difficulty from simple to high intermediate.

If you can’t make it to the class, don’t despair! I am hoping to teach classes at The Hive more often after June.  Also, I will be available for private lessons for individuals or groups at other locations if requested.

– Fr. Matthew Green