Trending Influence of Origami and Paper Folding
After watching Between the Folds (see my review), I decided to see what’s new in origami and related paper folding arts.
For starters, a new (possibly) Banksy graphic was a very affirmative nod to the growing popularity of origami as fine art, and fiber manipulation in general.
New Origami Graffiti Art Might Be a Banksy Original! | Inhabitat …
inhabitat.com3/26/12
This awesome crane and goldfish are reported to be Banksy’s latest piece, but we have not had verification. Either way, it rocks!
A new video from Mabona Origami shows a rhino unfolding. I think I’d rather see him folding than unfolding… but I’m fascinated by paper folding. This 20-second video is astonishing. As it unfolds, the process looks deceptively simple.
Origami Rhino Unfolding from MABONA ORIGAMI on Vimeo.
I’m seeing origami in a new advertisement series, promoting artificial leather products. Refreshing use of graphic… clever and eye-catching! (Click link to see thumbnails of magazine advertisements.)
Rexiine House: Origami Wolf, Origami Cow … – I Believe in Advertising
www.ibelieveinadv.com3/27/12
This next link, to an origami CD case project at MAKE, is a winner for me. I’m always buying (and losing) paper envelope thingies for my loose CDs. I also seem to send a lot of sheets of paper to the recycling bin. This project idea solves both problems, nicely.
blog.makezine.com3/26/12
Origami CD Case. Are you like me and have a big spool of DVD-Rs collecting dust on a shelf somewhere that you keep around to occasionally burn a disk for a friend? Chances are, you’ve found yourself hunting around for …
Origami is influencing fashion, as well. First, I found this WhoWhatWhere article about clothing that references origami. [link] Then, this dress which looks like a mix of origami and retro wrap-around styling:
Origami dress | Lipstick & Ruffles
www.lipstickandruffles.com3/28/12
{Topshop Origami dress, Jcrew glitter flats & necklace, Marc Cain bag C/O}. I am finally back home after an amazing time in New Orleans the past few days. The flight in was a little rocky and our plane had a difficult time …
Frankly, I think those designs are rather tame. As artists, I’m 99% sure we can design some of our own artwear with far better origami elements. However — to be fair to the designers and clothing manufacturers — we artists are willing to wear clothing that cause some people to raise an eyebrow… and then water-down to wear, themselves.
And, not content to fold paper themselves, those wacky wizards at MIT have come up with a kind of origami paper that folds itself. Sort of.
From all of this, I take two things:
- Origami is about to trend. Even Google doodled with origami this month. (See 14 March 2012 Google header graphic.)
- Origami can be pushed to extremes, and include more design media and projects, than I’d realized.
All in all: Cool stuff! I’m going back to watch Between the Folds, to look at this from a wearable art viewpoint. I have wonderful fabrics, some with Asian influences, that could look pretty amazing if they were used in wearables with origami-style surface design.
Between the Folds – Review
Between the Folds is an extraordinary documentary about extreme paper arts and especially origami. In general, I absolutely loved it. It’s best for artist who are passionate about paper as art (papermaking, origami, paper model making) and people who are visually oriented and love math.
Subtitled “The science of art. The art of science,” this video directed by Vanessa Gould is extraordinary. It starts with origami, but probably not the same origami you remember from second grade. This is astonishing work by papermakers and other fine artists working with huge sheets of paper, paper designed for finished origami, and textural works using damp paper.
It’s also about artists creating smaller works that give us an entirely new way to look at fiber, paper, and the art of folding.
This one-hour documentary begins with a man who makes magnificent handmade papers and concludes with an MIT researcher and professor using the concept of folds — and origami — as a foundation for important scientific and medical research. From Akira Yoshizawa to Richard L. Alexander to Dr. Robert J. Lang to Dr. Erik Demaine, you’ll discover corners and nuances of paper art you probably hadn’t even imagined.
It’s a journey, and you’ll visit the studios of origami and paper artists to see a wide range of art forms based on folded and manipulated paper.
For me, the voyage had its ups and downs. I found myself feeling unusually bored in some sections of the movie, and fascinated by others… sometimes at the same time. Often, what the artist said was inspiring and insightful, while the displayed details of his or her work didn’t interest me enough to linger. At other times, I had lukewarm interest in the dialogue, but I was frantic to see more details and angles of the art.
If you are passionate about paper or paper folding, especially origami, I think Between the Folds is a must-own. You’ll watch it over and over again. If your public library doesn’t own a copy, they should; buy them one.
For the rest of us, it’s a good video to see once (I saw it on Netflix, but it’s also available on-demand at Amazon), pause, and then see it again. Between the Folds might be imperative if your children (or students) are visually oriented but also fascinated by math (especially patterns and topology) and engineering.
I give Between the Folds four and a half stars because it’s a wonderful documentary, but the editing didn’t feel quite as compelling as it might have.
Do make a point of seeing this documentary. You’ll never look at paper the same way again.
Photos by Origami Joel (not in video), Joel Cooper
Here’s the trailer for this remarkable documentary:
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In This House, by Angela Cartwright, Sarah Fishburn
In This House – A Collection of Altered Art and Collage Techniques, by Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn, is kind of a “sleeper” of a book. It’s easy to overlook it in a sea of mixed-media art books. The book cover really doesn’t do it justice.
Each of 13 brilliant artists — including Kelly Kilmer, Nina Bagley, and Lesley Riley — started with a template that’s the shape of a house. Then, they used their unique creative visions to make those “houses” into astonishing and varied works of art.
This book shows the art is detail, with comments, backstories, and appropriate quotations to lend even more depth to each artist’s work.
- Discover what inspired these artists — the “lightbulbs” of originality that led to these deliciously rich houses of collage, paint, photos, metal, and other dimensional elements.
- Learn about their materials and techniques, and why they included what they did.
- Take your own art to new heights by gleaning tips and helpful information, directly from each artist.
Frankly, I read a lot of art books. I keep only a few of them, and this one is definitely a keeper. The variety of art and inspiration makes this a unique resource for rainy days and creative dreams.
It’s one of just a few books I hand-carried from Texas to New England, when we moved.
This book is tremendous… and that can be both good and bad. Why? Well, on some days — and for some artists — the pages of this book can lead to blank stares and the inner question, “Oh dear heaven, where do I start?”
That happens to every artist, now and then.
My advice? If the richness and layers of the work overwhelm you, focus on one collage element — for example, wallpaper swatches, vintage photos, or diluted white paint or gesso — and look for that throughout the book.
Different artists will highlight varied approaches to that same element, and at least one will be a “lightbulb” moment for you.
Also, the back of the book includes the same template the artists used, as well as some glorious collage elements for your own work. (My tip: Scan and print — or color photocopy — them. This book is too juicy and wonderful to cut up.)
Start simple. Add more materials. Explore new techniques. Retreat to what’s comfortable, and then surge forward again, finding self-expression in layers.
Pros
- Lots of artists, materials & techniques.
- Tremendous insights, explaining exactly why the artists included what they did.
- Nearly endless visual inspiration, no matter what your skill level.
Cons
- Book cover doesn’t grab your attention, so it’s easy to overlook this book.
- No step-by-step, detailed instructions for beginners.
- Intricacy of art, materials and techniques can be overwhelming, even for experienced collage and mixed-media artists.
Summary
The home is a symbol of comfort and stability for many of us. This book explores that theme, but also shows us a variety of materials and techniques that can expand any artist’s range of expression.
If you’re a collage artist or working in mixed media, this is a book to own. It’s an infinite resource of inspiration and ideas.
Click here to find your copy at Amazon.com
or at Amazon.co.uk
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Happy VooDoo Gris Gris
Happy Voodoo Gris Gris: Over 45 Easy-To-Make Lucky Charms & Talismans, by Mademoiselle de la Brindille / Valerie Lefebvre; text by Anne-Claire Leveque.
Sometimes I buy a book because it’s simply delightful. The art is very original, made with refreshing and simple materials, and the book just makes me smile.
This is one of those books.
Sure, some of this artwork has a Voodoo connection. The author talks about magic numbers and pious images used in art. If that bothers you, don’t read this book.
However, if you’d love to include more art in your everyday world and whimsy delights you… this book is a must-own.
It’s also ideal if you’re working on a sacred area in your home, or creating a personal shrine.
For me, this book is wonderful!
- I fell in love with the loops of wire and charms and flowers that comprise the very informal “Unusual center light” on pages 26 and 27.
- My cat (like the author’s) would be fascinated by the “Wishing tree” on pages 38 and 39.
- The “Garland of happiness” on page 40 is something I want over my desk… it’s a truly glorious idea!
Every project (there are 45 in this book) includes a list of supplies and step-by-step directions. They’re not terribly detailed.
For example, “…top-stitch with the machine using turquoise thread” assumes that you have a sewing machine and know how to use it.
However, the informality of this book makes it clear that you can do the same thing with a needle and thread, and no sewing machine.
In fact, you can (and should!) improvise to create your own versions of these projects. This book is the inspiration; you make each project unique.
45 projects including shrines, household decorations, jewelry, fabric art and wearables, and painting projects.
Pros
- Lots of colorful, whimsical photos to inspire you.
- An informal writing style makes this very accessible to beginners through advanced artists (and non-artists).
- On at least every second page, I see something to gasp at and think, “Ooh, I could do something like that…”
Cons
- If Voodoo and alternative spirituality bother or offend you, there are other great books to inspire you. Skip this one.
- Students who want every step spelled out with basic directions and lots of photos… well, this isn’t your kind of book. It’s for free spirits whose lives are very spontaneous and unstructured.
Summary
Every time I pick up this book, I read just a page or two before I have an idea for a very cool project. So, I’ve never actually read this entire book, even though I’ve owned it for over a year.
If words like voodoo, talismans, and magic make you shudder, avoid this book.
However, if ethnic, improvised art inspires you, this is a book you’ll display so you look at it often. It might be on my top 10 list of favorite mixed-media arts/crafts books.
Available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
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Moira Huntly’s Sketchbook Secrets
Moira Huntly’s Sketchbook Secrets, by Moira Huntly, will inspire you to carry sketching supplies all the time.
It’s an especially good book to read when you’re planning a trip, and want to keep an illustrated travel journal while you’re on the road.
Or, if you’re participating in an all-day sketching marathon (like a “sketchcrawl”), you may refer to this book often, as you prepare for the day.
I’ve looked at a lot of books about keeping a sketchbook. Some are great. Most show illustrations that make me say:
- Umm, I’m not that good at sketching… not even close. (And, as a lifelong artist, that’s saying a lot.)
- I don’t have hours to include those kinds of details. Hello, I’ll be traveling! (Or waiting in the car for one of my kids. Or going past the site in a bus and a cloud of dust.)
- Okay, so I go home with a cool travel journal. Then it collects dust on my bookshelf. Why bother?
Ms. Huntly deals with all of those issues.
Are you an intermediate artist, or a novice with some sketching experience? Ms. Huntly’s sketches range from really simple to oh-my-goodness.
Her simple ones are most like what I’ll include in my journals. Even better, she shows how little detailing (or color) you can include for effects that will make you pause and say, “Wow… did I really draw that…?”
Though this book offers few how-to instructions, Ms. Huntly does simplify the whole “horizon line” issue of perspective: Whatever’s at eye level is your horizon. Stuff above that slopes down to the horizon level; objects below that line will slope up.
So, the issue of details becomes a non-issue. Whether you’re scribbling some lines and shapes in pencil as you fly past a cool site in a tour bus, or sitting at some wonderful cafe with hours on your hands, you can sketch what you see.
In addition, the author includes notes with many of her sketches. She describes the problems she encountered, the decisions she had to make, and what she found frustrating… and how she dealt with them. In some cases, she shows sketches that didn’t really work, and she explains why.
She talks about things like the little boats in the foreground give a sense of scale to the towering skyscrapers in the background. I hadn’t thought about that. (And frankly, I tend to be terrible at sketching boats, so I’d have left them out… except that I now see the point of including some.)
Finally, if you’ve wondered what to do with all those great sketches when you get home, Ms. Huntly shows many examples of paintings and colored drawings she created from her own sketches.
They’re juicy, evocative, and rich with emotions and splendor. In many cases, she’s taken a mundane, everyday scene and turned it into something awe-inspiring.
So, if you’re a fine artist and you’d like an art journal that’s filled with great ideas for gallery work, I think this book will inspire you, to0.
Pros
- Lots of pictures in a variety of techniques and materials, simple to advanced.
- People, buildings and landscapes from several countries. You’ll glean lots of ideas for great subjects, even in your hometown.
- Awe-inspiring completed works, from detailed sketches to full-scale paintings.
Cons
- After a list of materials and some basic tips, this is not a how-to book. If you want step-by-step drawing instructions, this isn’t the book for you.
- No photos to compare what she was looking at to what she actually drew. So, you’ll have to guess at how much she added, left out, and rearranged. (She explains some of that in the text with her sketches.)
- A lot of the art is very professional. If you “can’t draw a straight line,” this book may collect dust on your shelf until you’ve built your confidence… and your skills.
Summary
If you’re already someone who sketches, this is an ideal (and inspiring) book to own. Before a trip, follow Ms. Huntly’s suggestions and inspiration to sketch around your hometown. You’ll soon identify the techniques, materials, and subjects that you enjoy most. You’re ready to create wonderful travel journals, and finished art inspired by them!
Available at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
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