Non-Folders Reactions to Your Origami

Jonnycakes · Post by **Jonnycakes** » December 13th, 2008, 3:59 am

Don't be offended-they are at least showing that they have some origami chops by saying that. How much chops they have, who knows, but at least it is not a totally inconsiderate thing to say.

origamimasterjared · December 13th, 2008, 5:06 am

ahudson wrote:Not to get off topic, but the reason I (and many other people) don't like several-sheet models is because most of them don't look much better than single-sheet creations. IMHO it's fine to break the rules of purism, as long as you use it to make the model look better than you could otherwise...

THANK YOU.

I was folding on the train and somebody started talking to me about what I was folding. Halfway through the conversation they said, "hey, you know you can get a stronger crease by using your thumbnail right?" as if I wouldn't know that! It's funny how some people think they know a lot about origami...

Stronger, really? Sharper, yes, but it damages the paper, making it weaker. The back of a thumbnail, or a spoon--something rounded, but hard--make for good sharp but still strong creases.

I'm always amazed when people don't believe that something with two colors is from a single unpainted square. Unless one of the colors is white...

ahudson · Post by **ahudson** » December 13th, 2008, 10:13 am

Jonnycakes wrote:Don't be offended-they are at least showing that they have some origami chops by saying that. How much chops they have, who knows, but at least it is not a totally inconsiderate thing to say.

No, not offended, just mildly surprised they wouldn't realize I already knew that. It's kind of like telling Rembrandt that when you use a ruler you can get a straighter line...

Post by **origami_8** » December 13th, 2008, 11:50 am

origamimasterjared wrote:I'm always amazed when people don't believe that something with two colors is from a single unpainted square. Unless one of the colors is white...

It's always like this even on Origami conventions. In Verbania I showed how to fold four different models where people didn't believe me it's from one uncut square and these people have been other folders as well and two of the models didn't even have a colour change...

Jonnycakes · Post by **Jonnycakes** » December 13th, 2008, 5:26 pm

Doubter: Ryuzin can't be from one square. I don't believe you.
Kamiya: No, really, it is from one square only.
Doubter: Prove it.
Kamiya: ...

notefolds · Post by **notefolds** » December 13th, 2008, 5:39 pm

ahudson wrote:Not to get off topic, but the reason I (and many other people) don't like several-sheet models is because most of them don't look much better than single-sheet creations. IMHO it's fine to break the rules of purism, as long as you use it to make the model look better than you could otherwise...

I agree with you that folding from multiple sheets just to make it simpler serves no purpose. Being able to create something from one sheet is a real accomplishment. However, there are some models (I'm thinking of modular pieces) that require multiple sheets.

gordigami · Post by **gordigami** » December 13th, 2008, 6:39 pm

Regarding the opinion that several sheets don't serve any purpose, I respectfully disagree.
Simply from my personal perspective, I wholeheartedly enjoy Nicolas Terry's experiment into the multilayer concept . Notably, the oiseau multicouches, or multilayer bird.
Granted, the goal is not to make the model lifelike, but rather to develop a spontaneous, cheerful, exciting model via the utilization of two or more dual colored sheets. The intrigue & challenge lie in strategic placement of each colour to fully compliment the model.
Really quite fun to do, and experiment with it ! I would recommend anyone try this, for fun, perhaps before criticizing any such technique .
For myself, I sincerely thank Nicolas for his bravery in introducing this technique, thus contributing a measure of spontaneity & whimsy to the pleasures of folding.

Pumpkin · Post by **Pumpkin** » January 16th, 2009, 7:09 am

I have only been folding for about 18 months. One time, I folded a heart for Mom, and her response was..."What does it do?" I guess she doesn't find origami useful for much unless it does something. When I started folding cubes, she took a little bit more interest.

Other responses:

- You made that?

- Cool!

- Can you make a deer?

- Can you make a squirrel?

- You should sell that.

I asked for origami stuff for Christmas, and I got 3 books and some paper. I got Animated Origami Faces, Fascinating Origami, and Origami for the Enthusiast. I felt bad when I told Mom that I would have to work my way up to folding those designs. I still consider myself a beginner, and am trying to understand the diagrams when there are three or four steps in one picture.

I work at a school, and nearly all of the students love watching me. I'll get the..."What are you making?" Just wait, and you will see... I tend to give away all my origami, unless I've grown fond of a model I've folded. I put some of the things I've folded on my computer...a butterfly, a lily, and a four-pointed star. Beside my computer, I have a cube, a Sanbo box, and a square box inside that one. Students are always looking to see if I've got something new on display, or they'll ask me what something is.

So far, I've converted 2 people....and taught 3 on Wednesday how to fold a cube. They really liked them.

I've never really gotten a negative comment. I can always justify my origami to the people at work, especially the math department. I've got one teacher who wants me to show him how to make a particular cube I gave him, so he can show his students! Love it!!

nocturnum · Post by **nocturnum** » January 17th, 2009, 3:17 am

I have been doing simple models for years and years basically ignorant of the greater world of complex origami until probably the last couple years or so. When I was little, it wasn't a big deal...everyone has seen a crane or one of those little fortune teller things or a paper balloon...But I moved to a small city a couple years back and picked up this really old book (I wish I could remember the name, because it was a great book) and started learning some new models. I went to an alternative school emphasizing a work-at-your-own-pace philosophy in a very remote part of the state, and almost nobody there knew what origami even was. I got asked alot if what I was doing was Paper Mache (which still irritates me even though I love paper mache as well). Ultimately, I got art credits for all of the models I made (even though none of them were really original) and extra credits for teaching some of the other students how to fold some. I never "converted" anyone, but I did get a couple of first timers to complete an inflatable frog.

Usual responses;
"Is that Paper Mache?"
"Oo...neat." (and other generic statements of amazement)
"Can I have it?" (Girls... how am I supposed to say 'no' to that?)
Then there is the obviously feigned interest accompanied by the look one would give while shaking hands with an extraterrestrial...

People who know me are all pretty used to it by now and aren't really impressed much by what I do, I think I kind of prefer it that way.

Edit: I LOVE modular origami! Modular gemetric models comprise probably the most fun I've had folding paper. I don't like the idea of non-modular multi-sheet forms, I think it doesn't appeal to me because it doesn't offer a sense of accomplishment to the degree that a 1 sheet form would and still lacks whatever it is that draws me into modular forms so much.

Brimstone · Post by **Brimstone** » January 17th, 2009, 5:10 am

nocturnum wrote:Edit: I LOVE modular origami! Modular gemetric models comprise probably the most fun I've had folding paper. I don't like the idea of non-modular multi-sheet forms, I think it doesn't appeal to me because it doesn't offer a sense of accomplishment to the degree that a 1 sheet form would and still lacks whatever it is that draws me into modular forms so much.

How about geometric models folded from 1 piece of paper? Those are my favorite models.

nocturnum · Post by **nocturnum** » January 17th, 2009, 6:35 am

Tbh, I haven't actually tried any. I can only guess that my love for modular geometric models is a combine love of folding, geometry and puzzles. Not to say that I wouldn't like and/or try 1 sheet geometric pieces, I just haven't had the pleasure yet, so I couldn't say.

Oruhito · Post by **Oruhito** » January 17th, 2009, 2:49 pm

I try to keep my work that is origami very quiet and not talked about because of the lack of knowledge in the art world and beyond. One person was talking to me about how I just finished a show and she was disappointed she missed it because she said she had very little knowledge of origami.

"Did you make any of those Swan-y things?!?" T_T

Then when I went back to the school to lecture (brining a few pieces with me) her jaw dropped lol. She apologized for making it sound so juvenile. "I had no idea" she said. I get that a lot and say that most people don't! That's why I don't like talking about origami without some models around as examples or photos, because people literally can't comprehend it until they see it and thus look at you like your nuts. But when I do have models around or there's a gallery show I've gotten common compliments and comments like,

"I had no idea this was possible"
"This is one sheet? no cuts?!"
"This is paper?"
"These are beautiful"
"This looks so realistic!" or "I thought that was real!"
"So when exactly did origami change into an art form? I guess I wasn't around to get the memo" (a teacher at the school

)
"how is this possible?!"

The biggest compliment to me though, is people seeing it, and then recognizing it and telling me it is just as legitimate and expressive as any other art form whether it be painting, or whatever. They are very right to say that origami is a subfield of sculpture.

insaneorigami · Post by **insaneorigami** » January 17th, 2009, 5:17 pm

Pumpkin wrote:I have only been folding for about 18 months. One time, I folded a heart for Mom, and her response was..."What does it do?"

Hmmmm, sounds like my grandmother, I showed her my engel octopus:

and she asked where it's beak was...

origamimasterjared · January 17th, 2009, 6:18 pm

Oruhito wrote:

True that.

Especially:

The biggest compliment to me though, is people seeing it, and then recognizing it and telling me it is just as legitimate and expressive as any other art form whether it be painting, or whatever. They are very right to say that origami is a subfield of sculpture.

Brimstone · Post by **Brimstone** » January 17th, 2009, 8:19 pm

nocturnum wrote:Tbh, I haven't actually tried any. I can only guess that my love for modular geometric models is a combine love of folding, geometry and puzzles. Not to say that I wouldn't like and/or try 1 sheet geometric pieces, I just haven't had the pleasure yet, so I couldn't say.

If you actually like geometric one piece models, there are some i can recommend. Check Thoky Yenn's models http://www.britishorigami.info/academic ... igami.html many of them are in this category.

Also check Philip chapman Bells pics, many have links to his photo diagrams or CP's http://www.flickr.com/photos/oschene/

And if you have access to books try to find models by Fred Rohm, Philip Shen and Chris Palmer