Irregular Tessellations

[redheadorigami]

Hi, sorry to keep asking questions but i was just wondering, seeing the works of Chris Palmer and others how do they fold things that aren't on a grid or things that would tessellate?

[Brimstone]

Even though some of Chris Palmer's models have been classified as tessellations, they are not in the purest sense of the word. They are called tessellations because they repeat a certain pattern, but usually in the models that I think you refer to, each step is smaller than the previous one (contrary to a common tessellation in which all patterns are the same).

This does not mean that they are done at random in the paper, they are located precisely at some point. The process to fold them is called decreeping and consists of folding a certain pattern (let's say an octagon), then somehow freeing some paper as to create a smaller semi free octagon and continuing the process producing more and more smaller octagons until you run out of paper. Then you reverse some folds and collapse.

That's all I could say without breaking copyrights by Chris Palmer but if you have access to Origami Tanteidan Convention #8 where some of the CP's are and play a while with them, you might understand what I am saying.

[redheadorigami]

OK, cool thanks!

[redheadorigami]

But the ones that im talking about are eric gjerdes negative space things.

[ahudson]

Can you give us a link to what you're talking about? Very few tessellations are created without any grid, if I see an example I might be able to tell you something about it.

The only person I know of that has created tessellations with absolutely no grid is Fredrik Owesen. And he's kind of crazy.

[redheadorigami]

These types of tessellations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/origomi/22 ... t-1225374/

[Pixion]

It has a grid, it's called 'polar' (instead of a 'Cartesian' grid like a rectangular grid).

[mike352]

There's Robert Lang's tessellations:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/langorigami/
especially the second page of photos.

[redheadorigami]

Thanks but not really helpful.

[Pixion]

Not sure what you are looking for.

Look for Eric Gjerde's book 'Tesselations'. I believe it has some projects that are radially like the one you posted.

[redheadorigami]

Ive got the book....

[EricGjerde]

The negative space things are mostly radial patterns- there isn't a grid, but that's because a grid wouldn't be of any use here. We use grids as a framework for fitting together geometric patterns; they're really a matter of convenience, and not necessity. For many other patterns a modified grid or other things are needed to get the proper reference points (like chris palmer's flower towers, etc.)

So, for the things I make, I basically fold the radial lines around the center point- dividing the paper into 8ths, 12ths, 16ths, or whatever seems appropriate. The folding methodology from there is relatively easy and beautiful but not simple to explain in a forum post :)

I think I have a CP or two on my website; look at the page http://www.origamitessellations.com/docs (just a list of every cp and pattern I have on my site to download) and I believe there are a few of the negative space items to try out.

I taught the octagonal negative space star at last years OUSA convention, which was interesting... In the end I think everyone folded it, but getting them there was tricky. It's not how most origami people think about folding things.

If you'd like to talk about this stuff in greater detail, feel free to email me directly. There's an "email" link on my website that will give you my email address.

The negative space patterns are some of my favorite things, but one which few people show interest in, which is why I don't have any documented folding methods or diagrams for them. Maybe I should rethink that?

[redheadorigami]

Yes you should rethink that!
and that was very helpful Thanks!