Contents
Understanding Glow-Fold Diagrams
Finding Interesting Twigs and Stones
How to Download the Bonus Material of this Book.
1. You must have an internet connection.
2. Click the link below or copy paste the URL to your web browser.
http://www.tuttlepublishing.com/origami-bonsai-kit-downloadable-cd-content
For support email us at [email protected].
Introduction
When I began making origami bonsai sculptures several years ago it never occurred to me that I might be writing books about it. So far I have written five books on the subject, all of which teach readers how to cut and then paint squares for their sculptures. While painting has tremendous advantages, it is also time-consuming, messy work.
With the publication of this kit, origami bonsai becomes accessible to many who would not have considered it. While writing this book, I was amazed at how little time it took to fold and then assemble a sculpture using the included folding papers. I found I could complete a sculpture in less than two hours; something that would take two days without pre-printed paper!
This book comes with almost everything you’ll need to make a sculpture. I’ve included plenty of paper; enough for you to make a small collection of origami bonsai sculptures. You will also need:
• A hot-melt glue gun—available at any hardware or craft store.
• Twigs and stones—found in local parks and recreation areas.
How to Use This Book
This book was written for inexperienced folders. The diagrams you’ll find in this book are different; they employ a new technique called glow-fold which will be explained in the next section.
Rules for Faster Origami Learning
• The effects of an incorrectly made fold increase as the model progresses.
I have seen students struggle because they refuse to throw away the square they started with. They continue using the same piece of paper despite having made an incorrect fold. They proceed, successfully completing a few more folds, and then make another incorrect fold. What most folders don’t realize is that an incorrect fold at the beginning compounds exponentially as we progress through a folding pattern. By the time the folder nears the end, the incorrect fold has contaminated almost every plane of their model. Something inside us tells us not to waste paper, however, discarding a tainted paper when exploring a new folding pattern will end up saving both paper and time in the long run.
• Review the instructions before folding the model.
Before you begin, look at each diagram and read each instruction. This allows your brain a little time to digest the pattern before you attempt it. Even if you don’t fully understand the diagrams and instructions, reviewing them in advance will give you an edge and save you time and paper.
• Watch the video.
If you have trouble making any of the models in this book, take a look at the videos. (Download HERE.)
Understanding Glow-Fold Diagrams
Glow-fold is a new diagramming method for conveying folding instructions. It is particularly useful for origami applications. Glow-fold works by highlighting the surface of the area which will move during the fold with an orange, semi-transparent “glow.” In the diagram immediately following, a narrow trace of orange, semi-transparent glow will be visible along any open edges. This narrow trace is called afterglow and indicates where the glowing surface went. After glow appears only along edges where the initial glow would normally leak through; in other words, there won’t be afterglow along the folded side of the area that just moved.
Glow-fold dramatically decreases
