Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Vol 2 Issue 2

Inthisissue: DoubleDipColorStudy OrigamiBonsaiChessSets
Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.
ClickOnContents
FrequentlyAskedQuestions OrigamiBonsaiUpdate DoubleDipColorStudy OrigamiBonsaiChessSets
AnOrigamiBonsaifernplant (picturedright)
Clickonthepagenumbertojumptothearticle.
4 6 7 16
OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazineVol.2Issue2
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OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazine Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved. Thisisacollaborative,quarterlyproductionsoyourstoriesandsuggestionsarean integralpartofthispublicationssuccess.Pleasesubmitarticlesandinputvia emailto: Ben@Benagami.com Foradvertisingratesandinformation,pleaseclickthelinkabove.Ourcurrent circulationisapproximately40,000subscribers,howeverthisdocumentwill remainontheinternetintotheforeseeablefuture,soactuallongtermreadership ismoresignificantthantheexistingnumberofsubscribers. OrigamiBonsaiisaregisteredtrademarkofBenjaminJohnColeman.
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Clickhereformore Informationon OrigamiBonsaibooks.

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FrequentlyAskedQuestions
WhatisOrigamiBonsai? OrigamiBonsaiisanewartformdevelopedoverthepastthreeyearsbyartist,authorand inventorBenjaminJohnColeman.Origamiflowersandleavesareattachedtobranchestoform dramatic,visuallycomplexsculptures.Thesesculpturesareeitherfreestanding(canbeplaced ontopoftables),orwallhanging(attachtowallswithahook). OrigamiBonsaiisrevolutionary.Forthefirsttimeorigamienthusiastscanassembletheirwork intosculptures.Thesesculpturesareappealingandhavebothartisticandcommercialvalue. Whileitcouldbearguedthatorigamiisacraftandnotanartform,itisclearthatOrigami Bonsaiisanartformascolor,shape,andplantinteractionscanbeusedtoconveythoughts, meaningsandevenemotions. Wedonotattempttoduplicatenature,asthiswouldbeimpossible.Insteadwemimicnature andusenaturalformsasinspirationforourworks.Theworldofplantsseemschaoticand complex,anditisinhumannaturetotrytoaddordertothatworld.Ironicallychaosisthe sourceofmuchofthebeautyofourwork.OrigamiBonsaiartistsaspiretoexpressthischaosin acoherentmannerintheirwork,usingittoconveyamessage,orsimplytocreatesomething beautiful. WhatisMakigami? BenjaminJohnColemaninventedMakigamitocomplementOrigamiBonsai.Itallowsartiststo makenetworksofbranches(i.e.trees)frompaper.MakigamimeansrollpaperinJapanese. Newspaperissaturatedinasolutionandthenrolled,muchlikethesnakesyourolledasa childfromclay.ThesewetMakigamistripsarethenattachedtocylindersandallowedtodry. Whendry,thesolutionthestripswererolledinactsasglue.Theresultantpaperproductisstiff, durable,andeasytoworkwith.RecentadvancesinMakigamihaveledtotheabilitytomake itemslikebonsaiplanters,jewelry,andotheritemsfromthematerial. Doyouusewiresinsidethebranches? No.OrigamiBonsaiisabouttestingthelimitsofpaperasamedium(material)andabout discoveringnewapplicationsforpaperinourwork. Whatisthedifferencebetweenwww.OrigamiBonsai.organdwww.Benagami.com? Benagami.comisawebsitefeaturingtheworkofBenjaminJohnColeman.OrigamiBonsai.org isawebsitededicatedtofurtherdevelopingOrigamiBonsai.AtOrigamiBonsai.orgyouwill
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findthelatesttechniquesandfoldingdiagrams,andcansubmityourideasforpossible inclusiononthesite. HowdoIgetstartedmakingOrigamiBonsai? Allyouneedtobeginissomesmallsquaresofpaper(tolearnhowtomakesquares,visit www.OrigamiBonsai.org/Videos.html).Ifyouwouldliketobuildasculptureyouwillneed eithertheprintedbookOrigamiBonsai(TuttlePublishing,availableinApril2010)or AdvancedOrigamiBonsaianelectronicbookavailablethroughwww.Scribd.comoronDVDat www.OrigamiBonsai.orgviatheclickableadvertisementonthesecondpageofthisdocument. WhatisthedifferencebetweenthebooksOrigamiBonsai,AdvancedOrigamiBonsai,and OrigamiBonsaiAccessories? OrigamiBonsaiisthefirstbookintheseries.ItispublishedbyTuttlePublishingandwillbe availableinbookstoresinAprilof2010.Thebookteacheshowtofoldmanyvarietiesof flowersandleavesandthenassembletheflowersandleavesontorealtreebranches.Thisis largelyanorigamibook. AdvancedOrigamiBonsaiisthesecondbookintheseries.Itwaspublishedelectronicallyon June1,2009.Itteacheshowtofoldafewdifferenttypesofflowersandleaves,butmore importantly,itteacheshowtomakebranchesfrompaperusingtheMakigamitechnique. Whilethereissomeorigamiinthisbook,itismostlyaboutMakigami. OrigamiBonsaiAccessories isthethirdbookinthe seriesandisstillinthe researchanddesignphase. Thisbookteacheshowto makebonsaiplanters, jewelry,andotheritems frompaper.Itwillbe entirelyMakigami.
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OrigamiBonsaiUpdateMarch1,2010
byBenjaminJohnColeman ExplosiveGrowthonScribd WheneverIbeginwritinganissueofOrigamiBonsai ElectronicMagazine,Ireviewandupdatethe numberofsubscribersonPage2.Ifyoureferback topreviousissuesyouwillseeatrend.Thefirst issuesays3,000readers,thesecond10,000.AsI preparetoreleasethisissue,thecurrentnumberof OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazinesubscribersis over40,000.Thatsanamazingnumber,especially whenyouconsiderthatthismagazinedebutedonly ninemonthsago! OneofmygoalsinlaunchingOrigamiBonsai ElectronicMagazinewastobringorigamiinto mainstreamAmerica.Whilevirtuallyeveryonein Americaisfamiliarwithorigami,manyconsiderit toocomplex,havehadabadexperiencewithit,orhavesomeotherexcusenottotakeup theartform.Ofthesubscribersthatreadthismagazine,onlyahandfulactivelyfoldpaper. Mostpeoplewhoreadthemagazinesimplyenjoyseeingtheartformandthatsfine,but Idliketoaffordeveryonetheopportunitytoexperiencethejoysoffolding. OrigamiBonsaiInstantFlowers IbelieveIhaveatoolthatwillreintroduceorigamitopeoplethathavebeenintimidated ordiscouragedbyanearlierexperience.Iveintroducedthefirstmassproduced,pre foldedorigamiflowerintheworld.IcallittheOrigamiBonsaiInstantFlower.These prefoldedflowersofferinstantgratification,andtheopportunitytobecreative.Itismy hopethatadultsthatbecamefrustratedwithfoldingintheirchildhoodwilldiscoverthese flowersandbereintroducedtoorigamiinapositiveandsatisfyingmanner. BenColeman
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DoubleDipColorStudy
byBenjaminJohnColeman
Thedoubledipflowerisanew flowerassemblybasedonthe Droopyflowerfolding pattern(includedontheDVD thatcomeswithOrigami BonsaifromTuttlePublishing, April2010).Itiscomposedof onelargeDroopy,andfour smallerones.Thefoursmaller flowersaremadefrom squaresexactlyonequarter thesizeofthelargesquare. Icallitthedoubledipbecause itlooksalittlebitliketwo scoopsoficecream.The largerflower,withitsdroopy petalslookslikemelting vanilla,whilethespherical shapecomposedoffourred flowers,lookslikeascoopof strawberry. Thisflowerassemblyaffords ustheopportunitytoexplore interactionsbetweencolors. Becausethefoursmaller flowersandthelargerflower areallpaintedseparately,we canpursuecombinationsthat attracttheeye. ForthisarticleIprepared paperforfourdoubledip assemblies.Twosetswerepaintedwithanorangeshadingpattern.Theothertwosetshaveadarkred shadingpattern.Eachsetwasthenpaintedwithtwocoatsofafinalcolor;teal,darkblue,lavenderand yellow.Thesetsofpaperareshownonthefollowingpage.
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Forthesakeofclarity,Ishallletterthesets.Largesquaresaredenotedbyacapitalletter,whilethe smalleronesaredenotedbyalowercaseletter.Thiswillhelpidentifythecombinations.

OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazineVol.2Issue2 Page8
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ColorsIUsed: SetATeal:Ipaintedthehighlightswithamixtureofwater,burntsiennaandvermillionwatercolor paint.ThenIpaintedtwofinalcoatsofamixtureofwater,acrylicdarkblue,acrylicwhite,yellowochre watercolorandceruleanbluewatercolor. SetBDarkBlue:Ipaintedthehighlightswithamixtureofwater,roseandblackwatercolor.ThenI paintedtwofinalcoatsofamixtureofwater,acrylicdarkblue,andPrussianbluewatercolor. SetCPurple:Ipaintedthehighlightswithamixtureofwater,roseandblackwatercolor.ThenI paintedtwofinalcoatsofamixtureofwater,acrylicdarkblue,acrylicred,andcrimsonwatercolor. SetDYellow:Ipaintedthehighlightswithamixtureofwater,burntsiennaandvermillionwatercolor paint.ThenIpaintedtwofinalcoatsofamixtureofwater,acrylicyellowandyellowochrewatercolor.
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Yesyoucan!
NoFolding! Inexpensive Innovative Creative Includeingreeting cards Decorategifts Brightensomeone's day! Storesflateasyto keeponhand!
Ifyourereadingthismagazinethinking youcouldneverfoldpaperlikethis,yourewrong.Introducing
OrigamiBonsaiInstantFlowers,aprefoldedflatshape,thatwithtwosimple movements,openstorevealabeautifulflower!Theyreliketrainingwheelsfora bicycleallowingyou,andpeopleyousendthemto,afun,fulfillingOrigami Bonsaiexperience.
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ColorCombinations
Aa
Ab
Ac
Ad
Ba
Bb
Bc
Bd
Ca
Cb
Cc
Cd
Da
Db
Dc
Dd
ForsimplicityIcombinedtheflowersaboveincolumbineflowerassemblies.Asyoucansee,thereare 16colorcombinations.WhenImworkingwithcolorItrytolookforinteractions.Ddisanexcellent exampleofhoworangeinteractswithyellow.IlikeDd,butIwantamoredramaticchangeincolor betweenthetopandbottomofmyflowerassembly. LookatDa.Daisacombinationoftealandyellow.Yellowisoneofthecomponentsofteal,andthe flowerssharethesameorangishshadingcolor.ThisisanexampleoftheinteractionImlookingfor.Cb isanotherexampleofthisinteraction,althoughnotasapparentasinDa. OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazineVol.2Issue2 Page12
Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved. IalsolikeAdandAc.Noticethatbothcombineverydifferentcolors.Ad,alargeblueflowerwitha smallyellowoneisacolorcombinationIhaveusedinthepastthatIknowworks.IhaveneverusedAc, alargetealflowerwithasmallpurpleflower,before.
AssemblingtheDoubleDipFlower
Hotmeltorwoodgluecanbeusedtosecurethefoursmallerflowerstothelargeflower.Iveused woodglue,butbecauseofthelongdryingtimeIfoundIhadtocheckmyassemblyrepeatedlytoensure thesmallerflowersdidntmovewhiletheglueset.ForthisreasonIprefertousehotmeltglueforthis assembly.Ifyouusehotmeltglue,makesureyourgluegunissettohighandthatyouwaituntilthe gunhaswarmedupfully.Whenyousmelltheodorofmeltingglue,thegunisready.

Step1:Applyasmalldropofgluetooppositesidesof thebudofonesmallflower.

Step2:Insertthebudoftheflowerbetweentwoof thepleatsofthelargeflower.Onepetalofthesmall flowershouldbeinsertedintotheindentationofthe correspondingpetalofthelargeflower(notvisiblein thispicture).


Step3:Applygluetoasecondflowerandinsertit intotheoppositeside.Holdthefloweruntiltheglue sets(approximately20seconds).

Step4:Applygluetoathirdflowerandinsertitinto oneoftheremaininggaps.Holditinplacewhilethe gluesets.

Step5.Applyglueto,andinsert,theremainingsmall flower.Holditinplaceuntilthegluesets.

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OrigamiBonsaiChessSets
Perhapsthereisnogreaterchallenge foranOrigamiBonsaiartistthanto beaskedtocreateachessset.At firstglanceitseemsaminortask, simplymakesmallplantsthatfit withintheconfinesofasmallsquare. However,uponcloserexamination thetaskisfarmorecomplex. Yes,eachpieceneedstofitwithina standardchessboardsquare,but nowconsiderthateachpieces heightneedstoreflectitspower. Kingandqueenaretallest,pawnsareshortest,withtheotherpiecesatvariousheightintervalsin between.Dontforgetthatyouneedalowcenterofgravitysochesspiecesdontfallover.Notto mentionthateachpieceneedssomeareawhereitcanbesafleypickedupandmovedduringagame. Andifyouwantachesssetwithcurvingstemsthatarenotsymmetricalabouttheirheightaxis,youll havetodealwithmirroringshapestoconformtothesymmetrythatmakesachesssetbeautiful. Tothismixaddcolor,andindividualpiecedesign.Yes,thereare16pawnsinasetandtheyreallthe sameshape,butacastlecantlooklikeaknightorbishop.Andthekingandqueenshouldsharesome attributes,butbedistinctaswell.Thismeansthatatypicalsetwillbecomposedof6designs;pawn, castle,knight,bishop,queenandking.Ofthese,thecastles,knights,andbishopsshouldbemirror imagesofthemselves.Inotherwords,ifaknightsstemcurlstotherightononeside,itshouldcurlto theleftontheother. Frankly,itsatimeconsumingand anxietyproducingundertaking. However,awelldesignedchessset issomethingtomarvelover. Peopleenjoythesesetsimmensely, whethertheyplaywiththemornot.
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OrigamiBonsaiChessSetI
WhenIbegantobuildthischess setIwasntsureitcouldbedone. Iusedawidebaseofpebbleson eachpiece.Thisallowedmeto addpebblestoanypiecethatwas offbalance.
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OrigamiBonsaiChessSetII
Whilemakingthefirstset,Ideveloped someideasIwantedtotryonasecond set.Ratherthanabaseofpebbles,I addedaplantertothebottomofeach piece.Ialsoincludedsomedramatic curvesandtwiststothestemsofthe castlesandknights.
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OrigamiBonsaiChessSetII(Contd)
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OrigamiBonsaiChessSetIII
Thissetpushedmylimitsasan artist.Iwantedamorecomplex appearance.Idevelopeda techniqueformakingmushrooms fromMakigami,resultinginneat lookingpawns.Theflowersinthis setareaboutonethirdthesize theywereintheprevioustwosets, allowingmetocreatemore interestingdesigns.Ireallylikethe lookthissetachieved.
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OrigamiBonsaiChessSetIII(Contd)
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Inthisissue: DoubleDipColorStudy OrigamiBonsaiChessSets

Clickhereformore Informationon OrigamiBonsaibooks.

Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved. IalsolikeAdandAc.Noticethatbothcombineverydifferentcolors.Ad,alargeblueflowerwitha smallyellowoneisacolorcombinationIhaveusedinthepastthatIknowworks.IhaveneverusedAc, alargetealflowerwithasmallpurpleflower,before.

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