Inthisissue:

DoubleDipColorStudy
OrigamiBonsaiChessSets

Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

ClickOnContents

Clickonthepagenumbertojumptothearticle.

FrequentlyAskedQuestions

OrigamiBonsaiUpdate

DoubleDipColorStudy

OrigamiBonsaiChessSets

AnOrigamiBonsaifernplant
(picturedright)

16

OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazineVol.2Issue2

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazine

Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

Thisisacollaborative,quarterlyproductionsoyourstoriesandsuggestionsarean
integralpartofthispublicationssuccess.Pleasesubmitarticlesandinputvia
emailto:

Ben@Benagami.com

Foradvertisingratesandinformation,pleaseclickthelinkabove.Ourcurrent
circulationisapproximately40,000subscribers,howeverthisdocumentwill
remainontheinternetintotheforeseeablefuture,soactuallongtermreadership
ismoresignificantthantheexistingnumberofsubscribers.

OrigamiBonsaiisaregisteredtrademarkofBenjaminJohnColeman.

JoinUs!

Clickhereformore
Informationon
OrigamiBonsaibooks.

OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazineVol.2Issue2

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Benjamin John Colemans Paper Craft Books

Click the book cover to order or preview.

The first book in the Origami

Bonsai (2010, Tuttle Publishing)
series is available at bookstores
worldwide. This book teaches
how to fold the basic flower
form from which many varieties
of flower can be folded. Comes
with folding videos on DVD. 112
pages.

Origami 101 includes more than

40 fun and interesting models
from every genre of origami.
This book is written for the
absolute beginner with
strategies to go from beginner to
expert in one book! Origami
101 is the first origami book with
glow-fold diagrams and videos
making learning origami easy!

Advanced Origami Bonsai

teaches how to make branches
from newspaper using the
Makigami technique. Also
teaches how to create intricate
branch networks for Origami
Bonsai sculptures. 182 pages on
DVD or through Scribd.com

Artist-inventor Benjamin John

Coleman guides you with stepby-step instructions in how to
make over 30 durable, wearable
jewelry projects. Learn how to
recycle ordinary newspaper into
intricate, complex natural
shapes. Instructions for making
earrings, bangles, pendants and
much more! 132 pages with 14
videos in full HD

Origami Bonsai Accessories

teaches how to make durable
Makigami jewelry, accessories,
bangles, planters and other
items. Make virtually anything
you can conceive of from paper.
152 pages on DVD or through
Scribd.com.

Books ordered
through
OrigamiBonsai.org
ship the same day
theyre ordered!

Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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

OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazineVol.2Issue2

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

Forthesakeofclarity,Ishallletterthesets.Largesquaresaredenotedbyacapitalletter,whilethe
smalleronesaredenotedbyalowercaseletter.Thiswillhelpidentifythecombinations.

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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.

OrigamiBonsaiElectronicMagazineVol.2Issue2

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World, meet flower.

Flower, meet world.
Plastic

Introducing the worlds first

mass-produced, pre-folded
Origami flower.
The Origami Bonsai Instant
Flower ships flat, but with two
simple movements, opens to
reveal a beautiful flower.

Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

ColorCombinations

Aa

Ba

Ca

Da

Ab

Ac

Ad

Bb

Bc

Bd

Cb

Cc

Cd

Db

Dc

Dd

ForsimplicityIcombinedtheflowersaboveincolumbineflowerassemblies.Asyoucansee,thereare
16colorcombinations.WhenImworkingwithcolorItrytolookforinteractions.Ddisanexcellent
exampleofhoworangeinteractswithyellow.IlikeDd,butIwantamoredramaticchangeincolor
betweenthetopandbottomofmyflowerassembly.
LookatDa.Daisacombinationoftealandyellow.Yellowisoneofthecomponentsofteal,andthe
flowerssharethesameorangishshadingcolor.ThisisanexampleoftheinteractionImlookingfor.Cb
isanotherexampleofthisinteraction,althoughnotasapparentasinDa.
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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).

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

Step3:Applygluetoasecondflowerandinsertit
intotheoppositeside.Holdthefloweruntiltheglue
sets(approximately20seconds).

Step4:Applygluetoathirdflowerandinsertitinto
oneoftheremaininggaps.Holditinplacewhilethe
gluesets.

Step5.Applyglueto,andinsert,theremainingsmall
flower.Holditinplaceuntilthegluesets.

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

OrigamiBonsaiChessSetI

WhenIbegantobuildthischess
setIwasntsureitcouldbedone.
Iusedawidebaseofpebbleson
eachpiece.Thisallowedmeto
addpebblestoanypiecethatwas
offbalance.

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

OrigamiBonsaiChessSetII
Whilemakingthefirstset,Ideveloped
someideasIwantedtotryonasecond
set.Ratherthanabaseofpebbles,I
addedaplantertothebottomofeach
piece.Ialsoincludedsomedramatic
curvesandtwiststothestemsofthe
castlesandknights.

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

OrigamiBonsaiChessSetII(Contd)

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

OrigamiBonsaiChessSetIII
Thissetpushedmylimitsasan
artist.Iwantedamorecomplex
appearance.Idevelopeda
techniqueformakingmushrooms
fromMakigami,resultinginneat
lookingpawns.Theflowersinthis
setareaboutonethirdthesize
theywereintheprevioustwosets,
allowingmetocreatemore
interestingdesigns.Ireallylikethe
lookthissetachieved.

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

OrigamiBonsaiChessSetIII(Contd)

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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