Origami Hakken
Origami prototypes and works-in-process
Again, these are origami works-in-process, one-offs, and creased curiosities I've folded over the last three years. The amount of time I've spent with the photography varies (obviously), but I hope you can see some merit in these first stages of what I hope will one day be more refined models. Periodically, I'll be updating some of these models and adding new ones. (Scroll to the bottom to see the latter.)
Comments, suggestions, observations (even cautionary tales) you'd like to share about about how you've moved through the process in creating your own works? Click on the Comments button at the top of the page...I'd like to hear and learn about your experiences!
Click on an image to enlarge it.
Man Riding a Dinosaur
I admit this is a little strange and whimsical (and rough). Still, it is meant to pay homage to one of the folders who inspired me the most when I was young: Argentinian Aldolpho Cerceda (1923–1979). His one-piece model “Moor on Horseback” really opened my eyes to the magic and potential inherent in a piece of
paper. My other prototype model “Moor At Prayer” is meant as thanks, too.
Cochin Hen
The Cochin is a breed of domestic chicken which has feathers covering most of its legs. It found its way (with help) to the West from China in the 1800s. Like other models here, this needs refinement, but I see a Cochin when I look at it. (As far as I know, the paper model doesn’t taste like chicken.)
Bull--Iteration I
I tried to find an actual bull with similar horns, but the Web either showed them with immense (and exotic) horns, or none at all.
I might have to try and
reapportion the paper in places to allow me to go with something big and distinctive.
Bull--Iteration II
Just more bull…so to speak. I like where this is going, save for the hind end and legs. I’m not trying for anything hyper-realistic, but anatomically (or even just not showing
the distinctive proportions) the model clearly needs work
Roadrunner
Clearly, I was thinking more of the cartoon roadrunner—that famous, lightning-fast speedster—than the “real bird.” If I want the latter, the tail will need to be moved the whole model “slimmed down,” and a crest won’t hurt either. (Meep.Meep.)
Rhea
Rheas are large, flightless birds native to South America, They're related to the ostrich and emu, and it was my good fortune they look a little like this. (But not quite a like this...so, back to the folding board.
Boxer
It’s a good beginning to fashioning a Boxer, but a bad beginning to fashioning a well fed one. It was a one-off but, in retrospect, I could at least have endowed the poor fellow with a tail. I’ve seen a few very good Boxer models, so I know I have something to aspire to.
Dogs at Play
The title says it all. I folded both—what would call them, proto-dogs?—one evening and decided to put them together in a picture as they seemed to belong there.
Chipmunk (?)
I think this first-folded fellow looks a little like a chipmunk. But I see the foundation for several other animals as well. Visitors (folders and non-folders alike) are welcome to provide their best guess as far as which direction to pursue in as I start me second iteration with this odd-looking creature!
Bird I (species unknown)
Ditto, here. I have no idea where I was or will be headed with this. It has potential, but I'm not sure whether I shoot aim for some-thing fanciful or
basing this model off of some that this bears some likeness to. Suggestions?
Fish--Iteration III
I like my first effort in this instance. It will be interesting to see if I can add a couple more strategically placed fins, or provide more "personality" to the face. (Do fish have personalities?)
Squirrel (simple model)
A fair, first out of the box (of scrap paper) effort at a squirrel. After sculpting this a bit more, and working on some details, I hope others can nod their collective heads and agree.
Rocking Horse...sort of
I've seen a nice rocking horse model (complete with the two runners on the bottom). That's what I would like to shoot for here. The trick will be folding wisely enough to have enough paper in reserve (and in the right places) to do it!
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"Dino"
Owner: Mr. F. Flintstone
I think I threw this in for the sake of frivolity more than anything else. I watched The Flintstones on TV when I was little, and when I saw this shape appear in a square of paper I was absently folding I couldn't help but think of Fred's hyper-active pet.
Mr. Number 45
I'll just say this at the outset: folding this caricature of someone you have l seen in dominating the media over the last few years was completely unintentional. I was just fooling around with a scrap of paper, minding my own business, when suddenly...
Bird III (species unknown)
I'd like to do something more creative with the distinctive hood or plumage (or whatever) on this bird's head. I was thinking abut a kookaberra as I was folding here and crimping there...only to look at a picture of one after the fact and see no similarity whatsoever. Is there the beginning of a woodpecker hiding in here somewhere?
Swingin' Simian
I'll enjoy continuing to develop this. Not only does it show the potential for different postures and limb shapes, but I also created this fellow, as with most of these models, from "riffs" (for lack of a better term) on new or existing bases which showed promise for other figures as well.
Penguin
This is an overly angular and awkwardly folded penguin taking in the sites atop a large snowball. I think the important anatomical elements are there, but some sculpting and repositioning of them--and that's the trick, isn't it?--is definitely ahead of me.
Man on a Camel
No where near finished, obviously! But if I can get the proportions right, shift some of the raw edges to inside the model, articulate the camel better, and make good use of currently "wasted" paper, this will be fun model to display.
Fish--Iteration IV
Another fish model to work on, what can I say?
Moor at Prayer
Another homage to Aldolpho Cerceda (one of my favorite not-quite-contemporary folders). He folded a model called “Praying Moor” (or possibly “Kneeling Moor”). Unfortunately, almost every-one who has seen this picture before it was posted here thought this was of a dog begging for a treat. (Which was not what I intended. That little point near the top is
supposed to be the tip of beard poking out of the hood.) And that means more work for me to do…in this instance, gladly. (Of course, add a tail any everyone else will be spot on in their opinion.)
A Badger? Labrador Retriever? Something else..?
Keeping in mind this is a one-off, enough effort might like me see going in any of these directions. But I am leaning more towards the dog side of the equation.
Dog with Collar
I’ll need to make several adjustments to render the face more “realistic” and to fashion a collar (hopefully with a dog tag on it as well). That tail needs to be moved as well. Oh, I need a better treatment on the legs, too! That said, the foundation for it all is there (I hope).
Snail...sort of
The snail is the result of a piece of craft paper I had on hand and absently folded during a boring class a few years ago. The shell is obviously better suited to an armadillo, but I might stay with that look because it was all so fun to render on-the-spot.
Wolverine(?)
Wolverine is simply a wild guess. I either have to make elements of this model more distinctive so it looks like a wolverine, or do the same thing so it appears like something else readily identifiable. Suggestions?
Fish--Iteration I
Fair warning: This is one of several fish which appear here--this one has no dorsal fin which would provide so much more…well, “fishiness.” I’d like to make the tail longer, too, in order to have some fun with crimping additional structure or texture. Odd ventral fin, perhaps?
Giraffe
Again, the raw potential is there, but I need to (among other things) find a way to give the neck more slender and tapered look; add horns; give the legs a more spindly and articulated appearance; provide a more distinctive face/mouth; and fashion a ropy tail.
That should keep me busy for a while...
Robin Hood's Cap
Leading actor Errol Flynn looks like he's wearing something like this in some scenes from the Oscar-winning 1938 production of "The Adventures of Robin Hood." Good origami. Fantastic movie cast.
Pteranadon (juvenile)
I supposed the benefit of folding a Juvenile Pteranadon (even as a one-off) is that there are approximately zero photographs of one against which to say “Nope, you have it all wrong.” That said, this is more for humor than anything else.
Fish--Iteration II
Seeing an astonishingly good origami model of a coelacanth (think: swimming fossil) recently prompted me to get a little silly in folding something that looked a little menacing (or not) and certainly belonging to some other era. Anatomically, I have no idea if this poor creature can swim…but it was fun folding.
Bird II (species unknown)
Any Origami ornithologists or serious birders out there? If so, does this look like anything with which you familiar? Since I can't make a live bird look like a folded model--for some obvious practical as well as
ethical reasons--I need to be refining this model to match its living counterpart. (It seems like the right thing to do.)
Wolf (variant)
"Variant" is just my way of saying this came out looking a little like a wolf...or perhaps a coyote. I'd like to do better in future iterations so the title can just read "Wolf" because it clearly looks like one.
This Little Piggy...
This one-off is a rather blocky, angular little porker, but I like it. It reminds me of some of the fairly simple, plain and otherwise unembellished models in the origami books I bought more years ago than I care to admit. I'll work on it some more.
Begging for a Bone
I was delighted with what sprang from the paper in this instance. I'm eager to see what else I can do to make this a little more playful and hide a few flaps here and there. That said, I'm not aiming for a life-like appearance some folders seem to so effortlessly imbue onto their work. (The blockly quality of the dog seems to add a little comedic context to this frisky guy which makes me smile.)
Sheep...sort of
Bah. (Humbug.) I suppose if I fatten this sheep up a bit by rounding off the corners, seeing what I can do about having the legs jut out from inside the model, sink the back, and add folds of skin around the neck...maybe I'll have a Merino. Maybe.
Bison
The Bison is a majestic and imposing animal. I'm very fond of them and hope I can keep improving on this basic model to pay tribute to this magnificent representative of living American history.
Doberman
Dog aficionados (of which I am not) may think this looks like an entirely different breed. Or not a dog at all. I have no ego on the line here: Is this the beginning of a decent Doberman model? Something else?
Praying Angel
This is not a terribly good photograph (or background). But an angelic figure is there if you look for it and have a little imagination The wings certainly need work, and multiple crimping might be all that I need. I decided to skip the halo. I'll leave that sort of thing for someone with more creativity, or perhaps less laziness.
Bird IV (species unknown)
Another instance of seeing a foundational shape emerging...something with potential...but not knowing what direction to go in. Avian, yes (no?).
(Obligatory) Dinosaur
I have an Origami-related theory: Every origamist either eventually creates some kind of dinosaur model (pick your age, period, or epoch), or folds something that is not a dinosaur but someone else mistakes for one. More field work and an overly-generous stipend will be needed to continue this research.
Coelacanth
A prototype (obviously), but the fact that I was able to develop so many fins--which this creature seems to have--and a somewhat elongated shape means maybe I can fold something to look like the real/surreal thing.
What a Boar...
I suppose until I can free up a little paper under the snout to add a pair of tusks, this looks more like a pig. But I rather fold this into something more feral, aggressive, and unwelcome in polite company.
Mary had a little lamb...
...a piece of cheese, and a slice of ham.
At least it looks roughly like a lamp (or a sheep)
to me.
A Proto-Puffin?
This fellow looks like he could be diving off rocky outcrops into the cold north Atlantic waters hunting for fish. If so, the beak, tail, and the use of just the right kind of bi-colored paper is called for. I better make sure the feet are webbed, too!
"Sid," the Sloth?
I've drawn (folded?) a blank on this one. Any suggestions out there on what this looks like or, alternatively, what I can refine this initial model to look like?
Frankly. all I can think of is "Sid" the animated sloth from the Ice Age movie franchise. Of course, I would need to add his impressive overbite to the model.
Blue Whale
The blue whale is the largest living creature on earth. (This prototype "orange" blue whale is significantly smaller than the real thing. I only had so much paper at hand.) It shows a lot of the angular...polygonish?... appearance characteristic in many Pureland folds, and I am very pleased with the initial result. The judicious use of crimping and sculpting--perhaps wet folding--could help smooth out the overall "flow" of this majestic mammal.
Additional Prototypes
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brief descriptions for some models.
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