Caravansensei

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Nick

Hermit crab by TRAN Trung Hieu

Last year, I contributed some origami for an online auction of Origami Art to help support the “Origami Caravan” project. This was started by YAMAGUCHI Makoto, to benefit the children affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The 2012 auction schedule, artist and item listing is now online.

The main project page is http://origamicaravan.org and the 2012 Pieces page here: http://origamicaravan.org/2012-pieces/

The auction will run from 5 May through to 24 May; each auction will last 3 days. eBay will be the system, payments through PayPal, and OrigamiUSA has kindly offered to act as the conduit for the charitable contributions to the project.

Please take a look, there’s something there to tempt everyone – and even if you don’t want to own a piece of origami art (or one very rare book!), please talk it up with your friends, forward this information .. spread the word, it’s for a great cause.

Here’s the list of pieces, artists and auction-start dates:

Prayer (DINH) – auction begins: 5 May 2012
Swan (HOANG) – auction begins: 6 May 2012Ganesh on His Throne (ENGEL) – auction begins: 7 May 2012
Tortoise (NGUYEN, H.C) – auction begins: 8 May 2012
Rabbit Bride & Groom (SEO, “redpaper” & LEE “whitepaper”) – auction begins: 9 May 2012
Outcropping II (origami bonsai) (COLEMAN) – auction begins: 10 May 2012
Pre-Columbian Styled Frog (TORRES) – auction begins: 11 May 2012
Hermit Crab (TRAN) – auction begins: 12 May 2012
Sakura Bonsai (SRBLJINOVIC-CUCEK) – auction begins: 13 May 2012
Deer (NISHIKAWA) – auction begins: 14 May 2012
Mother and Child (NGUYEN, T.T.) – auction begins: 15 May 2012
Millefiori (KAWAMURA) – auction begins: 16 May 2012
Diamond Tess Vase (GARIBI) – auction begins: 17 May 2012
Jucumaris “Spectacled” Bear (DAO) – auction begins: 18 May 2012
“Viva! Origami” (donated by “RC” Cowlishaw) – auction begins: 19 May 2012
Crab 1.7 (KU) – auction begins: 20 May 2012
Owl (KATSUTA) – auction begins: 21 May 2012
Horse (BRILL) – auction begins: 22 May 2012

Two heads are better than one…

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Nick

I’m working on a new book, part of which will be to show how an origami design can be adapted and extended. I thought I’d use the pajarita to do this. As well as a single-headed version, I’m hoping to include a three headed and a winged version.

So, the logical extra was a two headed incarnation. Curiously, this didn’t show up on google images (although there must be one), so I knocked one up in a few minutes from a 2×1.

There are an extraordinary amount of paja variants out there, from the naughty to the plain weird. Mine is fairly dull by comparison!

Lord Brill Esq.

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Nick

Recovering from the recent BOS convention in Birmingham – lots of thoughts I should get in writing, but meanwhile, here’s a nice snap (click to enlarge) I took of my mate Brilly. More photos on the BOS facebook page.

Come on baby light my fold

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Nick

"Sue's Flapper" by Nick Robinson

For many years I’ve been struggling to produce consistently good photographs of origami. Despite having a decent camera (Canon EOS400d) the lighting has always been a problem. Inspired by some wonderful photos by Rebecca Harris, I got in touch with her to pick her brains.

Amongst other useful information, she sent me to a site explaining how to make your own lightbox. I had the required materials lying around, so knocked one up. The results were instantly a great deal better. I need some sidelights to help knock out the remaining shadow, but it’s looking good!

Alice in Blunderland

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Nick

Following an enquiry about the non-appearance of the Alice book on amazon, I had a reply to say the project is currently in limbo, due to publishing shenanigans. The publisher had “restructured” and can wait up to 6 months before giving it the green light. Failing that, it will be placed with another publisher, I’m assured.

I’ve known other authors who ploughed their creative efforts into projects that never made it to the shelves, I’m just thankful it wasn’t a 128 page book!

C’est si bon!

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Nick

origamis pour les grenouilles Nice surprise today, 2 copies of two books published by Atlas Editions came in the post, sent by la jolie Nathalie. They are compilations from their monthly “part work” collection of a few years ago, to which I contributed. The really nice thing is that they are (unlike most publishers) scrupulous about paying each time a model is reissued, even if you have to submit tax documents to get paid!

One book is called “27 Nouveaux origamis géants” and the other is “30 Origamis pour s’amuser“. They are colourful and bright, although I think the line width of the diagrams is too thin for my tastes. A good selection to fold, but ignore if you have other EA origami collections!

First time, ever I saw your facebook

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Nick

In a vague attempt to get my Facebook addiction under control, I’ve set up page on which to present my origami goings on, plus loads of images that have cluttered up my hard drive for many years. Hie you to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nick-Robinson-Origami/212461572187568 and like the page please!

Don’t dream, it’s Dover…

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Nick

Dover books Out of the blue, my first books for Dover have arrived, two boxes of 24 copies each! They look quite substantial volumes, but you soon discover half the book is paper for folding. Ah well.

Interestingly, they are part of a series entitled “my first origami book”. As a fully qualified pedant, I’d like to point out that only one can fit that bill. The other will be your second book of origami.

Here are the books, along with the keyboard what wrote them. Many thanks to Ros Joyce, who folded the examples used for photographing – you’re a star! You can read more on my books page.

A mess of rhombics

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Nick

Had an email from “Origami Bob” Voelker (is that like “Maximum Bob”?) with a photo which made me smile – he wrote “I thought you might like to see this photo. Some friends and I made 10 jumbo rhombic dodecs. The 12 faces are printed with the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, to use as table centerpieces at an annual dinner. Your work has far-reaching benefits!”

It’s good to see A4 paper can be found in the States – they really should adopt it as a standard. I created this over 20 years ago and am constantly amazed how well it was lasted as a design. Oh yes, there are diagrams for the unit elsewhere on this site.

Bucher & książki

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Nick

Someone from germany emailed me recently asking for help with a flying model called a “Jäger” from one of my books. I searched but couldn’t find it, so asked “which book?” It turned out ot be “Die größten Papierflieger aller Zeiten”, new to me.

So, I contacted the publishers and persuaded them to send me a copy. Along with it came a Polish version of the book along with a Polish version of the “Biggest Origami book”, known as “Wielka Księga Origami”!

So, my first two books in Polish – this has left me on a high, of course ;)

biggest origami covers

Crease is the word…

origami is in creasing