First time was a success!

Here we go!

As you know from my previous post, I am learning to fold origami for my learning project. I don’t know much about origami so I decided to search online to see what I can find in terms of learning the basics for the art of paper folding. It was easy to access different websites and videos on learning to fold origami. I browsed through a few of the websites looking to see if it was easy to read, organized, had clear instructions, and most importantly, had visuals like step by step pictures or videos.

Here are a few websites I came across:

Stephen O’Halon’s Origami Page

Origami Instructions

Origami Fun

Origami Resource Center

Origami Club 

I noticed as I was browsing through the different websites that some of them contained a section where they taught you the basic foundations of folding which are usually the starting points or base of many origami model. With knowing these essential foundations, I think it will be a lot easier and less frustrating when trying to fold a new model. But before thinking too ahead, I have to learn and master these basic folding techniques.

I started off reading the Origami Basics of the Stephen O’Halon’s Origami Page which introduces all of the major folds in origami and shows how they are done. There were clear step-by-step instructions and diagrams with explanation which were easy to follow and understand. It also provides a large number of simple models that aim to allow one to practice these folds.

The instructions on this page were divided into parts which I thought was really well organized. The parts consisted of learning about choosing the right paper and deciphering the meaning of the arrows we see on diagrams, different folding techniques, and lastly a few bases which are foundations for most models. The first part of the basic instructions taught beginner origami enthusiasts how to read and differentiate the meaning of the arrows that are often illustrated on diagrams. On origami diagrams, arrows show you which direction the paper is to be folded in. It is important to understand which direction the arrow is telling you to fold.

Source: http://www.fishgoth.com/origami/pictures/basics_arrows.gif

Just with looking at this picture, I am feeling a little overwhelmed. Although there are only a few arrows, each one of them illustrates a different way folding. These all look very similar and I will have to memorize the meanings of these arrows so I don’t fold the paper in the wrong direction.

After familiarizing myself with the arrows above, I made an attempt to try to practice the Mountain and Valley folds by making my first origami Samurai Helmet. The model didn’t consist of many steps and the illustrations were easy to follow which made the process very easy.

With my first origami model being a success, I am optimistic to trying new and more difficult folds and models.