Inthisissue: DoubleDipColorStudy OrigamiBonsaiChessSets

Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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FrequentlyAskedQuestions OrigamiBonsaiUpdate DoubleDipColorStudy OrigamiBonsaiChessSets
AnOrigamiBonsaifernplant (picturedright)

Clickonthepagenumbertojumptothearticle.

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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.

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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.

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

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.

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!

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

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

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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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Forthesakeofclarity,Ishallletterthesets.Largesquaresaredenotedbyacapitalletter,whilethe smalleronesaredenotedbyalowercaseletter.Thiswillhelpidentifythecombinations.

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Copyright2010,BenjaminJohnColeman,AllRightsReserved.

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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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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

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).

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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.

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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