Origami is the Japanese craft of making objects and artifacts by folding paper in different shapes. Most of us as children have made some shapes out of paper. We have often made paper boats and airplanes and enjoyed having fun while making them as well playing with them. As kids, we discovered various things that could be made from paper just by folding it in infinite ways. Developing ways of folding paper helps to simplify the teaching of origami. Basic terms such as “mountain fold” or “valley fold” are frequently used in the teaching basic origami constructions. These simple and basic folds can be used infinitely to create complex shapes and you can create infinite artifacts using them Thus, going from simple to complex models helps understand the shape of objects and how they connect to make a whole.
Nowadays, special origami kits are available in the market. These kits contain square shaped papers that are colored on one side only. The one-sided color is very useful in depicting different facets of the origami models and adding a certain dimension to the overall structure of the models. This helps in enhancing its looks and giving them a more realistic anatomy. As a beginner, you can experiment with colored newspapers that are generally larger than origami paper for making larger origami models of airplanes.
Education and Fun
Actual origami object is made up of only one piece of paper. Cutting paper or gluing it together is not considered pure origami. However, modern versions of Origami use a combination of both. The basic idea is to create shapes that are visually enchanting and fun to play with. Experimenting with various shapes and sizes can enrich the practice of origami and make it a lively experience.
Origami is used to teach kids about building and organizing shapes to create meaningful structures. This craft is also helpful to teach patience to the kids, who are very active and restless by nature. Its effectiveness is immense, as it promises fun and learning with minimum use of material. Origami imbibes among kids the virtue of simplicity and the evolution from simplicity to complexity as a process of growing up and maturity.
For adults, origami can be a great stress reliever. It can be a very creative and fulfilling experience. It can expand our imagination in untold ways and aid us in increasing our creativity. It is also an effective medium to communicate and play with kids and create a bond with them. What are you waiting for, start practicing origami and let your imagination take some definite shapes.
About the Author: