Origami is described as the ancient Japanese art of folding paper to make intricate designs, such as animals. If you’ve always wanted to study how to create origami, we’re going to tell you how in this post!
Get the Right Paper
The best paper to use for origami is copy or printer paper. However, you’ll find that most of this type of paper is rectangular, and you need it to be square, so ensure you cut it to the right shape before you begin to fold.
Learn Your Folds
There are two basic folds in origami; the mountain and the valley. The valley fold has the crease at the bottom, and the paper stands in a V shape, while the mountain fold has the ridge at the top and stands upright, like a mountain.
There are also many ‘common bases’ which are used to make it easier to start sculptures, such as the bird base.
Fold a Paper Crane
The most popular, and most iconic, fold in origami is the Japanese crane, a bird known as a symbol of luck in traditional Japanese culture. The crane is believed to live for 1,000 years, so it’s said that you must fold 1,000 cranes to become lucky. Here is a quick guide to teach you how to get started!
Other Common Shapes
There are many other familiar origami shapes you can learn, ranging from swans and fish to elephants and dogs. And it’s not just animals you can make, you can also craft a range of sculptures; see some cool ones here!
Learning Origami
As well as online resources, you can also learn how to make origami in local classes, run by experienced artists. To find one near you, just search ‘Origami near me’ on Google.
Happy folding!
