Nick Robinson's Blog, page 37

New WBO review

[image error]Surprisingly late, but very welcome nonetheless, Dana Hinders has posted a comprehensive review of Worlds Best Origami alongside an interview (conducted by email) with the handsome, debonair author. She is a “guide” for about.com and they have an origami section that she populates.

The review is both positive and fair, I tried to persuade them to include photos, but the budget didn’t stretch. I can’t really comment on the interview! Fingers crossed it pushes sales one small step closer to the point where I’ll actually receive a royalty ;)

A new standard is set for origami books…

Last year, whilst in Freising, I saw a book about Tomoko Fuse’s Spiral designs in progress – I’m delighted to say it will be available soon. It is, in my humble opinion, the most beautiful origami book ever produced. Tomoko herself flew over to have a unique series of photographs taken showing her producing her designs.

I can’t imagine anyone else in the world producing this, other than the inimitable Paulo Mulatinho – his artistic skills, appreciation of origami beauty and dedication to achieving the highest standards possible is a shining example to us all.

I recommend you start saving now. Not cheap, but exceptional value for money and essential for any true fan of Fuse or beautiful origami. For further details (and many exquisite sample photos) visit www.viereck-verlag.de, the virtual little origami shop around the corner run by Silke Schröder.

 

Owrigami lives!

I chanced upon Francis Ow’s origami page the other day and mentioned to him that two of the links there (my site and the BOS) were out of date. He replied that the site has been fossilised since the year 2000 and he no longer has access to it!

So, I offered to give it a makeover and incorporate some of his new work. The site is more or less finished, although I find it hard to leave a site alone and it will undoubtedly undergo more revisions in the near future. The favicon is his name in Chinese ;)

Back in the 80s and early 90s, Francis and I enjoyed regular, effusive communication (by snail mail!) and it was always a delight when one of his letters (or even better, packets!) came through. He distributed his work generously and wasn’t averse to developing and sharing ideas with other folders. David Petty was another who enjoyed Francis’ friendship and both he and I contributed designs to Francis’ “Hearts” collections.

I hope the site will give more exposure to this talented yet modest creator whose work has opened up many doors for creative modular folders around the world, as well as giving the world the genre of origami hearts! Here’s a model of his that I’ve always loved – I drew it for my “Origami Bible”.

A failure of biblical proportions

I’ve just had a royalty statement through for my “Origami Bible“, which makes depressing reading. For the last quarter, total sales 1, amount due 36p. Less unearned balance, net total -3401.47. I guess after nearly 9 years, I should be pleased it’s still available, but it’s a case of what might have been.

At the same time, I was working on the “Encyclopaedia of Ori”, a book of similar size and aimed at the same market. That one went on to be translated into 7 languages (despite the cover featuring models that were not in the book), but it was a flat-fee arrangement. The royalty based Bible has, essentially, stiffed. Largely due, I feel, to a terrible cover and even worse title. I fought long and hard and unsuccesfully to change both, but they assured me that they “knew the market” better than I did.

Am I bitter? Heck yes ;)

Caravansensei

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…

[image error]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.

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

"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

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!

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!