What is Origami?

Origami, although an ancient discovery, is perhaps a foreign concept to many individuals today. Unless a person is caught up in the art world or has an interest in crafting, they may have never heard of origami. What is origami? It is, put simply, folding paper. This idea began hundreds of years ago however, the exact origin is unknown. It is still unknown whether it began in China or Japan. It is a known fact that the Japanese have developed advanced forms of artistic origami. This idea was quick to catch on spreading into Spain, South America, Germany and Britain. With time this creative activity also became popular in the west. Although origami is an activity enjoyed by thousands of people, it has a special place in the Japanese culture.

Learning how to fold paper is the basis of origami. There are very simple forms of origami such as the paper airplane which requires basic folds and instruction. Although the paper airplane is quite easy to make, for years it has provided hours of entertainment for young children. For the millions of individuals who have quickly made a paper airplane, perhaps they weren't aware they were using the art of origami.

Folding paper may sound boring to some people but for thousands in the world the folding paper or the art of origami, has become quite significant. It may sound juvenile to some but origami can be quite challenging which is what interests many people. The art of origami uses mathematics which again can be challenging for many people. A project starts out with just a square piece of paper and can be transformed into countless beautiful compositions. For many people origami is not simply a pastime. This activity requires skill and knowledge and is often used in the business world. There are individuals who get paid to create certain items using the art of origami. In different parts of the world there are origami competitions where people showcase their work.

Who Might Enjoy Origami?

Who might enjoy origami? The answer to that question is simple - anyone. People of all ages for many years have been doing origami projects. One of the basic forms of this activity is the paper airplane. Thousands of people have made paper airplanes not knowing they were doing an origami project. In order to make a perfect paper airplane, it is essential to use exact folds in the paper. This is what the art of origami is about, making precise folds to create a specific object.

Origami can be very basic such as the simple folds required for a paper airplane. However this activity, when used as an art can become very complex. As people are become interested in origami, they begin to look for more challenging projects, those that demand plenty of thought, creativity and imagination. Using mathematics this activity requires the individual to think logically as well.

Over the years origami has been taken to a whole new level. People are using this concept to create sculptural art. Individuals who are using this idea as a form of art are creating their own designs. Many of these origami compositions are displayed in art galleries. There's enough interest in this activity that there are origami competitions held. Individuals who are really skilled and serious about origami work quite hard to design and create complex objects to be showcased and judged at competitions.

As far back as the mid 1800's it was discovered that origami was a delightful project for young children.  Besides teaching eye hand coordination and developing concentration the child had a toy they had made themselves when they were finished.  With practice a child of any age can even create a number of the more advanced figures.

For young children there is often the satisfaction of being able to fold a piece of paper into a figure that they aren't yet capable of drawing.  Origami teaches children much more than just how to make cute toys.  They learn dexterity, they learn to listen and follow directions.  They learn creativity and perception and surprisingly they learn to relax.   In a world where so much is rushed, sitting quietly and folding paper figures can bring a sense of balance and peace to even young children.

Some tips for beginners - pick a well lighted relaxing area to work in, start with simple figures and work your way up (some figures will have both simple and advanced instructions for the same animal).  Don't use really good paper to start with and for true beginners one of the best pieces of advice is to start with a larger piece of paper than what is called for.  Make your folds as sharp and precise as possible, press down on the centre of the fold with one finger then run a finger from your other hand across the fold in both directions.   You can give your piece a somewhat different look or create an entirely different piece just by making a fold in a slightly different place.