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Beautiful Firsts




finished!

Originally uploaded by Bimbi_OM.

Spotted in the Origami Tessellations photo pool on Flickr, this beautiful tessellation from user Bimbi_OM.

This is their first tessellation design! And not only is it fantastic and aesthetically a knockout – but they posted step-by-step photo instructions on how to make it, too.

Sharing and community involvement like this is really where it’s at – we all learn from one another and grow as artists because of it. I’m really impressed and so very pleased with this work.

We’ve crossed over 3000 photos in our tessellation photo group on Flickr, an astounding amount that I never would have imagined when I started posting photos of my tessellations a few years ago. Every time I see a new contributor – a new folder to join the community – I get so excited! It’s not a zero sum game, so the more people playing, the more fun there is to be had.

Hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I did, it’s a novel and creative design that has a lot going for it.

-Eric

stop-motion video of origami tessellation folding

I have a lot of superfluous photos from the book writing/documenting process – including many extra photos from the step-by-step photo shoots for the various projects included.

So here’s a bunch of them for the model “Bird Base Stars”, by my good friend Mélisande (or also Mélisande* on Flickr.) She graciously gave me permission to use this design in the book, along with a few other delightful patterns as well.

Nothing serious here, I just like to look at the way the pictures flow when I look at them in Aperture or flick through them on my computer, and I thought I’d try to share the same perspective with you.

Funny thing about this model: I folded this version (the easy one) and then a larger, more complex model from the same paper, and that beautiful blue just rubbed off all over my hands! between photographs I had to wipe my hands clean with rubbing alcohol. It looked like I was turning into a Smurf.

I hope the arriving spring finds you well, my friends! It’s a time of growth and renewal, and possibly my favorite season. Enjoy it!

-eric

Goran Konjevod: Hierarchical




hierarchical

Originally uploaded by goran konjevod.

Goran Konjevod has done a lot of work over the last few years combining math and art – the output is fantastic things like this new piece, called “Hierarchical”.

I love the way it all flows from a strict, ordered process and yet produces such an organic, vibrant result. From a distance I would have a hard time believing this is paper, much less a single uncut sheet of it!

Goran also has an exhibition running currently in Phoenix, AZ, which includes this work.

I’m looking forward to my next opportunity to check out his art in person – probably at the Origami USA convention this June in NYC. Maybe I can even get him to share some of his design secrets!

Branching out

I’m still folding paper – see some of the work at the end of this post! But I’ve just started taking GMAW/MiG welding classes, and it’s a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to learning some metalworking skills and applying some of my love for geometric design… and seeing what comes out of the combination!

Welding class

Welding class

I have a lot of fond memories of my grandfather working in his shop welding things, and my first attempts at welding tonight (while messy) made me feel a connection with him, and it was a happy-making experience.

And then this – my first exposure to a computer-controlled plasma cutter! It was love at first sight!

Eric Meets Plasma Cutter

I have, however, been doing work in paper as well. I took a week in early February and went on a personal “art retreat” in NYC, and I was able to get some interesting work done. I also came away with a lot of ideas for new work, which is still continuing.

Here’s a design for a bowl (of all things) which I am still refining, to be completed in some wonderful multi-hued blue handmade flax paper. Please forgive the quality of the photos here, I was taking photos during the build process for my own reference.

untitled bowl

untitled bowl

untitled bowl

Here’s the blue flax that I’m intending to use, from Cave Paper in Minneapolis.

blue flax

And here’s a sample of a variant pattern folded from the same paper in a chocolate / brown hue:

Brown Flax

The paper has a delightful roughness to it, with an uneven deckled edge that should really make a great rim to the bowl. I’m looking forward to the final version of this; I just have to make sure that I calculate everything properly, as I only get one chance to make it, and it’s going to take three sheets of the blue flax to do it in the proper scale.

If anyone has a good suggestion for a clear and strong glue, please let me know. I haven’t found any satisfactory “connecting” materials yet, which is also holding things up a bit. Ideas welcome.