Sunday, September 28, 2008

Chess Boxing?

Why not? It turns out that chess boxing has been going on since 2003, and is gaining in popularity. I can't help but wondering whether it would be hard to think of your chess moves after being hit in the head a few times... I decided to go with a somewhat random sport for this months challenge of sports on the english origami forum. Seeing as I hadn't participated in the sports challenge on the french forum, I had a second chance. He is my boxpleated CP, with a 16:16 grid.
Chess Boxing CP

It is mostly a simple human form, with some extras. The square in the head forms the cross on the king's head. The bottom point in the center becomes the color changed shorts, and the gloves can be formed by wrapping a layer around the end of the arms. Then only the head remains to be shaped.
Chess Boxing, Ryan MacDonell

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tessellation Application?

Not too long ago, I was exploring an application for tessellations in representational origami. I intended on using a triangle grid, but I guess that I could call this a start. For some reason, I decided to fold some square twists side by side, and found that if you folded in between two of them, it looked a lot like eyes. At first, I had the idea of making a fish out of this, but found that there simply wasn't enough paper with the grid I was using (maybe I'll make a fish some other time...). I also noticed that the part beneath the eyes looked a lot like a triangular nose, so I added a mouth and eyebrows. I ended up with a Tiki Mask, a wooden mask from Central Eastern Polynesian islands in the Pacific. Here is my CP:
Tiki Mask CP

I didn't include a grid, but it shouldn't be too hard to guess. All vertical and horizontal lines are on a 16:16 grid. After you fold the base, all you need to do is fold in the sides however you feel like folding them. Enjoy!
Tiki Mask, Ryan MacDonell

Monday, September 22, 2008

Something Simple

Lately, I've had a (only somewhat nasty) cold, and I can't really say that I've enjoyed it so far. However, when blowing my nose, I noticed that one time I folded it in a 22.5° angle. If that wasn't strange enough, I decided to just look at a kleenex (not used) that was folded in the same way. I then played around with it a bit and ended up with something that looked like a bear, made from only two folds. Its strange what can inspire you sometimes.
However, when I got home, I found that the bear really didn't look right because of the head color change, which I just couldn't avoid. So I considered what else it could be, until I ended up with two simple 22.5° angles making a man with a bouquet. The idea of making something this way came from Paula Versnick's bi-fold Santa. Here is my CP:
Man with Bouquet CP

Not too hard, eh? And theres no shaping involved either! I shouldn't be too hard to figure out which way to fold it, just do the straight 22.5° first. If the color changes don't look right, just switch around the mountain/valley folds until you get it.
Man with Bouquet, Ryan MacDonell

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Rabbit on the Moon?

Sorry for the "long" break there. It turns out that grade 11 teachers really enjoy the idea of homework...
I actually never though about the different things that you can see when you look at the moon, until I was staring at blankly at the french forum challenge topic at the start of this month. It turns out that this month is "Le Lapin de la Lune", which means (roughly) "Moon Rabbit". I soon found out that, in quite a few regions, people used to look up at the moon and see a rabbit (rather than "the man on the moon" often seen today). I couldn't really figure out what I should make to represent it. Eventually, I decided on using color changes to represent the rabbit. Here was my result:
Moon Rabbit, Ryan MacDonell
Moon Rabbit, Ryan MacDonell

The model is completely based around the ears. The rest of the model us simply pleats and folds, with another pleat to make it round. The pleat forms the rabbits cheeks, and you can then use the end of it to make a nose.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Some Call it Sweet

I decided to try my hand at an origami car, based on Robert Lang's and Joseph Wu's recent cars. I started folding, and it turned into an SUV instead. In fact, it looked an awful lot like a Honda Element, an ugly small-ish SUV that looks like a box on wheels. So that ended up as my name for the model. The CP is fairly simple, and even uses the same method as the podium to make the front and windshield. Honda Element CP As you can see, the model is made using simple pleats and locks. However, I didn't include some creases such as the wheels, which I made using 22.5° folds, as well as the doors and windows, which are simply creases. Honda Element, Ryan MacDonell Honda Element, Ryan MacDonell