Working on developing a method for folding three dimensional mountain peaks, that take on an inverted "V" shape. After some thinking on the problem I came up with a fold structure that locks this into place- not vertical sides, but at a sharp angle, so it makes actual 3d structures.
This particular example is folded in a honeycomb style, but really it could be made in almost any shape. I need to play with this further and see what other intersections I can fold in this manner to expand the concept.
This folding idea and general technique came from thinking about some of Ron Resch's designs, and his 3d structure methodology.
Also have some questions on the twist-lock for the reverse side, will share some photos of that once I do the wet shaping of this elephant hide.
(I can see now why Joel and Melisande like using elephant hide so much for these sorts of 3d tessellations. the feel and weight of the paper is particularly enjoyable to work with.)
thiomor, Chris Keegan, rizoma, and 36 other people added this photo to their favorites.
ranjit 82 months ago | reply
I hope it's not real elephant hide. Or if it, it better be from pesky weed-elephants and not endangered ones.
EricGjerde 82 months ago | reply
nono, it's Zander's "Elefanthaut", a german-made paper called "Elephant Hide". here in the US, it's sold under the name of Wyndstone Marble. It's primarily used for diplomas, certificate things, and bookbinding (others correct me here if I'm wrong).
I have a love/hate relationship with this paper; or as Melisande put it, "She's given up trying to understand my versatile opinion about elephant hide". While it's not entirely pleasant to fold (lots of work creasing this stuff, as it's a bit heavy) it is very pleasant to look at, and makes a nice finished result. I'm trying to focus more on having nice results, so I'm using this paper now, along with some other nice papers.
My time is expensive, and paper is cheap, so there's no reason to not use the good stuff all the time...
Mélisande* 82 months ago | reply
This is a very nice honeycomb !
Reminiscent for me of the one designed by Roberto Gretter. Although locking mechanism isn't exactly the same.
Elephant hide is the best stuff for 3D folding. This paper has some sort of intrinsic sensuality, if I' m allowed to say this.
R.bean 82 months ago | reply
i believe in the sensuality of papers..this paper does seem to have it (esp. when folded so awesomely)....eric, it's kind of like your dollar pop-out stars, yes? except looks more conical and hexagonal?
i love this direction- go go G-O!
EricGjerde 82 months ago | reply
It's kind of a honeycomb, but not exactly like the one you are thinking of, Melisande. it's a related technique but instead of vertical pleats that lock, these instead are 3d pleats with volume inside them that lock at an angle, allowing you to make some interesting textures and patterns. But the similarity to Roberto's locking technique is definitely there, for sure.
Elephant hide is indeed a rather sensual paper, and once it's been folded up a bit it somehow gains desirability- you want to keep folding it. It's very pleasant to touch.
@bean: it's a bit different than that, but actually also similar (if that makes any sense?) Will look a bit more formed once I wetfold it and lock it down into it's final shape. right now it's doing some training here being taped down to a fedex box (to fight off it's innate desire to curl).
if it helps at all, here's a little sketch of what I'm talking about:
Pulled from my notebook.
ckn.niwatori 82 months ago | reply
A lot of information at one stroke that I have to assimilate. I need to try it!
If you can, share the photos of the process.
Thanks Eric!
EricGjerde 82 months ago | reply
I can do one better than that- I can post a crease pattern. just give me a little bit of time.
I have several earlier versions of this "in process" so I can share those, too.
syngola 82 months ago | reply
This seems to be something very, very interesting and a completely new method on folding non-flat tesselations. I like to see what one can do with these technique
At all very wonderful artwork here, Eric!
PS: i guessed it would be made out of some odd rotated triangle twists, but it seems to me that this is not the solution you found
EricGjerde 82 months ago | reply
Uploaded more demonstration photos, set as private/friends only right now but will be public shortly. I am spamming my own photos, but I think I'm allowed to do that, particularly since this is relevant spam...
Here's the thumbnails, click the text link for medium sized image; images will link to the pages themselves after a few days.
See image here
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EricGjerde 82 months ago | reply
I have other example folds of this technique with squashed twists, but it's a little hard to do on the elephant hide and I'm not sure of the actual method required yet (the squash twist seems to defy my understanding so far.)
LorenzoMarchi 82 months ago | reply
This is a very nice concept, simple and elegant shape...I wonder how are the other shapes that you were talking about...So you are near to fold masks too... :P :P
I do very love the hemispherical one!! :)
very good work
EricGjerde 82 months ago | reply
Actually no, I'm not really interested in folding masks- I don't have a sculptural artistic sense, so anything I tried in that line of folding would just be a poor imitation of Joel's work. I'm happy to just admire what he does!
That being said, I'm looking into newer sorts of 3d tessellations that require some different sorts of folding to create. Elephant hide paper is particularly good for this, I now understand why it is so popular for wetfolding!
lilzabubba 82 months ago | reply
i really do love how these are more like egg cups and less like the gretter design linked to ...somewhere else in this stream!
giacomotimbrello 53 months ago | reply
Wow that is amazing is the directions of this in your book wow really want to learn how to make this looks simple yet sooo hard. my forte is in modular origami. not so much this kind of origami made from one sheetof paper . great job! :)
giacomotimbrello 53 months ago | reply
ps sorry for the poor grammar was in a rush
EricGjerde 53 months ago | reply
This model is not in the book, but I do have a crease pattern for it posted somewhere on my website. It's a little bit complicated to fold :)
Corwin's Trumps 38 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Perspective, and we'd love to have this added to the group!