Part I: Introduction and diagram corrections
Part II: Folding the scales
Part III: Folding the head and fins
Part IV: Continuing with the fins and crimping the head
Part V: Folding side crimps on the head
Part VI: Folding the lips and whiskers
Part VII: Rounding the body, shaping the lips and whiskers
Pt. VIII: Shaping the illusion of dorsal fin, shaping tail and finalizing body
Photo compliments of Yukie
From left to right: Michael (he doesn't drink), Won (drinks), Yukie (probably)
March 25, 2012 15:41
Don't know why I didn't do this sooner, but I'm adding in the link to the step photos I took during the time when Won first taught it to me at OUSA (2007? 2006?). A bit dated on the cross-pleating technique that Won uses, but it still works.
Wow, Michael Saunders & Won Park, Thank you for the video tutorials & corrections to the koi diagrams. It'll be a wonderful reference for the $ bill enthusiast in all of us!
ReplyDeleteFantastic videos. Thank you for sharing your secrets. I've been able to fold decent looking models from the diagrams, but haven't been able to figure out how to make them look truly phenomenal like those of the original artist. The videos are very enlightening.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the videos! however, they are very hard to follow when the koi fish and your hands are blurry. I cannot fold the head because i can't see what you are doing :( !!! can you please help! There is sometimes a macro function on the camera which helps film objects up close.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the difficulties. Won had a limited amount of time in LA, so there really wasn't much chance of doing multiple takes.
ReplyDeleteRealize, too, that I filmed using a digital camera, not a camcorder. Trying to get any closer would more than likely blur the camera image.
The videos should be used as a supplement and "hint". Ultimately, to get it "right", it really takes practice and one's own expertise at folding and sculpting. Rely on the diagrams, images, and video and study as closely as you can.
Hopefully, it won't be too much longer before Won comes out with his dvd/book.
We did try to intersperse still photo close-ups as well into the videos, but with only moderate success. Just wasn't enough time to spend, "getting it perfect".
ReplyDeleteThe Koi has to be one of the most beautiful and useful things I've ever seen a dollar used for. Hehe! ^__^
ReplyDeleteSimply stunning, both in it's simplicity in the appearance and nuance of the finished product and in the mathematical complexity of it's creation. I am in absolute awe. ^__^
I have been doing origami since the age of 5 (over 25 years), and I don't know if even I could do this.. n_n
Do you ever sell your creations?
ReplyDeletebmitchell@cusd.k12.az.us
Darn, the only part I really need help on is the beginning. The diagrams don't explain how to get the scales( back half ) done. I've spent hours trying to understand how to do it, but the wording with the pictures doesn't make sense either. I'm sure I could do it if I had a visual but I cant find a single video of someone making this fish. If anyone here who knows how to do the bottom half of the fish would post a video that'd be great.
ReplyDeleteBrenda,
ReplyDeleteI sent you an email with no response back; I'm going to assume your question was actually meant for Won (who does sell his models; and considering the time and artistry put into it, real cheaply, I might add).
Anon,
Not sure what you mean about "back half" of the scales.
Did you see the old step-photos from before Marcio's diagrams were created? Don't know if those would be helpful or not.
I think I see this amazing Dollar Koi in one of the event that sets in our school. I was so impressed on how they do that. I want to learn that but that are not teaching in that day. Thank god that I found this blog. Now I can learn it with the use of this tutorial.
ReplyDeletei get just about everything, but I'm really stuck at step 38, the one with those three complex folds. Can anybody help me?
ReplyDeleteOf all the fantastic origami out there, the dollar koi fish is the most beautiful. Thank you, Won!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I've been looking for instructions to make this Koi for forever!
ReplyDeleteYou sir are both a scholar and a gentleman.
Hi is there any sites online that i can find information on Won Park? I am an art student and researching him but there do not seem to be any online resources on him? Any ideas? Thanks
ReplyDeleteI'll call him up later tonight and let him know to get in touch with you.
ReplyDeleteIs there a contact address you can provide me with, aside from Won posting somewhere indiscriminately on your blog?
There are some interviews he's done that you can find on YouTube (or check the category channel here).
ReplyDeletei need help with the beginning :[
ReplyDeleteWhat level folding expertise would you say you are?
ReplyDeleteBy "beginning", what exactly are you having trouble with? Folding the creases for the scales? The actual cross-pleating?
Can I possibly get someone to email me some help for steps 29-33? I've got all the folding done for the scales themselves but when it gets to the part to actually fold the scales and make the tail I"m totally lost as to how to do it.
ReplyDeleteI can be emailed at dragon_tamer_kai@hotmail.com
Maybe I'll ask Won if I can make a tutorial for the very beginning part. I don't know when I'll have time to really sit down and get into it, though.
ReplyDeleteIn the meanwhile, maybe this will help. Those are step photos of the first time Won taught the model informally at OUSA 2007 (I believe the year he designed it). I don't know if they'll help you or not.
Putting in the cross-pleats is just like the scales on Ronald Koh's King Cobra or Fumiaki Kawahata's dragonhead.
Thanks for adding my blog (www.AspiringFolder) to your sidebar!
ReplyDelete~Flora
My pleasure, Flora!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the videos!! This is actually my first time ever attempting origami! Came out great thank you!!
ReplyDeletehttp://imgur.com/a/SzINn
First time?! Wow, that came out really well. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so so much for the video tutorial! I had so bad problems with the diagram and thought I had made some kind of mistake myself. Now I could finish the koi properly and it turned out really well. I'm completely loving it! :)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to all that have contributed to this video, and many thanks to you Mr. Wordsmith for posting this on your blog. I had problems with the diagrams, but thanks to this very helpful tutorial, I was finally able to finish this beautiful model!
ReplyDeleteMuch admiration and gratitude for Won Park who obviously spent alot of time in making this video, and he is a patient teacher to boot. I learned origami from a patient and generous teacher and Won Park is all that and more. Perhaps I am gushing because I have encountered less generous souls in some of the origami clubs that are out there. After all, what is the definition of an origami enthusiast right? Again, many thanks and please keep posting!
Thank you for taking the time to comment and compliment.
ReplyDeleteNow if I could only find the time to restore all the lost sidebar links from the unintended ugly template makeover...
I watched all the videos and as I get to the last one I thought I heard the paper rip when you were working on the body/fins and I thought to myself "Oh my God no way he's pretty much done with it." Then when I saw everything was alright I laughed to myself and went to sleep still thinking --man that would just suck!
ReplyDeleteand how long does it take a master to accomplish the koi?
ReplyDeleteAfter reviewing all the diagrams I'm thinking 4 hrs for me sounds reasonable....NOT! LOVE that beautiful koi, thanx, master Won :<)
Hey! Thanks for the videos!
ReplyDeleteEven after two years I STILL come back to this blog.
I can't seem to find the video on won park and his koi fish else where. AwEsOmE ^^
Thanks for the awesome videos! Does Won sell his origami creations? Here's me email- zzdr2011@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThanks again!!
Sorry for the slow publish and response. Yes, Won does sell his work. I'll forward your email to him.
ReplyDeleteI have been doing origami for about 5 years now, and I usually don't have problems following diagrams, but for some reason, I cannot understand steps 10 through 12. Are there any visual instructions out there that can take me from step one to the finished product to help me out?
ReplyDeleteSorry again for the slow response; haven't checked in here and my regular email doesn't notify me of unpublished comments.
ReplyDeleteDid you manage to figure this one out, Lady Absinthe? Are you looking at diagram v1.4 or the one in the book?
Perhaps these step photos would help give you an idea of what to do.
Is there a place where classes are help for this folding?
ReplyDeleteI can do some but this koi really sparks my interest. Please contact me at jodyburns@roadrunner.com
Does won have a email address cuz I would like to buy some of his great creations for my 7 year old son you can email me at elijah10_20_2004@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHello. I have been trying to find a way to contact him to purchase his Koi pieces. Can you send me contact information please. red1416@cfl.rr.com
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Sorry for the late response. I just now noticed there were 3 comments that needed to be published. I will let Won know to check in here and contact those of you who want to purchase his koi.
ReplyDeleteBrenda,
Do you live in the LA area? I belong to the Westcoast Origami Guild which meets next Sat (every 2nd Sat of the month from 1pm to 5pm).
i need help on step 15 on the origami dragon its not working well
ReplyDeleteor maybe it could another step please help!!
Somehow I have some diagrams for his koi that someone gave me, and they're separate from anything else. I'm not sure how they got them.
ReplyDeleteAre the diagrams attributed to Marcio? The diagrams did go through a few revisions.
ReplyDeleteOr are these diagrams made by someone else?
Yes, they are attributed to Márcio Noguchi. I folded a couple Yodas for a parent not asking for anything in return, and she gave me the diagrams and a crisp dollar saying that she couldn't fold something like that....
ReplyDeleteHey, I was wondering if anyone is going to update the diagrams as Mr Won Park showed in the videos. I'd like to try it just from the diagrams and not have to refer to the videos. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHey George,
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't expect any further updates to the diagrams from Won and Marcio.
I think the real challenge for most people is in understanding how to shape the model. And that's difficult to illustrate.
Jeez this model is hard!!! I really need some help, i cant get past a step!!! On Part III: Folding the head and fins at around 2:40 he is unfolding the first pleat. I just cant get this to look right? Can someone maybe take a few pictures of them doing this step and send them to me? Or maybe give me a few pointers? I bought his book, and looked at other videos of people folding this model, but still cant get it! I'm a pro up until this step -_-
ReplyDeleteI can't see the photos?
ReplyDelete