Sunday Funnies

Via Joseph Wu

Joseph Wu speculates:

Dragon designed by (I think) Hojyo Takashi in the manga “I’m in love and it’s the end of the world” (地球のおわりは恋のはじまり). Someone needs to tell them it’s not a dinosaur.

Reshaping

A little makeover....

I wasn't satisfied with the neck and figured I could position the arm and bow a little better.

The other Hojyo Violinist

Here’s another violinist also by Takashi HOJYO. It’s a two piece model (from 6” squares of tissue foil) plus the bow (don’t remember the dimensions of the paper). No glue (although I wouldn’t be opposed to it for this model), so the head and violin (black and flesh-colored duo tissue foil paper) sit precariously atop the body (purple and flesh-colored tissue foil); and the raw edge of the hand is slipped under a layer of the bow to hold it in place. 

I actually folded this one somewhen around 2003-2005 (if you zoom in close, you can see the dust that I couldn't brush off the model for this photo). I believe diagrams are in an Oru book that I borrowed from Helen Sperber.

Violinist & Violin

These have long been on my bucket list of models to fold; and this past week, I finally got around to doing it.

Violinist
Designed by Takashi HOJYO
Folded by Michael Sanders
27.5” x 27.5” (70cm x 70cm) single square of elephant hide (wyndstone paper)

No glue, even though the diagrams suggest applying a little to close the skirt. I did use methyl cellulose to help with the shaping. Not digging the neck (too long), but I think I’m done with this model for now. I worked on it for 3 days (Tues-Thurs) and almost turned this into an origami boulder about 53 steps in (I suddenly realized my precreases were off by 1/40th of a column).

This is the first complex model I’ve done in a very long time. Just don’t have a lot of patience for hours of tedious precreasing.

Last night, I started folding Hagiwara's violin and completed it today:

Violin
Created by Gen Hagiwara
Folded by Michael Sanders
18.25” x 4.5” rectangle 
Tissue foil

I misplaced my Tanteidan magazine (I probably set it aside years ago because I wanted to fold it- and have forgotten where I placed it for safe keeping); so I worked off of a video (ugh!).  The body looks too long; so I may have to do another one (may have to do more, anyway, as I know violinists who would probably appreciate having one).

Aspiring to Fold too Close to the Sun

“Love gives you wings. Icarus and the Challenger both had wings, and so did my first love letter, after I folded it up and flung it at my crush.
” 

― Jarod Kintz, This is the best book I've ever written, and it still sucks 

Icarus

Created by Takashi HOJYO

Folded by Michael Sanders

January 27, 2003
Photo by Erica Knopper

A decade ago I was in love with this model.  I remember Peter Farina and I both joined JOAS just to acquire the special diagrams.  I've been an ongoing member ever since.

Although still a favorite, I folded it no more than 3 times; nor have I folded it in a decade; it remains a special favorite to me.

“I’ve never been certain whether the moral of the Icarus story should only be, as is generally accepted, ‘don’t try to fly too high,’ or whether it might also be thought of as ‘forget the wax and feathers, and do a better job on the wings.” 

― Stanley Kubrick

One day, I'll get around to folding it again.

...And do a better job on the wing.

Scratch First, Itch Later...

 There is Buddha for those who don't know what he is, really. There is no Buddha for those who know what he is, really.

-Zen saying

Classic Takashi HOJYO:

I've seen precious few able to sculpt in the details on this model very well.

Looking at that model makes me want to try folding it again.  Here's my rendition from a decade ago:

Folded circa 2003?

I definitely want to figure out how to shape the chest and neck area.  As for the head and face...

To know and not do is not yet to know.

-Zen saying

Perhaps the most well-sculpted facial rendition on this model, by Mariano Zavala B.  :

 Just stunning!  You can tell he looked at actual sculptures for detailing, instead of merely imitating HOJYO's rendition.  I like the valley-mountain creases in the head adornment; and the shape of the ears is very reminiscent of Buddha sculptures (and also reminds me of Seiji NISHIKAWA's Buddha mask).


More beautiful photos on his blog.

To follow the path, look to the master, follow the master, walk with the master, see through the master, become the master.

-Zen saying

Of course, Hojyo has since outdone himself by producing this Tathāgata Buddha:

See more photos

 
So much inspiration, so little time....