Eric Joisel was a treasure in the paper folding community – this is a butterfly designed by Michael LaFosse in memory of him:
A simple fold with much potential for modelling, the body ends up being thick and the wings delicate
Happy with this as a first fold, hope you like it.
As mentioned previously, Captain Fainty has a sidekick:
Now it must be said that this sidekick is more of a liability than an asset – as is true for all cats really (let’s be honest), and there is little evidence that this sidekick is even remotely interested in being labelled as such. There is even less evidence that this sidekick has actually performed even the minimum of sidekick duties – you get that apparently.
This is a Joisel fold, and I will probably fold it again now I know what goes where, but I am fairly happy with this as a first fold – he looks like he is slinking – something cats are wont to do, prior to a bout of narcolepsy.
A relatively simple fold with lots of potential for modelling and expression, the posture is lovely but the legs are a little dense and fiddly at small scale.
For those people not in Brisbane, it is unseasonally cold today so I thought that it might be appropriate to try a Joisel model:
This delightful model has very few folds, yet emerges with a fairly normal posture, plump belly, lovely fins and figurative feet.
Joisel is a master, each fold well thought out and I always enjoy folding his models – this model is a nightmare in thirds – most divisions are thus, and really difficult to get right.
On a day like today, this little penguin would be well at home.
Ending such an EPIC month, I thought it appropriate to try a model from Eric Joisel – this is my first-fold of his Goldfish:
Now I know I could have modelled the body a little more, and Eric himself poses a design challenge to put in a nice Davor Vinco-inspired eye, but I am pretty happy with this as a first fold – I learned a lot by folding this, and next time I would make it smaller and much more 3d
Folded from an A3 cut square, using an odd asymetrical triple preliminary fold out of an eccentric pony base, the model has a certain fluidity to it, and seems to fold itself in places – true genius of design.
I like that the tail, although again asymetrical, is complete both sides, and there is lots of opportunity to pose fins, and shape mouth, nice
You can have a go at this, it is fairly straightforward (apart from when it is not) http://www.ericjoisel.com/ps_assets/pdfs/fish.pdf
I have been wanting to try this model ever since I saw it:
Eric Joisel designed a lovely, character-filled rodent that was fun to fold. Paws, claws, a stoned/bemused expression on it’s face and lovely ears and tail – what more could a rat want?
You can fold this yourself – Eric, as part of his legacy, publically shared the instructions for this model at http://www.ericjoisel.com/ps_assets/pdfs/rat.pdf
Why a rat? Well, My son turns 23 today – HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTY – he spent the last 2 years or so of his life studying rats in Macadamia plantations as part of his Honours program but I bet the rats he had to deal with are nowhere near as cute as this little fellow.
Hopefully he will find it when he wakes up this morning.
Prepare to be AMAZED – even after 3 hours folding I am!
This is a hedgehog, well in truth the “baby hedgehog” – it has 5 rows of spines (as opposed to the “mother” which has 9). I remember seeing hedgehogs in New Zealand (yes, I grew up there for a while) – shy little creatures you only usually met when you ran them over, sadly. This model is not unlike an echidna, and in truth I fashioned a head that was more echidna-like merely because the instructions stopped with a step “make the head” but no ideas as to how.
I have not worked on a model that resolves, on the fiddliest folds to 64ths until now, it is exhausting. I should have realised that it was going to be tricky when Joisel himself stopped explaining a stage (formation of the first row of spines) saying it was difficult but here is what it should look like when you have finished – lol. I also discovered that Joisel’s favourite paper folding tool – a Japanese chopstick, was needed to combat the fat fingers that would otherwise mangle fiddly pleating.
Eric Joisel was a master of paper folding, arguably the worlds most accomplished folder of human characters. Some of his work defies reality and the techniques he pioneered for paper sculpture are forever his legacy to the origami community. I hope he is smiling at this model, I am so chuffed I managed to achieve it.
You can find the instructions for this and 10 other Joisel Models at his tribute website: http://www.ericjoisel.com/ps.html Good luck, you will need it.
You may applaud now.
