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Origami From Angelfish To Zen

By Peter Engel

Published: 1994 by Dover Publications
Pages: 256
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
ISBN: 0486281388

Buy from: Amazon.com

Skill Level : From intermediate to complex
Clear diagrams? Can be challenging
Tinted diagrams (to show 2 sides of paper)? Yes
Photos of completed models? Yes
Is there indication to the model size resulting from size of starting paper? Yes
Are the models "Pure" origami (From square - no cuts)? 3 are from $ bills, 1 from a rectangle
Overall Impression

The book is a re-publication of the 1989 Vintage Books title: "Folding the Universe", and contains two distinct parts: The theory part, and the diagrams part.

I love the theory part. The text is interesting and thought-provoking, giving a glimpse into the process and personal philosophy of Engel's creation. Engel explains the qualities of the square, talks about tools required for folding, and then goes on to discuss the elements of crease-patterns and the considerations that go into designing a model. He also talks about the history of paper-folding, fractal math, music, and includes a fascinating report of his meeting with the late master Akira Yoshizawa.

The models, while sophisticated for the time of their creation, vary in appeal for me now. Most of them require the use of tissue-foil, as they have many layers. The diagrams lack something in clarity, and sometimes depend too much on the verbal instructions. The fact that those verbal instructions are separate from the drawn diagrams does not help, either. There are, however, some really good ideas, like the Valentine and rattlesnake, and some excellent models, as the octopus and kangaroo. Those models, combined with the profound text, make this book a definite must-have for more advanced folders looking for a challenge and a very interesting read.

The Models
Model Notes Photo (click for a larger image)
Angelfish
Folded by Origami Okiba
Butterfly fish
Folded by Gilad Ayalon
Discus fish
Hummingbird Very nice
Folded by Edmund Chan
Kangaroo Kangaroo with baby. Excellent. Also published in Origami for the Connoisseur
Giraffe Also published in A Arte dos Mestres de Origami
and in Origami for the Connoisseur
Folded by Gilad Ayalon
Penguin Excellent
Folded by Origami Okiba
One-Dollar Yacht From a $ bill
One-Dollar Bow tie From a $ bill
One-Dollar Crab From a $ bill. Very complex
Eight-pointed star
Folded by Origami Okiba
Valentine Excellent
Folded by Gabriel Vong
Crab Nice
Centipede From a rectangle
Rattlesnake An original approach for folding a snake - in coiled position
Octopus Excellent. Also published in Quarterly ORU folding diagrams #2
Folded by Gabriel Vong
Squid Excellent. Also published in ORU magazine #8
Folded by Origami Okiba
Scorpion Excellent
Alligator Also published in A Arte dos Mestres de Origami
and in Origami USA convention book: 1988
Folded by Origami Plaza
Tiger Very nice. Also published in in Origami USA convention book: 1988
Reindeer Very good. Also published in Origami USA convention book: 1989
Folded by Origami Okiba
Elephant Also published in in Origami USA convention book: 1988
Knight on horseback Nice origami knight
Butterfly Excellent