Beech - Decorative Origami Boxes

Rick Beech

Editor

Rick Beech is a professional origami expert and paper artist who lives in England with his partner Helen. He first took interest in the ancient Japanese art back in the early 70s courtesy of a childrens television show presented by the legendary magician Robert Harbin, who was chosen at the time to front an entire series of follow along at home instructional programmes which each week demonstrated how to make something from a simple square of paper.

This discipline, using no glue or scissors, enchanted Rick from the age of 9 or 10, and he quickly developed the necessary skill whereby to fold models of infinite complexity, always hungry for new creations to make, which were not especially widespread until the popularity of the art boomed over the last 30 years. Now this challenging pastime is enjoyed as a creative pursuit by enthusiasts worldwide.

Ricks entire professional income is now drawn from origami in several ways, including the teaching of practical workshops, book authorship, to corporate entertainment, to commercial design and production of finished pieces, for advertising and marketing.

If you would like any further information or would like to book Rick to entertain you, teach you origami or accept a commission please email him at:

ricknbeech@aol.com

www.rickbeechorigami.com

Rikki Donachie

Illustrator

Rikki was first introduced to origami as a child and took it up seriously in 1995.

He is constantly creating new and quirky designs, many of which are for commercial organisations including, the BBC, Nomura Bank, and Yellow Pages as well as countless private commisssions, others appear in publications across the world. He has been an origami consultant for BBCs The Apprentice , 2007. He has written and illustrated a book of his own original origami aeroplanes

Professor Dodos Folded Paper Flying School .

He also teaches origami and pop-up card design & construction as part of the UK National Curriculum.

Apart from origami Rikki enjoys drawing, painting, pop-up card design, gardening, reading fantasy and science fiction, and learning to play the guitar.

His website can be found at:
www.itsjustabitofpaper.com

e-mail: origamimodels@yahoo.co.uk

Guide to symbols

Lay paper white side up.

Lay paper white side down.

Unfold the indicated flap (check next step for result).

Fold in this direction.

Fold and Unfold.

Collapse on the indicated creases.

Revolve paper in the indicated direction.

Turn the paper over.

After completing this step, the model will not lie flat.

Repeat step on other side of paper.

The next step is enlarged for clarity

Hold the paper here.

Distance between 2 points.

Diving an edge into thirds

For many origami designs we need to divide an edge accurately into thirds. The following method is convenient and accurate enough for most instances. With a bit of practice you will soon be able to do it very easily.

This is what the diagram might look like. Do not fold anything yet.

This is what you do...

Gently curve the paper into an S shape. We will concentrate on the top edge for the next step.

Roll the paper until the edges line up with the curves.

When the edges are lined up with the folds pinch at the edges.

Lay the paper down flat and crease carefully and firmly along both edges.

When you open up the paper, it should look like this.

Printers Box

Traditional

This simple box can be made from rectangles of virtually any proportions. Often mistakenly called a printers hat, it was actually used by printers to hold samples of ink.