Origami Essence book cover

Origami Essence

by Roman Diaz

Published:
2009 by L'Atlier du Gresivaudan
Pages:
160
Binding:
Hardcover
Language:
Spanish and English
ISBN-13:
9782844240873
ISBN-10:
2844240879

Buy from: origami-shop.com
Buy from: Amazon.com
Buy from: Amazon.jp

Find it on ebay

buy from origam-shop.com
Buy from: Amazon.com
Buy from: Amazon.jp

Skill Level From simple to complex
Clear diagrams? Yes
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 a single square - no cuts)? Yes

Overall Impression

The latest offering from Roman Diaz is both a sequel and a deviation from his earlier book: Origami for Interpreters. While the first book was more about personal interpretations through wet-folding and sculpting techniques, the second book, although still offering many interpretation challenges, also contains models which can be folded just by following the instructions, are composed of clean lines, and incorporate great color-changes. These models comprise the first section of the book. The second section has inflatable and polyhedral models, which are more abstract, but with a high "cuteness factor", clever designs, incorporating polyhedrons inside animals. The third section is more in step with the spirit of the first book, offering complex models which lend themselves to wet-folding and shaping, and the closing section is a detailed case-study of designing a complex bullfrog model, starting from a simple traditional frog and gradually adding features, creating several in-between models in the process.

I found the folding-process to be very enjoyable. The steps follow each-other logically, and Diaz does a great job delivering clear and concise instructions.

As in his previous book, each model comes with recommendations from the author about his favorite paper type and size for the project. The quality of the book is the usual very high quality one expects from Passion Origami Collection books.

There are 33 Origami Designs in Origami Essence:

Design Designer Page Details Photo

Panda

Mammals - Ursidae - Pandas

Roman Diaz15Square

Also in AEP convention 2008
Also in BOS Convention 2008 Spring
Also in BOS Magazine 250
Also in Tanteidan 14th convention
Origami Panda by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of duo Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of duo Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni
Owl

Birds - Strigiformes - Owls

Roman Diaz17Square

Also in Animales en Origami by Antonio Jose Vargas Giraldo

I just love the color-change on this model
Origami Owl by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of duo origami paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of duo origami paper by Gilad Aharoni
Wren

Birds - Passeriformes

Roman Diaz19Square

A very cute, easy to fold bird
Origami Wren by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of duo Kraft origami paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of duo Kraft origami paper by Gilad Aharoni
Salmon

Fish

Roman Diaz22SquareOrigami Salmon by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of duo pearl origami paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of duo pearl origami paper by Gilad Aharoni
Penguin

Birds - Sphenisciformes - Penguins

Roman Diaz26Square

Also in CDO convention 2007
Also in Folding Australia 2007
Also in MFPP 2007 Convention
Also in Origami Deutschland 2007
Also in Origami USA Convention 2007
Also in Pajarita Magazine 99
and in other sources...
Origami Penguin by Roman Diaz. Folded by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded by Gilad Aharoni
Kingfisher

Birds - Coraciiformes - Kingfishers and Hoopoes

Roman Diaz31SquareOrigami Kingfisher by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni
Wild boar

Mammals - Suidae - Pigs and Boars

Roman Diaz36SquareOrigami Wild boar by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni
Elephant - acrobatic

Mammals - Elephantidae - Elephants

Roman Diaz41Square

Also in Origami for Interpreters by Roman Diaz
Origami Elephant - acrobatic by Roman Diaz on giladorigami.com
Folded by Roman Diaz
North American Cardinal

Birds - Passeriformes - Cardinals

Roman Diaz48SquareOrigami North American Cardinal by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni
Fox - Vixen

Mammals - Canidae - Coyotes, Foxes and Wolves

Roman Diaz52Square

Great facial expresion and pose
Origami Fox - Vixen by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni
Pyramid

Geometric and other shapes

Roman Diaz60SquareOrigami Pyramid by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of scrapbooking paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of scrapbooking paper by Gilad Aharoni
Hens - geometric

Birds - Galliformes - Hens and Pheasants

Roman Diaz62Square

2 variations. Cute!
Origami Hens - geometric by Roman Diaz. Each folded from a square of origami paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Each folded from a square of origami paper by Gilad Aharoni
Bird - geometric

Birds - Passeriformes

Roman Diaz66SquareOrigami Bird - geometric by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of leather-grained duo paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of leather-grained duo paper by Gilad Aharoni
Tyrannosaurus Rex

Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals - Cretaceous - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Roman Diaz71Square

Co-designed with Joseph Wu
Origami Tyrannosaurus Rex by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of Nicolas Terry's tissue-foil by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of Nicolas Terry's tissue-foil by Gilad Aharoni
Inflatable Swan

Birds - Anseriformes - Swans

Roman Diaz75Square

Also in Tanteidan 15th convention
Origami Inflatable Swan by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of origami paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of origami paper by Gilad Aharoni
Dove

Birds - Columbiformes - Pigeons

Roman Diaz78SquareOrigami Dove by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of origami paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of origami paper by Gilad Aharoni
Bunny

Mammals - Lagomorpha - Rabbits and Bunnies

Roman Diaz81SquareOrigami Bunny by Roman Diaz. Folded fom a square of Kinpai Shuji paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded fom a square of Kinpai Shuji paper by Gilad Aharoni
Goldfish

Fish - Goldfish

Roman Diaz84SquareOrigami Goldfish by Roman Diaz on giladorigami.com
Folded by Roman Diaz
Inflatable fish

Fish

Roman Diaz86Square

2 variations
Origami Inflatable fish by Roman Diaz on giladorigami.com
Folded by Roman Diaz
Pig - inflatable

Mammals - Suidae - Pigs and Boars

Roman Diaz90SquareOrigami Pig - inflatable by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of Tant paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of Tant paper by Gilad Aharoni
Long-tailed bird

Birds - Passeriformes

Roman Diaz93Square

A practice in wet-folding
Origami Long-tailed bird by Roman Diaz on giladorigami.com
Folded by Roman Diaz
Donkey

Mammals - Equidae - Horses and Donkeys

Roman Diaz95SquareOrigami Donkey by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni
Owl

Birds - Strigiformes - Owls

Roman Diaz99SquareOrigami Owl by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni
North American Cardinal - singing

Birds - Passeriformes - Cardinals

Roman Diaz103SquareOrigami North American Cardinal - singing by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni
Lemur - ring-tailed

Mammals - Primates

Roman Diaz109Square

Brilliant
Origami Lemur - ring-tailed by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni
Mockingbird

Birds - Passeriformes

Roman Diaz114SquareOrigami Mockingbird by Roman Diaz on giladorigami.com
Folded by Roman Diaz
Unicorn

Imaginary beings - Unicorns

Roman Diaz121SquareOrigami Unicorn by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of Tant paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of Tant paper by Gilad Aharoni
Hereford steer

Mammals - Bovidae - Cows and Buffalo

Roman Diaz128SquareOrigami Hereford steer by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of double-sided Unryu paper by Gilad Aharoni
Roc

Imaginary beings

Roman Diaz134SquareOrigami Roc by Roman Diaz on giladorigami.com
Folded by Roman Diaz
Frog - chinese

Amphibians

Traditional148Square
Frog

Amphibians

Roman Diaz151Square

Also in CDO convention 2007
Also in Der Falter 45
Also in Orison 25/01
Also in Origami Kit for Dummies by Nick Robinson
Origami Frog by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni
Toad

Amphibians

Roman Diaz153SquareOrigami Toad by Roman Diaz. Folded from a square of Safari Prints Fadeless paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Folded from a square of Safari Prints Fadeless paper by Gilad Aharoni
Bullfrog

Amphibians

Roman Diaz154Square

Excellent 3-dimonsional body
Origami Bullfrog by Roman Diaz. Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni on giladorigami.com
Wet-folded from a square of double-sided mulberry paper by Gilad Aharoni