Origami Page:
Pureland Origami Tree

Mary Ellen Palmeri

Welcome to our monthly "Origami Page". Origami is folding paper and ending up with delightful figures and models, such as flowers, boxes and animals. This feature will showcase a different origami model in each monthly issue, with diagrams and photos to help readers learn how to fold them. Most models use one square of paper, some use a rectangle, and others use more than one piece of paper.

Click for printable file.

This origami tree was developed by a dear friend of mine, Dorothy Engleman (1944-2007). We met at the West Coast Origami Guild when I was living in Los Angeles years ago, and we shared many origami experiences. I participated in her 26 minute origami short called "Folding California" (folding models for her to photograph), and in return she found some paying origami gigs for me, which were pretty rare at the time!

Dorothy loved to create simple origami, often with titles that were either ironic or an intended pun; she had a unique sense of humor. For example, one year for Halloween she designed a model she called "Count Quackula" - a cross between Dracula and a duck! The model has a movable beak, and she diagrammed it saying "Fangs for the Mummyries!" She loved to play with words and was always ready to laugh.

This little tree is easy to fold and fun to use. It can be incorporated into a greeting card for the winter season, but can also be used as a decorative element for holiday table decor. Gift wrap would make some colorful trees; just cut into squares of the desired size(s).

Happy folding.

Origami originated in ancient Asian cultures and has been adapted by contemporary artists worldwide to reflect their own cultures. Local artist Mary Ellen Palmeri has incorporated paper folding into many of her mixed media art paintings, and teaches origami classes locally and nationally. Some of her work can be seen in a Tucson Happenings feature here: Artist_Profile

All of her Paper Dream Paintings can be seen in her Etsy shop where custom matted art prints of her original work can be purchased. Go to: www.etsy.com/shop/LyricFineArts

Ms. Palmeri's original origami models have been published in books and magazines, she has been featured on broadcast media, and her mixed-media fine art works often include various original origami models. Origami LAFF (Lyric Arts Folding Fest) is a Tucson based club founded by Ms. Palmeri to provide a venue for sharing this art. The group meets monthly at a local library; for more details please contact the artist at info@lyric-arts.com