When you muse on the topic of origami, you're probably imagining some pretty advanced stuff that sends your head - if not your fingers - for a spin. Modular dodecahedrons (what?) and magic squares, done by the more advanced origami artist, make the art seem too difficult for common butterfingers like us. But fear not; no matter how clumsy you are with crafting, we've got an origami project that you can do easily.
Given that geishas are known the world over for wearing elaborate silk kimono costumes, even more elaborate headpieces and hairdos, and even more elaborate face and body makeup, it may not make a whole lot of sense that making an origami version can be easy.
Just a few years back, spray cans glorified their artists, writing reputations in stone with florid colors and extreme street stylization. These days, though, graffiti artists are increasingly glorifying spray cans, the very tools of their art and, for some, livelihood.
We love cupcakes equally with or without frosting, but sometimes adding that extra bit of vanilla buttercream frosting shaped into a rose or other flower turns the cupcake nomming experience from delicious to divine.
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to create a tessellation. The materials required for this project are: index cards, scissors, pencil, large paper and coloring utensils. Begin by preparing a shape. Cut the index paper to a desired shape. Then place it on the right side of the large paper and tape it. Now trace the shape onto the large paper and continue transferring the shape until the page is filled. The shapes should fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. This video will benefit those ...
In the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, vampires don't melt away in the sunlight. Instead, they sparkle like a beautiful piece of crystal. In this clip, learn how to take a photo of anyone at all and turn them into a sparkling daytime vegetarian vampire like the Cullen family. If you are dying to know what you would look like as a vamp, check out this clip and celebrate the release of Eclipse with a sparkling photo of yourself.
Basic paper punches do two very extraordinary things for crafters: 1. They minimize your workload and save your fingers from completely drying out and falling off from weilding scissors at oblique angles the whole day, and 2. They create perfectly cut, perfectly uniform shapes and can be used over and over again.
Much can be said of masking: Masking is the art of using the image to select itself. Masking lets you apply the entire weight of Photoshop to the task of editing a selection. And masking, thy name is alpha channel. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular raster graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including de...
Many folks select images in Photoshop with the likes of the Quick Select and Magic Wand tools. Highly automated, but these tools rarely work accurately. Experts use the Pen tool. Using the Pen tool is an art form worth learning, because it always works. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular raster graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutor...
Okay, just to clear things up before you head over to watch the video, duct tape painting does not involve grinding up little pieces of duct tape to make paint.
God knows we have enough mass produced plates and dinnerware sets out there, some high quality and others like the McDonald's version of plates - cheap costing and cheap looking.
The human skeleton may not be that artistically satisfying by itself, but a good realistic model of one is the basis of much of the most anatomically correct and natural-looking art. This three-part video will teach you how to 3D model a skeleton using Maya, starting with the vertebrae, then the spine, then the ribcage. If you can create this, you are well on your way to 3D modeling all sorts of natural human forms.
In this Arts & Crafts video tutorial you will learn how to fold a hanging origami ornament from Ana Maria, an Origami artist. You will need four sheets of rectangular paper of two different colors. Take one sheet and fold it diagonally. Flip the paper over and fold back along the same diagonal again. Now fold both the protruding corners back to match the edge of the paper. Repeat these steps with the other three sheets of paper. Then you got to lock the four folded sheets as shown in the vide...
Everybody knows what a ninja star is, but what about a shuriken? A shuriken is the exact same thing as a ninja star: a weapon in the form of a star with blades or points. It's a missile in martial arts. It's a ninja's best friend. But for some of you, shurikens might be too dangerous, so that's were origami comes in. This video will show you the process of folding modular paper shurikens, and you only need two sheets of paper to do it.
Do you remember how to work a pair of scissors from 5th grade art class? Then you can definitely make this unbelievably easy sleeveless draped cardigan. Taking less than 30 seconds to make, all you have to do is trace two circles the size of your upper arm onto a piece of fabric.
When it comes to art and design, the Japanese believe in tasteful minimalism. Never is this "tasteful" part so true than with their sushi and sashimi, artfullly arranged in little cubes or cylinders and punctuated with small bursts of radish red, tuna orange, and green spinach.
Want to use an Illustrator CS5 illustration in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation or Word document? This video clip will show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor or a seasoned graphic arts professional interested in better acquainting yourself with the new features and functions of Illustrator CS5, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick in your own Illustrator projects, wat...
Need help figuring out how to save PDF-compatible AI files from Illustrator CS5. This clip will show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor or a seasoned graphic arts professional interested in better acquainting yourself with the new features and functions of Illustrator CS5, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick in your own Illustrator projects, watch this video guide.
This video tutorial demonstrates Photoshop CS5's bristle brushes, which simulate traditional paint brushes—the kind your local art-supply store sells—and its new Mixer brush, which lets you give a photo a painterly look. Along the way, its host passes along a tip for customizing Photoshop's interface—one of those little chores that can save so much time but that so few of us do. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular image editing software or a seasoned graphic design professional just looking...
Spooky Halloween parties necessitate a certain amount of creeptastic spider webs, but the cheap cottony stuff that comes in plastic bags at most retailers feel fake and have been overused over the last few years.
This is one water bomb that's more postmodern art than scary - though fun - splashy summertime weapon. Using intricate tessellated origami folds and a drawn-on grid you'll learn how to create this interesting shape.
Looking to add specimens to your paper menagerie? Make a butterfly with origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions for making your own butterflies from a sheet of folded paper. These are great for taping to greeting cards or adding to letters. This shape is a bit advanced so be sure to practice on simpler shapes first. For more information, and to get started making paper butterflies yourself, take a look!
A major Hollywood player since she was a preteen, Vanessa Hudgens knows what looks on the red carpet and what doesn't. And, like most girls, she's found that the smokey eye never fails to make your eyes pop and to the make the eyes of nearby cartoon wolves pop out.
In Japan, it is commonly said that folding 1000 paper origami cranes makes a person's wish come true. Better get to work. Make a classic Japanese-style origami crane with origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions for making your own Japanese cranes from a sheet of folded paper. For more information, and to get started making your own paper birds, take a look!
Tutus are a fun part of childhood for many little girls, and in this tutorial, you will learn how to make a no-sew tutu with your kids. This skirt is super easy to make and your daughter will enjoy doing it.
In this free balloon art tutorial, learn how to twist and tie a balloon flower perfect to present to a crowd during the spring! To make this balloon creation, you will be using the complex and adaptable "April Flower Technique".
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to draw human hair. This video shows viewers how to draw long hair. Begin by outlining the shape of the hair. Then start building upon the outline of the hair. Hair is very wavy and branches out. The hair outline should be organic and not straight to look more realistic. Once you have finished designing the hair, you can add extra details such as accessories or hair. This video will benefit those viewers who are interested in art and drawing, and woul...
In this Arts & Crafts video tutorial you will learn how to make an origami Kusudama Venus. For this project, you need square sheets of paper of different colors. First you fold a sheet diagonally across to form a triangle. Then fold it again to form a smaller triangle. Open up one triangle and fold it in to a square. Repeat this step with the other triangle also. Now the paper folded in to a square; ¼ the original size. Holding one square flat on the table, lift up the other and squeeze it d...
It's difficult to tell exactly where Origami got its exact origin. Some would believe Japan, some China, and others even believe Germany. What is known is that it has been around for centuries and is one of the oldest forms of arts and crafts. Today, the looks are more modern and made easier than they have in the past. In this tutorial, find out how to fold an origami cicada or locust. Enjoy!
To play off Gertrude Stein's famous quote, a rose is a rose is a magic paper cube. And with this paper folder's guide, you'll learn how to make your very own magic rose cube from paper using the Japanese art of origami. This design by Valerie Vann, and folded by YouTuber German Fernandez, is great for Valentine's Day or any other day where a paper puzzle rose is needed. Just be prepared... it's a not just a puzzle origami rose, it's a puzzle folding it.
This video demonstrates how to do image transfers. For this project, you will need the following: acid free card stock, stencils, transparency film, a gel medium, and a PC.
In this video, artist Henry Li, shows you how to draw nine goldfish in a free hand, loose style. He demonstrates proper hand placement, and technique in order to achieve a fluid motion to the piece. Nine goldfish is a good omen for Chinese, it suggest best fortune. Watch the magic happen as he shows you exactly how to achieve this excellent work of art.
Head Judge for the World Latte Art Championship, Paul Meikle-Janney, shows how to make a latte using the Brasilia Opus Sublima espresso coffee machine. Paul briefly explains that the process is somewhat similar to creating a cappuccino, noting that the major difference is how much foam you'll be creating on top of the beverage. This video shows the necessary steps taken to create the latte, creating the foaming texture and the single espresso at the same time. During this process, Paul offers...
Jill Erickson of Art Jewelry Magazine demonstrates how to fill a handheld butane torch with fuel. You can purchase butane fuel at a grocery store or at a hardware store. First, uncap the butane fuel can and hold your butane torch upside down. There will be a small opening valve where you will vertically insert the top of the butane fuel can nozzle. Make sure the components are aligned straight up and down. Then, use direct downward pressure to get the fuel into the torch. The fuel can will hi...
Comic books are fun to make, but inking them can be a time extensive pain of a process. Using a computer software program, you can make the inking much faster. In this two-part video tutorial, you'll learn how to take a sketch and turn it into vector Adobe Illustrator artwork. In the first part, see how to create that by-hand comic art look in Adobe Illustrator, and then in part two, see how to color in your artwork with digital ink.
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to draw Japanese waves for a tattoo. In this video, viewers observe different ideas and elements for wave designs. Viewers learn different techniques. To draw a design for a tattoo, viewers should sketch out their image and experiment different designs. The materials used in the video include: tracing paper, pencil and a Micron 08 pen. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy sketching images, art and would like to learn how to design tattoos.
Origami's an art, and when you get into 3D origami, it definitely gets harder. It involves more than just one piece of paper and a few folds. It requires plenty of paper, plenty of folds, and plenty of patience. This six-piece modular heart cube can look great, but you need patience, and probably some practice to get it right. So, check out this two-part video tutorial to see exactly how to fold the six-piece origami heart cube.
In this video, we're instructed in the art of a Valentine sushi roll, a perfect little gift that's easy to prepare, and sweet even in non-Valentine's Day circumstances.
Ana Maria, an art student and origami expert, delicately explains and exhibits how to fold an origami cicada. The only material required is a perfectly square piece of paper, which is also known as origami paper. There are only seven easy steps or folds to create the paper-crafted bug; all of which are shown in plain detail by the artist. Every fold has another fold or edge to use as a guideline, so this simple creation should result in being very neatly accomplished.
Body painting isn't just art, it's sexy. More and more people are shedding their clothes and adding some paint for a new shocking look that is bound to drop jaws. If you're not into being painted into a Picasso, then maybe you'd like to try your hands on the other side of the paint brush…