Customer Reviews

Origami Sourcebook: Beautiful Projects and Mythical Characters, Step-by-Step

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I only own the earlier "Mythical Beings" by the same author; but to the best of my ability to tell, the "Mythical Characters" part of this book is identical to that earlier book; so I am only reviewing that part of "Origami Sourcebook".

Here's what's good: these are lovely models by well-known and -respected origami artists. But that's all... the diagrams, presumably drawn by the author, are quite frankly terrible. It is possible for an experienced origamist to successfully create the models from these diagrams and instructions, but they are as much hindrance as help. I have so far finished the witch/wizard and Shiva models and am working on the long-tailed dragon and Cerberus models, but in every model I have done so far I have found multiple mistakes in the diagrams and instructions. If you like these models, I would suggest you seek the diagrams elsewhere.

If you have "Origami Today, Mythical Beings" and "Origami Today, Lifestyle Origami", both by the same author, Jay Ansill, do not buy this book, because it is just these two book in one. Nothing new. If you do not have these books, then this is a good book, although the models are not very good, but the decorations are very pretty.

As its title indicates, the value of Jay Ansill's "Origami Sourcebook" is not its originality, but the diagrams of models not easily available elsewhere. Mr. Neale's pleasing though simple dragon and a charming witch/warlock duo are two standouts. Diagrams are not always clear, so a bit of experience helps to interpret them. Color photos, while attractive, are not instructive, since the style of folding can perhaps best be described as expressionistic.

Take lovely photos of finished origami products, apply the projects to practical results such as greeting cards or table decorations, and add step-by-step fold instruction diagrams and you have a lovely set of practical projects in Origami Sourcebook: Beautiful Projects And Mythical Characters, Step By Step, which are specifically designed to appeal to both beginner and advanced origami folder alike. Origami Sourcebook doesn't just focus on animals and flowers: it provides a range of projects from dragons to napkin rings, making for a diverse, appealing set of projects.

Its great to see a reprint of Origami Mythical Creatures, i have been looking for this book for ages, and was really happy to find it lurking in the local bookshop. The diagrams may not be the best but there are really superior models included in the collection. My favourite models include the Woodland Elf and the Shiva Idol. Brilliant!!! This book would be suitable more for experienced people in origami with the quality of the diagrmming, you may need to chypher the meaning of the drawings as they lack in accuracy in regards to the proportions and landmarks in the folding sequence.