I am trying to paint origami structures
Origami has turned out to be my favorite pastime and I have made everything from small designs like flowers, dolls, butterflies, to big ones like lamps, vases, light bowls, etc. Today, I have a room that is dedicated completely to origami designs including structures made from art papers to newspapers.
A few days back, while checking out some tutorials for a new idea, I saw some really nice painted origami designs, so did a little research regarding the same. From normal paints to acrylic ones, people have used different options. As a beginner, that was a bit confusing for me, so I would like your opinion on what do you think would be a good paint to start with? I also have a lot many origami designs made from plain papers and newspapers. So is it ok to paint them as well? or will the heavy paint spoil their shapes? Pls advise.
Painting your origami is a great way to save money on expensive printed art papers. I paint my own raw papers and I found acrylic paint to be the best option. I've tried and failed quite a few times but I have finally managed to get the right technique. All you need is acrylic paint, a sponge, a mixing palette, a brush, and a large sheet to cover the surface. Take your preferred color and spill it in small quantities on the palette. I recommend going for different colors to induce vibrancy in the design.
Mix the colors using the sponge. Don't add water and also keep the sponge dry in the beginning. With a light hand, dip the sponge into the palette and rotate it to get all the colors on it. The chaotic pattern that you've created on your palette is what you need on your origami paper as well. Quickly stroke the paper with the sponge before the paint dries up. Repeat the process until you cover the entire paper and ensure that the harder you push the sponge, softer the spread will be.
This surely sounds like an interesting way to make creative craft paper. I'll give it a try for my next design and let you know the results.
If you have never painted origami paper or don't have any experience with painting at all, using a sponge and acrylic paint would be a complicated way to start. While I do agree with the use of acrylic paint as they give a nice finish and shine to the paper, for beginners, spray painting would be an easier option (my suggestion).
And if you decide to use spray paint, then make sure you use a dark color as your base to accentuate the folds of the structure better and then highlight them with lighter shades.
A word of caution - when using spray paint, make sure you're in a ventilated area like backyards, patios, or a lawn maybe, to avoid inhaling the toxic paint. Using a spray paint will allow you to avoid missing out the corners of the fold which is quite often the case with a sponge. Spray paint also avoids any application of pressure, thus will keep the design intact and will not harm it in anyway.
I couldn't agree with Sam72Warrior more. Spraying is easy and it strengthens your structure, which gives them a stronger appearance. And with different spray tips, you can create various illusions without having to put in many efforts. However, there are some paints that make the paper grainy and thicker, so make sure you double-check on that before buying.
Hey Sam72Warrior. I only have a basic level of experience with painting and absolutely zero knowledge on spray painting. However, it definitely looks easier than it seems, so I'll surely give your suggestion some thought. But, I think going for it without assistance would not be a good idea. Can you recommend some links that I can take reference from and that might have helped you as well?
I don't understand why people take such extra efforts to paint origami papers when they can just simply buy them? And even if you don't get it at your local stores, online stores like Amazon, Origami_Fun, TheCraftShop have such a great variety of origami papers with different colors and structures to choose from.
Coloring your origami paper would cost more as you have to buy a paint, brush, sponge, palette, etc. I understand you still have old uncolored structures to beautify, but for your future designs, I suggest that rather than putting extra effort and money on painting origami paper, just buy them would be a more easier and economical option.
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