Perhaps the most popular character of all oriental tales is the image of a dragon. You can create a beautiful fairy-tale character from origami modules. The red dragon, of course, differs from the invincible fictional one, since it consists of paper, which means it can get wet and is afraid of fire.
Dragon using modular origami technique
Master Class " modular origami dragon" will show you how to assemble a dragon figurine, for which you will need:
- 99 yellow modules;
- 421 red;
- 104 orange;
- 95 black.
The dragon's tail is made from 88 modules triangular shape, links in the body also include 88 modular parts. The body consists of 528 parts, the head contains 119 parts, and of course, the paws, each will need 8 parts. So, like we have a red dragon, we will use a standard ornament of fiery red flowers. If you wish, you can come up with your own ornament of any color.
It is best to use when making a dragon step by step instructions.
Making the tail
In order to make a tail, you will need to assemble the modules as follows:
Moreover, row 1 will consist of 1 part, row 2 of 2 and row 3 of 1 module.
Assembling the dragon's tail 28 in a row ends, it is worth considering that starting from the 23rd row, the number of modules should be alternated, so in each even row there will be 6 modules, and odd rows with 5 modules.
Assembling the body
Assembling the body should begin from the side. So, first you need to make a link in 16 rows. Those corners that remain free must not be forgotten to bend to the side. In total you need to collect 6 links. The dragon's body is rows 29 to 124.
Assembling the dragon head
First you need to assemble a head without a mustache, for this we arrange the modules as follows: the first row in the head (125 in total) - 5 parts, then add 1 module to each row until it turns out that the row consists of 11 modules, that is to row 131. So, having reached row 141, which is the last, there will be only 1 module in the head.
Add a mustache to the head. In rows 136, 137, 138 and 141 we turn on the modulo and bend the free corner. Mustaches should be added on both sides accordingly.
Feet and final assembly
In total, you will need to assemble 4 paws of 8 modules each.
All the details of the dragon should be combined into one whole: tail, body and head.
Before attaching the paws, you should give the toy a shape. Why do we bend the neck? The point is to rotate it evenly along the entire length of the neck.
Put the finished paws aside for now and let’s start giving the product a shape. We'll bend our necks.
Now we add paws in those places where the fire-breathing beast comes into contact with the surface.
Now the toy is ready, you can also try adding, for example, some body parts, and you will get a cute dragon with wings.
A selection of interesting video master classes
If you have already mastered master classes for beginners and assembly diagrams simple products from paper, then it's time to take on more difficult work, that is, master the technique of modular origami and learn how to assemble large three-dimensional figures.
The Chinese dragon is one of the animal symbols of the year in the twelve-year cycle of their astrological calendar. You can make a modular origami dragon in the form of such an oriental beauty or choose any other image for assembly, because dragons differ not only in color (dark blue and sky blue, bright red, fiery yellow, green, black) or appearance(with or without wings, with a snake-like body or paws and tail, etc.), but also with character and disposition.
If ordinary origami is suitable even for children or beginners, then to make a modular figurine, you will have to try hard. The complexity of modular origami lies in the fact that you will need to prepare a very large number of small elements - parts of the future product (for small figures you will need several hundred of them, and for large ones - the count goes into the thousands), and then arrange these parts and fold them into a single whole , forming a specific craft.
Where to begin?
On sale you can find special paper for origamists - it is available in a wide range of colors and there will be no difficulties in working with it, but for beginners, drawing, printing, newspaper or writing paper is also suitable. Some craftsmen manage to make figures even from velvet or shagreen paper.
- To make a module, you need to cut a rectangle out of paper (usually the aspect ratio is 1:1.5, for example, 37 by 53 mm, or a slightly larger piece - 53 by 74 mm). You can cut the A4 sheet into 16 such rectangles or 32.
- Next, each of them needs to be folded in half lengthwise, and then along the transverse line.
- Then unfold and fold the corners along the vertical axis towards the center. Align the workpiece with its sides, making folds along diagonals starting from one point.
- You will end up with a triangle that needs to be turned over so that the front side changes to the wrong side. If protruding stripes are visible, fold them up and bring the outer ends back diagonally (bend them so that they do not stick out when folded).
- Next, bend the lower part of the workpiece - and you will get some kind of pockets. At the end, fold it in half along the vertical axis - one module is ready.
Typically, the body parts of a figure are formed by simply inserting modules into each other. If necessary, their joints are treated with glue (they need to be fixed well and left to dry for several hours). This is especially true if you are making massive parts - a large head, paws or tail (they can also be attached using glue gun, and on toothpicks).
The curves of the body must be formed immediately, simply reducing the number of modules on the inside of the bend, since after the assembly is completed you will no longer be able to bend it as you want.
The finished dragon can be decorated, for example, by adding elements from decorative paper or foil: make a luxurious comb, long mustache out of it, beautiful drawings by scales. And if you varnish the product and treat it with glitter, then your dragon will become just like a living one, and will look very elegant and chic.
The design of each dragon is unique, as is the craft that you end up with. For example, to create the three-headed cute dragon Gorynych you will need 933 modules (718+5 - green, 109 - yellow, 98 - orange and 3 - red). And to make a water fairy dragon, you will need to prepare 447 modules (44 white and 397 blue).
Modular origami - dragon
In this article you will learn how to make a dragon with your own hands from paper modules. Let's consider simple diagram creating a dragon using the modular origami technique, and at the end we will show you how to make your own crafts based on it.
Master class on making modular origami - “Dragon” crafts
You will need:
- triangular modules: 251 blue and 264 yellow;
- red paper;
- PVA glue.
Dragon Head will consist of 55 blue and 2 yellow modules.
Dragon body
Dragon Assembly
Our craft made from Dragon modules is ready!
Master class on making wings from modules for a dragon
You will need 34 triangular modules per wing: 22 red and 12 green.
In a similar way you can do beautiful tail for the dragon, using modules of different colors, alternating rows with short and long sides triangles.
Master class on making dragon paws from modules
For one paw you will need:
- large modules: 8 different colors, 10 red and 9 green.
- small modules: 14 yellow and 4 white.
Using these patterns, as well as combining small and large elements of different colors, you can create very beautiful dragons different sizes from triangular modules.
You can also make other crafts from the models, for example, a swan or a snake.
In this master class, I want to tell you how to make a more complex figurine using the modular origami technique, namely, the little dragon from the cartoon “How to Train Your Dragon.” After practicing with this master class, you will be able to make your favorite characters out of paper and bring to life various of your own ideas and sketches.
The dragon Toothless is made of textured crepe (sometimes also called corrugated) paper. However, if you want the model to be stronger and hold its shape better, it is better to use thicker paper.
I cut the leaves for the crepe paper modules to size 7 cm wide and 5.5 cm high.
The dragon using the modular origami technique took only 567 triangular modules, the creation of which I described in detail in a previous article.
Let's start assembling the dragon from the body.
In the 6th row, similarly, add 2 more modules (6th row - 18 modules).
Assembling these rows should result in an oval-shaped part or a kind of knob.
11 row - 12 modules.
In the next row, we put 11 more modules on these 12 modules, and then we put 10 modules on top of these 11 modules.
On the remaining free 5 modules we begin to assemble the neck.
This is what the body and neck of a dragon looks like.
The head is assembled in the same way as the body, except that instead of the usual black modules you will need to insert colored ones: these will be the eyes and mouth of the dragon. All modules are added only black!
The head is ready.
Now let's make the paws.
The part is assembled in the same way as the legs, except that the corners of many modules remain open.
We put on 17 modules. The rows here run vertically.
17 rows alternate: 1 module - 2 modules - 1 module - 2 modules, etc.
Row 18 - 2 modules. Row 19 - 2 modules (the corner of one module remains open). Row 20 - 3 modules. 21 row - 2 modules (1 corner remains open). Row 22 - 2 modules. Row 23 - 2 modules (put on 1 module, the second module remains completely open).
At the beginning of the tail, you need to place 1 module horizontally, just like we did with the legs.
To do this, move the two sides of the body a little in module to put the wings on them. The technology is exactly the same: the corners of the body are inserted into the pockets of the wings.
And finally, we decorate our little dragon with ears and spines, just like in the cartoon.
The dragon turned out to be 22 cm in height and about 25 cm in width.
I will not give any designs for making dragons here. Those that are simpler are understandable even without a diagram, but the diagrams are for the most beautiful huge red Chinese dragon I didn’t find one on a stand consisting of 9000 modules. Maybe these photos will give you an idea on how to make it. If you want to be in time for the new year, start collecting your dragon now.
Photos of modular dragons:
The website of the country of craftsmen also has a master class on making some dragon parts.
The modular origami technique is one of the most popular paper techniques all over the world, and interest in it is growing more and more every day. Master classes on this technique have the highest attendance. And most of all today people are interested in dragon craft patterns. It is these characters that are gaining great popularity in fairy tales, myths, films, cartoons, books, and comics. In one case they personify evil, in another ─ good, they come with and without wings, and fire-breathing dragons are also often described in literature. But in China, the dragon is one of the most revered animals. It is this country that is the founder in the creation of paper crafts using the origami technique. Today we would like to present you with step-by-step instructions for making a dragon; thanks to it, modular origami will be mastered quickly.
First, let's see what kind of dragons there are in modular origami.
Red Dragon:
Dragon with wings:
And other dragons:
Let's start small
Now let's get to work.
We need to make building material for our dragon ─ these will be ordinary paper modules.
1) To do this, take an A4 sheet of the color that we need for the craft, and fold it in half each time, as in the picture.
2) Then we will straighten the sheet and cut it into small pieces, which will be obtained after bending. And after that we proceed to the manufacture of the module itself. Bend the resulting rectangle in half.
4) Now we bend the edges of the workpiece towards the middle of the sheet.
5) Turn the module over to the other side.
6) And raise the edges of the leaf upward.
7) Now we bend the corners of the module, bending them over the large triangle.
8) And bend it back.
9) Again we fold the small triangles along the marked lines and lift the edges of the future module up.
10) And finally, bend the sheet in half.
11) So we have made a module that is suitable for this technique.
12) After we do required amount modules, we need to learn how to connect them together. To do this, you need to nest the modules one inside the other, as shown in the picture.
For our future craft we will need 251 modules of blue color and 264 modules yellow color, as well as red paper and PVA glue.
Now let's move on to the assembly diagram of the dragon itself.
1) Initially we will make the head. To do this, we will take 55 blue and 2 yellow modules, and we will assemble it according to this scheme.
2) K ready head glue on a tongue that can be cut out from red paper. And now our head is ready.
3) Let's start making the dragon's body. To do this, take 2 blue modules, and place 1 yellow module between them, this will be the 1st row.
4) 2nd row ─ put on 2 yellow modules.
5) 3rd row ─ place 1 more yellow module in the center, and 2 blue modules at the edges.
6) And now we need to make a long chain of modules, which will represent the body, so we repeat the last steps until we get 88 rows.
7) Once the long chain is ready, it should look like this:
8) Let's start assembling the dragon itself. Let's take the head from reverse side and next to the place where the eyes are, insert 2 blue modules.
9) We did this in order to insert a body into them. To make it stick better, lubricate its upper part with glue.
10) In order to make the legs, take 5 blue modules and connect them as in the picture. Let's make 4 legs for our beast.
11) Then you need to make a wave bend on the body and insert your legs into it with one corner in front and behind for 2 seconds different sides.
12) Well, our dragon craft is ready!
Fire-breathing handsome man
We also offer you less detailed diagram dragon assemblies, for those who have already assembled more than one figure using this technique.
In order to make such a handsome man, we will need red, yellow and black modules. According to this scheme we will add our figure.
When folding the beast, we will place the modules with pockets towards the head. And we will start assembling from the tail. Between the wavy lines that we see in the picture, yellow and red diamonds are repeated. There should be 9 diamonds in total: 4 yellow and 5 red. After this, we assemble the head and shape the body of the dragon.
You also need to make the paws, which we showed how to do in the previous diagram; you need 4 of them in total. And attach them to the folds on which the dragon will stand. The second dragon is ready.
Our master class today described in detail how to make modules, how to attach them to each other, and how to make the figures themselves. Thanks to the diagrams, you will quickly learn how to make origami, and will delight yourself and your whole family. Since such volumetric figure can serve both as a gift for some celebration and as a piece of furniture, be sure to learn how to make objects yourself using the modular origami technique and teach your family, who will become your assistants in this difficult, but very interesting and exciting task.
Video on the topic of the article
Now you can watch videos on making other dragons using the modular origami technique.
Dragons are creatures that are found in books and cartoons today. For diligent creative lovers, there is a great opportunity to get your own pet paper dragon. On the Internet you can find not a single master class on origami dragon, but a whole lot and choose for yourself what you like the most. There are several ways to make a dragon - this is simple and modular origami.
Types of origami
There are several ways to create a paper dragon, for example, simple, modular or schematic. Can be found immediately different types origami dragon and get acquainted with each one individually.
Schematic origami will not differ much from simple origami, since it is a more child-friendly option for creating work. The final figure will be sketchy, vaguely reminiscent of the desired mythical dragon.
Modular paper dragons will represent detailed characters; using this method, you can easily copy a cartoon or movie character.
The main task is to manufacture small modules in the amount of 700-1000 pieces or more, then to draw up a scheme for attaching them to each other.
Origami paper
There are different types papers suitable for making a dragon: colored paper; office for printing; corrugated paper.
There is also highly targeted paper that is made directly for origami; you can purchase it in craft stores.
If you choose to work colored paper, then you need to choose a metallized and double-sided one. And in the case of office paper, you need to prepare it by printing a dragon skin design on it in advance, this will make the future dragon more realistic.
Of course, you can make an animal from an ordinary sheet of white paper, but in this case it will need to be colored at the personal discretion of the author. Using creative skills you can recreate your loved one cartoon character or a photo of an origami dragon from the Internet.
Cute little dragon created in basic style origami, there will be original decoration compared to other souvenirs on your shelf. This technique Perfect for both children over 10 years old and adults.
How to fold origami?
Make a square from an A4 sheet. First fold it along its two diagonals, then straighten it so that the folds are preserved;
Next you need to bend the square in half twice, bend it back, so that 8 fold lines are formed on the square. Holding opposite corners, make a diamond shape along the marked lines. This will take a little practice. Turn the diamond with the folds facing up.
On both sides, bend the edges of the diamond towards the middle. The shape of the figure will be similar to a child's kite. The upper part of the triangle is completely bent in one direction. It must be carefully smoothed out. The rhombus straightens out and a triangle should appear in the inner part.
When you bend the top layer of the diamond, moving from bottom to top, if everything is done correctly, you get a boat. On the reverse side of the diamond, the action occurs in a similar way. The workpiece is straightened and, as a result, an elongated rhombus with pointed corners is ready.
The upper corners of the workpiece are bent from both sides from bottom to top so that a child’s angle is again formed. kites. The upper part of the figure is bent straight to the fold line; this operation is carried out in different directions alternately.
Gently bend the top of the pyramid inside the resulting structure with your finger. Press the figure from different sides to the central part, fold it more compactly and a children's kite will form again.
The corners of each side are folded. On both sides, the lower corners are bent upward. The figure needs to be flipped over in order to turn it inside out.
In the direction from bottom to top, the corners are bent and a triangle is obtained. Flip the shape again, but so that it still remains a triangle. It turns out as many as 2 triangles with sharp corners, from which you will get dragon wings. They will be placed on different sides; they need to be bent perpendicularly.
In the middle there are triangles and small legs on a trapezoid-shaped fold. These parts will serve to create the head and tail of the future dragon. It is better to first take the triangle, which is located on the near side.
Turn this part out again so that the middle fold is opposite the figure. Make sure that another pointed triangle is placed parallel, turning it inside out.
The small triangles that remain there need to be bent up one by one. Next, you need to form a paw and use the remaining three triangles in the same way.
Make the paws unidirectional so that the figure becomes stable. The dragon's paws and head should point in the same direction, and its neck should be turned slightly upward.
You need to bend your head at the neck. Bend the pointed part back to form a horn.
Bend the wings at an angle back. You can separately add realism to the wings by creating dragon folds on them. In general, an origami dragon with wings looks more detailed and interesting than without them.
Create a relief with three folds in the tail, then straighten the tail, but so that the relief is preserved. We straighten the figure a little, which noticeably gains volume.
The time spent on creating this craft is approximately 30-60 minutes. The finished work looks attractive and will be an excellent decoration in the home.
It is necessary to take into account that Small child will not always be able to completely cope with all stages of the work on his own and, of course, he will need the help of an adult to complete what he started.
Whenever large quantities questions during the manufacturing process, you should refer to the instructions on how to make a dragon and find answers to your questions.
Photo of dragons using origami technique
I will not give any designs for making dragons here. The simpler ones are understandable even without a diagram, but I couldn’t find a diagram for the most beautiful huge red Chinese dragon on a stand, consisting of 9000 modules. Maybe these photos will give you an idea on how to make it. If you want to be in time for the new year, start collecting your dragon now.
Photos of modular dragons:
The website of the country of craftsmen also has a master class on making some dragon parts.
This three-headed dragon's body is made according to the assembly principle of a classic swan.
And the most beautiful red dragon made in China from more than 9000 modules on a stand, 80 by 35 cm:
We put all the parts on glue; without glue it’s impossible to make such a dragon. Modules: copier paper, density 80 A4, format 1/32, a little more than 300 sheets of red, the rest are much smaller. We start with the head - a regular ball with 16 modules and increase to 22 in a row. Upper part We don’t touch the head, it will give off a mane.
First you need to assemble the ball, body and spikes. But only after the mane, otherwise it will be more difficult to attach it all.
Next, without finishing the ball, we continue to make a neck of 8 modules (2 red, 4 white, 2 red) 7 modules (1 red, 1 black, 3 red, 1 black, 1 red), that is, you do not continue the ball, but make rows from the ball 8 modules, the second 7, then again 8, and again 7 and so on in order until the very tail.
Make the bend and length at your discretion. There is no need to coat each module with glue, but we fix all the bends with PVA glue; otherwise it won’t stick. We make a second row on top, repeating the entire contour of the bottom row, only the modules are all red, this will be the back. PVA is also recorded.
At the end of the body (that is, when you decide that the length of the body is sufficient), the modules are reduced from 8 to 6. And the tails are simply inserted into the modules, as if continuing the body.
The mustache is a wire covered with paper tape. The stand is laid in a spiral and placed on glue. Good luck with your build!
