Origami, a centuries-old Japanese tradition, is also a form of modern art. There are many different methods of folding dragons and each has its own style and complexity. Most dragons are of intermediate difficulty to advanced level origami creations, but you can try a beginner dragon if you're just starting out. By following a few steps you will be able to create a beautiful origami in the shape of a dragon.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Creating an Intermediate Level Dragon
Step 1. Try this dragon if you are at an intermediate level in the art of origami
You need to know how to make the basic bird and the one that flaps its wings before trying this technique.
Step 2. Start with a square piece of origami paper
7cm x 7cm is a good size, but others will do as well. If you are a beginner, it is best to start with a sheet measuring 20cm x 20cm, because it works better.
If you only have a standard letter-sized piece of paper, make it square by folding the left corner diagonally to the right. Then take the top right corner and fold it to the left, connecting it to the left corner where the first fold was made. You will find yourself with a lower left rectangle on top: fold it back and insist well. Unfold the entire sheet and cut (or tear, if it folds right) the rectangle. You should now have a square piece of paper
Step 3. Fold the paper diagonally, horizontally and vertically to create asterisk folds
You should do each of these individually, unfolding the paper before the next fold. Be careful and precise with the creases, making sure the wrinkles are deep and the corners pointed.
Step 4. Compress the sheet into a square base
Fold the top corner of the paper down, lowering the left and right corners at the same time. Bring both corners down by folding the paper between the bottom and top of the layers or squeezing it by folding it. It should now look like some kind of square diamond.
If you are using colored paper, the colored side must now be on the outside. Start with the colored part down when composing the base square
Step 5. Turn it into a basic bird model
Fold the top layers of both sides to the center and then fold the top triangle back. Unfold these three folds. Make a petal fold by lifting all the top layer from the bottom corner and fold the sides along the fold to create a diamond. Flip the paper over and do the same thing on the opposite side: you need to fold along the sides in the center and the top triangle down, unfold these folds, lift the top layer up to the outer layer and fold along the sides to create a diamond. This is the basic bird.
As you complete the bird's base and bring the bottom corner to the top, the sheet will look like an open flower
Step 6. Pull the paper flap on both sides and then squeeze the layer so that it overlaps
This creates the head and tail. Now the figure will look very pointed, with one point on the left which will be the head, one in the middle which will serve for the wings and another on the left which will become the tail.
- To make the head, lift the left flap slightly and pull the left corner between the bottom and top layer. Make it angled slightly downwards (so that the head is tilted diagonally) and fold over.
- To make the tail, you need to lift the right flap slightly and pull the right corner between the bottom and top layer. Fold it horizontally, so that it extends outward.
Step 7. Rotate the diamond so that the head is facing up
Rotate the paper 180 degrees. The unfolded part of the diamond will need to point upwards so that you can add details and continue with the fold. The head will now point to the left.
Step 8. Add some details to the head
You will be able to add a jaw, horn and / or thin the neck to add detail to the head and make it more dragon-like.
- To add a jawline, bend the tip of the head down to the bottom corner on that side and then straighten it. You have to hold your neck with one hand and push your head against your neck with the other. The neck should bend inward so that the head falls slightly above the neck, creating a jawline.
- To add a horn, fold the top of the head down to the bottom of the jaw and unfold the paper. Open the head by moving the upper layer from the lower one so that you can fold this small piece backwards. This will create a horn on top of the dragon's head.
- To thin the neck, fold both sides inwards. Take small parts of the lower edges of the neck and fold them between the layers. Repeat this with about three different pieces to remove the fat from the neck and make it thinner.
Step 9. Add details to the queue
Fold it to make it look thinner and / or pointed. The choice is up to you. Be creative!
- To add spikes on the tail, unfold the layers and fold the tip up where you want the spike to appear. Then fold out most of the rest of the tail, leaving a small ripple. You can do this near the tip or in the center of both. Other ripples can also be added. Close the queue.
- To thin the tail, unfold the layers and fold the bottom edges inward. This can be done once again in multiple positions to create a thin, whip-like-looking ponytail.
Step 10. Add details to the wings
You will be able to add some thickness to make the wings more realistic.
Starting with the left wing (with the head facing to the left), fold the top layer of the top corner towards the bottom corner between the head and tail, then unfold the paper. Open the left flap of the wing and then fold it all the way down and slip it into the open pocket, closing over the wing. Then fold the loose flap to the left and unfold the wing by bringing the bottom corner up again. Fold in the left and right corners and unfold. Push on the right side (it should be colored) of the opening wing. Fold over the left side bringing that corner to the colored side. Keep a thumb on the right side as you do this to keep it from popping out again. Repeat with the right wing
Step 11. Open the wings by pulling the chest and tail
Gently tug on the dragon's chest and tail to set the wings as if it were flying.
Method 2 of 2: Creating a Dragon at the Beginner Level
Step 1. Try this dragon if you are just starting out with origami
This simple dragon is perfect for those who are learning how to fold origami. By completing this dragon, I learned how to do the kite fold and how to fold from the inside.
Step 2. Start with a square piece of origami paper
7cm x 7cm is a good size, but others will do as well. If you are a beginner, it is best to start with a sheet measuring 20cm x 20cm, because it works better.
If you only have a standard letter-sized piece of paper, make it square by folding the left corner diagonally to the right. Then take the top right corner and fold it to the left, connecting it to the left corner where the first fold was made. You will find yourself with a lower left rectangle on top: fold it back and insist well. Unfold the entire sheet and cut (or tear, if it folds right) the rectangle. You should now have a square piece of paper
Step 3. Fold the paper in half along the diagonal, unwind it, and then fold the side corners into the diagonal centerline from the top corner
Fold the paper in half along the diagonal in a valley fold to make a triangle and then unfold it. Fold the two side corners back into a crease made from the top corner and fold down in the shape of a kite and then unfold it again. It's the kite fold.
Step 4. Repeat the kite fold from the bottom corner
Fold the left and right corners back towards the center diagonal, this time starting at the bottom corner. Keep these sides folded for now.
Step 5. Turn the paper over and bring the new side corners to the center from the bottom corner
Bring the edges created by the kite fold in the center diagonal line into a valley fold. Then align the outer corners of the top layer again in the center diagonal, starting from the bottom corner.
They will now appear as creases on each side of the diamond
Step 6. Open the sheet and repeat these folds from the top corner
Once again make the first kite fold again with the original side up and turn the paper. Bring the side corners back to the center diagonal line from the top corner. Then bring the corners of the free edge to the center diagonal line from the top corner and unfold the sheet.
Step 7. Fold along the other diagonal that doesn't already have a crease, forming a triangle and then straighten
Step 8. Squeeze the two corners you just made the diagonal by pushing the edges towards you
Then bring your hands together, bending along the folds of the kite made earlier. The first fold should go down on each side, the second should go up and the third should face down. The corners you tightened should be sticking out.
It will resemble a diamond with two pieces on each side sticking out in the middle
Step 9. Push the two protruding flaps to the top corner
It will now look like an arrowhead or a kite with a dot coming out of the top.
Step 10. Rotate the origami so that it is horizontal and flip it over
Rotate the origami dragon so that the corners point to the left and right. The flaps you just pushed down should be facing right. Now turn the dragon over, making it point in the same direction.
Step 11. Fold the bottom corner to the top along the center diagonal
Bring the bottom corner to the top along the center line to fold the diamond in half lengthwise. It will now look like a wide, short triangle.
Step 12. Lift the left corner between the two layers
Fold the corner to the left until it is almost vertical, but with a slight diagonal to the left and straighten. Apply the reverse crease inside to bring the left corner between the two edges. You will need to spread the top and bottom layers slightly apart to lift the left corner within the two layers.
You should now have a piece sticking out on the left side of the card, while the middle and right side of the triangle will be horizontal
Step 13. Make the head using another internal inverted fold
Lower the angle between the two layers of the neck to create the head, which should be a little less than half the length of the neck. It will now look like a head with a pointed beak at the end.
Step 14. Bring the left corner to the right along a diagonal and then right again along a diagonal to create the mouth
Lower the left corner to the right to half the length of the head. This should be along a horizontal line so that the corner points directly to the right. Now bring the right corner diagonally down to the left to create the lower jaw.
There will now be a short piece hanging down, which will look like a jaw
Step 15. Fold the wings
Pull your head to the right to separate the wings and spread them out. Fold the flap in the middle of the dragon from the top right corner to the bottom edge. Do the same in reverse on the opposite side to create the wings.
It will look like an animal swimming now because it will appear to have fins
Step 16. Open the wings to the sides to make it look like it is flying:
now the dragon is finished.
Advice
- Take your time and be patient. If you feel frustrated, take a short break.
- Don't crease it.
- Crease firmly for a clean result.
- Avoid tearing the sheet.
