Chapter 4: Cut & Fold Design Shapes

Using Black Paper
Design Sheet 4


Examples (i) to (iii) started with the same outline of an 8 pointed star. The paper was folded into 4 and then the outline was cut. The inside detail was then varied in the 3 examples.

In example (i) the outline of the outer line was mirrored for the inner line.
In example (ii), after cutting the outer shape, the paper was changed so that it was folded in half. The inside detail was then cut to give 4 diamonds around the edge and a diamond with a star superimposed in the centre.
Example (iii) was cut in a similar manner to example (ii), then extra V shapes were cut into the solid areas to open up the star a bit more.
A radiating 8 armed star (spoke design) formed the basis of examples (iv) and (v). The centre detail was varied in each version and the lengths of the arms were varied more in example (v).

Design Sheet 5


This sheet shows variations based on the 4 pointed star.
In example (i) the paper was folded into 4 and a symmetrical star pattern cut into each quarter.
In example (ii) the paper was folded in 4 different ways and only 1 symmetrical, 4 pointed star cut each time, so that the size & orientation of the stars was varied.
Example (iii) was created without folding. It shows an asymmetrical star (with cut out) positioned over a symmetrical star.
Example (iv) shows an outline pattern of an asymmetrical star with an asymmetric cross, also cut without folding.

Design Sheet 6



This sheet shows variations on a 5 armed star.

In example (i) the paper was folded diagonally and part of the star shape and the spokes were cut into the 2 layers - this resulted in a star with 6 arms, due to an error in the way it was cut. Nevertheless it is quite a pleasing design.
Example (ii) was cut without folding, as was example (v).
Example (iii) was started by folding the paper to give a symmetrical 5-armed shape, but then due to the small size of the cut-outs it was found that it was easier to cut the rest out in the desired shape without folding the paper.
Example (iv) combined some of the shapes from samples (i) and (iii). The paper was folded in 3 separate ways to cut out certain sections and shapes.

Using Coloured Paper
Design Sheet 7



This sheet shows designs with 3 layers of coloured paper, using several cut out shapes from sheets 4,5 & 6.
I was more pleased with designs (i) and (iii) because of the greater colour contrast between the layers compared with design (ii). In design (i) the blue-green layer had similarities to the blue background but had sufficient contrast of colour to be distinguished from it. However in design (ii) the blues in the middle and top layers were not different enough to create a really effective contrast. I think the impact would have been better if the middle layer were a slightly lighter blue.
In design (iii) the pale yellow-orange colour of the top layer creates an effective contrast with the middle and bottom layers.

Design Sheet 8



This sheet shows more complex designs than sheet 7. In particular examples (i) and (ii) involve 4 separate pieces of painted paper.

I think design (ii) is very effective because of the 3 different variations of orange tones used in the design and the red-orange highlights in the paper forming the top layer (starfish shape). The symmetrical arrangement looked better than an asymmetrical version of this design.

Design (i), although satisfactory, is less striking and I think the central star is a bit too light.

Design (iii) is very effective because of the small quantities of dark blue and red-orange highlights in the middle layer (radiating spokes). However, again I think the top yellow-orange layer is a little stark and may have been improved if toned down a bit.

Nevertheless, I think that all of these designs have possibilities for future development.

Chapter 3: Design Development Based on the Star

In this chapter, various star shapes are used to create simple designs with the coloured papers produced earlier, using complementary colour contrasts to enhance the visual effects. For the first two sheets, plain blue and orange colours were used to emphasise the effects created by the shapes themselves. On the third sheet some of the patterned papers were used to further enhance the more complex designs.

Design Sheet 1: Simple shapes, distortion & repeat patterns

The 5 armed starfish shape was chosen for most of these exercises, except for the symmetry example, in which a 4 pointed star was used.

(i) Counterchange : positive and negative shapes side by side.

(ii) Positive and negative: 4 shapes placed side by side in a square. 2 different shades of orange/brown used to add variety. The enclosed space was a square modified with points in the middle of each side.

(iii) Symmetry: 4 pointed star illustrating a double-symmetrical shape.

(iv) Asymmetry: 4 pointed star with both lines of symmetry moved to give a distorted shape.

(v) 5 armed starfish distorted to fit into a triangle, diamond and circle.

(vi) Repeat pattern created from the starfish shape distorted to fit into the triangle. This effect was particularly interesting as the triangles had to be rotated to make the edges touch.

Design Sheet 2

(i) Design with the starfish motif, using different sized objects (scaling) together with the use of positive and negative shapes.

(ii) Edge to edge repeat pattern using positive shape and negative space created by the distorted object.

(iii) Solid distorted starfish motif used to create border with a corner. Note that the shape was rotated 90 degrees & flipped to enable the corner to be turned without disturbing the flow.

(iv) Shapes linked via the arms of the starfish - could also use to form a border.

(v) Two 5 pointed star shapes combined: the rounded starfish and a larger similar shape with pointed arms. Note that by spacing the pieces of the second shape (underneath) a third star is created by the gaps. Also the inner star is sized so that it just touches the innermost V parts of the larger star in order to link the two objects. I think this is one of my favourites so far, and has possibilities for future designs.

(vi) New shape from old: A small 5 pointed star in the middle, then a large 5 pointed star segmented and positioned so that each piece almost touches the recesses of the inner star.

Design Sheet 3

(i) Complex counterchange

(i) a: This uses the 5-armed starfish cut across the middle , with half of the main body orange on blue and the other half blue on orange. As I felt this shape was a bit limiting for the later parts of this section, I decided to experiment with a more complex version [see (i) b below].

(i) b: This is a more complex image, with a smaller patterned 5-armed star placed on top of a larger one. The inner star uses 4 alternating pieces of blue and orange patterns around the arms. A pointed star shape has been cut in the centre of the star so that the background orange colour shows through. One arm of the inner starfish was then selected to make a new symmetrical star image (see ii below). This design was very pleasing to me, and also has scope for development in later chapters.

(ii) a: New four-sided symmetrical star created by taking the selected segment from design (i) b, plus its mirror image and repeating them to form a new distorted star shape.

(ii) b: The new star shape with the 4 segments separated and placed on a complementary background.

(iii) Edge to edge repeat of the new segment and its mirror image with just the points touching. Note the pleasing effects of the diamonds and triangles created in the spaces between the joined segments.

(iv) A new symmetrical star design created by overlapping 9 copies of the selected segment.

(v) Overlapping, alternately coloured segments used to create an informal border.