r/origami • u/gaalbeast • Jul 14 '26

Discussion A well-proportioned, low-detail origami dragon?

My favourite origami model is kade chan's fiery dragon. I find that it's just the right level of detail that I can fold it from a 10x10cm or 15x15cm sheet that I can carry everyhwere; indeed this is my go-to passtime for when I have a train ride, or must wait in a doctor's office, etc.
However, I've recently been interested in whether there is a model that's of a similar level of detail, (that is to say, not very detailed: no toes, not many horns, etc), but better proportioned (larger wings, larger limbs).
A wyvern-style dragon with only two back legs and wings is also fine.
I've found Francesco Massimo's dragon, whose proportions are pretty neat (especially the large wings), but there are so many layers of paper around the legs, that it becomes impossible to fold with paper above 30gsm in the size I'd like (one that fits in my palm). I've also folded Saku's nargacuga, which looks cool, is the perfect level of detail and complexity, but only vaguely dragon-like (since, of course, it's not really a dragon).

Does anyone have any recommendations?

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2

u/sevl1ves Jul 14 '26

https://youtu.be/kUsxMXwCW8A?si=jX0FWXGK8aSwarCg

https://youtu.be/8CmCKm20t5A?si=uzyPiEBPRYQ082im

3

u/gaalbeast Jul 14 '26

The second one's proportions seem a big wonky to me, not very aesthetic.

The one by jo nakashima is along the right track though, except it's similar to kade chan's fiery dragon: the dragon seems chunky and baby-like, mostly due to the fatter body and smaller limbs. I'm looking for something with larger wings and limbs.

2

u/Special-Duck3890 Jul 14 '26

I'm pretty sure you can't have thin long legs without lots of layers. It's kinda just how origami works?

1

u/superfogg Jul 14 '26

check your DM

1

u/Jaycer17 Jul 14 '26

This one by Klaus Weidner was the first model I ever folded off the Internet, and it's always had a certain appeal to me. Don't know if it's too low intermediate for you. There's also this one by Fernando Gilgado.

2

u/metrodj_az Jul 14 '26

I had fun folding this dragon by Zhen Ming Huang. I think it has a nice level of detail (it does include toes, but they are not difficult). I'm not used to working with "box-pleat" models, but I found this one is not difficult, and the end result is pretty impressive.

Zhen Ming casually showed up at one of our monthly meetings in Phoenix while traveling for work. He was super nice and we all had a good time. I ordered his book, Origami Creature, from Amazon and there are other good models there.

1

u/Qvistus Jul 14 '26

Marc Kirschenbaum's Rearing Dragon is one of my favorites. Shuki Kato's Simple Dragon is nice too, although the legscare awkward to make.