Dedication & determination! It took artist Linda Stephen 600 hours to create the artwork for her new book.
After over 25 years of combining colored patterns, textures and lots of detail, one can safely state that Linda Stephen is an origami artist extraordinaire. Linda’s origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, also includes her unique “extensions” such as the use of yuzen patterned papers, handmade washi papers, and unique origami sculptures.
When I saw Linda’s paper art illustrations from the new book, The Day We Went to the Park, I was astounded, and found myself reaching out with questions and insight into her creative world. Receiving a bright response, I found her friendly, worldly, and seemingly patient with those of us who still grapple in trying to make those first few folds of paper evolve toward perhaps just a simple paper flower. Besides, when she happened to rather casually mention that she’d read around 1,000 books a year with her children when they were growing up, I knew our conversation would sparkle!
We share similar picture book influences such as The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, and Frederick by Leo Lionni. Her influences as an artist range from the Japanese series “Guri and Gura” (by Rieko Nakagawa/Yuriko Yamawaki), The Day the Goose Got Loose (by Reeve Lindbergh/Steven Kellogg) to illustrators such as Susan Jeffers and Mark Teague.
Linda, what are you most inspired by?
“I’m inspired by the beauty that surrounds us in every season. I particularly love watching people being active outside. This may be a farmers’ market, an outdoor jazz concert, a local park or beach. In my art, I aim to celebrate both the festive and the quiet moments in our everyday lives. There is beauty of place, and of spirit, all around us, though these are often overlooked.”
You’ve spent lots of time traveling around the world and lived in Japan for several years. What’s your favorite place to travel to?
“I do love Japan, particularly rural Japan. I love narrow roads and old markets and the contrast of high-speed trains next to 800-year-old temples. Another favorite place is the fjords of Norway – hiking up a mountain to touch a glacier.”
Tell us a few things about your new book, The Day We Went to the Park.
“I am always inspired by local parks and the people of all ages and all walks of life who enjoy the parks alone or with a friend or with family in every season. The art for The Day We Went to the Park is inspired by Holmes Lake Park in Lincoln, Neb. and Grand Lake in northern Michigan.”
“The most challenging origami from my book was a child in the foreground who is kneeling on rocks poking with a stick in the water. For me, making a person who is walking or running is straight-forward (though it still takes a long time). The challenge with the kid next to the pool was in getting the right angle for the shoulders, arms and legs. I eventually recruited a model to do the movement I was looking for (though we did it bending over grass rather than at the water). I must have changed the position at least 100 times. The kid was still not glued down during the photo shoot for the book.”
“My origami landscapes take anywhere from 20 hours to six months. I love listening to audio books while I work. This helps me to keep going (what’s next in the story?) even if I am tired. I prefer finding a series because one artwork usually takes 60 hours. The Day We Went to the Park took about six months and 600 hours. I work on a ping pong table so I have a lot of space to have little origami pieces in front of me and lots of paper choices spread out to choose from. I never have any liquids on the table – and no snacks, either. I may have a cup of coffee or tea behind me on a bookshelf. The only liquid on the worktable is a little bit of bookbinding glue.”
For the whimsical-minded, if you could cook and form a pizza, or bake a cake with origami-like techniques and appearance, which would you choose?
“I would choose a pizza. The flat geometric shape is easier to make than a 3D cake. We could make a square pizza by making four “triangle bases” and fitting them together, for example. You’re reminding me that it’s time to eat!”
Finally, you share “design thinking” techniques with children K through 12. What words of advice and artistic inspiration can you share with not only students but with all of us?
“The goal of “design thinking” is to create and encourage future innovators and breakthrough thinkers. Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, is also “math you can hold in your hand.” For most models, origami requires extreme precision in folding and in following directions. One missed step results in a dead end. When I teach origami, I emphasize following the steps, the importance of strong creases, etc. I also share examples of where a wrong turn led to something new. Sometimes, a closed box turns into a coin purse by accident. Or a cat head turns into a fox head – depending on the angles of the ears. Are these mistakes or are they new discoveries? Yes. Persistence and practice and an aim for perfection is important in any endeavor. Students also need to understand that a mistake can also result in a new invention. Much of art – and of scientific research or engineering projects – involves a lot of research and development – trying, testing, trying again. Students need to understand that it is okay to make a mistake and that is it okay to start over and try again. This is play with paper but it is also part of practicing how to discover new solutions.”
Thanks, Linda, and much success with your book!
“Thank you! Happy folding and happy exploring!”
The Day We Went to the Park
When I saw Linda’s paper art illustrations from the new book, The Day We Went to the Park, I was astounded, and found myself reaching out with questions and insight into her creative world. Receiving a bright response, I found her friendly, worldly, and seemingly patient with those of us who still grapple in trying to make those first few folds of paper evolve toward perhaps just a simple paper flower. Besides, when she happened to rather casually mention that she’d read around 1,000 books a year with her children when they were growing up, I knew our conversation would sparkle!
We share similar picture book influences such as The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, and Frederick by Leo Lionni. Her influences as an artist range from the Japanese series “Guri and Gura” (by Rieko Nakagawa/Yuriko Yamawaki), The Day the Goose Got Loose (by Reeve Lindbergh/Steven Kellogg) to illustrators such as Susan Jeffers and Mark Teague.
Linda, what are you most inspired by?
“I’m inspired by the beauty that surrounds us in every season. I particularly love watching people being active outside. This may be a farmers’ market, an outdoor jazz concert, a local park or beach. In my art, I aim to celebrate both the festive and the quiet moments in our everyday lives. There is beauty of place, and of spirit, all around us, though these are often overlooked.”
You’ve spent lots of time traveling around the world and lived in Japan for several years. What’s your favorite place to travel to?
“I do love Japan, particularly rural Japan. I love narrow roads and old markets and the contrast of high-speed trains next to 800-year-old temples. Another favorite place is the fjords of Norway – hiking up a mountain to touch a glacier.”
Tell us a few things about your new book, The Day We Went to the Park.
“I am always inspired by local parks and the people of all ages and all walks of life who enjoy the parks alone or with a friend or with family in every season. The art for The Day We Went to the Park is inspired by Holmes Lake Park in Lincoln, Neb. and Grand Lake in northern Michigan.”
“The most challenging origami from my book was a child in the foreground who is kneeling on rocks poking with a stick in the water. For me, making a person who is walking or running is straight-forward (though it still takes a long time). The challenge with the kid next to the pool was in getting the right angle for the shoulders, arms and legs. I eventually recruited a model to do the movement I was looking for (though we did it bending over grass rather than at the water). I must have changed the position at least 100 times. The kid was still not glued down during the photo shoot for the book.”
“My origami landscapes take anywhere from 20 hours to six months. I love listening to audio books while I work. This helps me to keep going (what’s next in the story?) even if I am tired. I prefer finding a series because one artwork usually takes 60 hours. The Day We Went to the Park took about six months and 600 hours. I work on a ping pong table so I have a lot of space to have little origami pieces in front of me and lots of paper choices spread out to choose from. I never have any liquids on the table – and no snacks, either. I may have a cup of coffee or tea behind me on a bookshelf. The only liquid on the worktable is a little bit of bookbinding glue.”
For the whimsical-minded, if you could cook and form a pizza, or bake a cake with origami-like techniques and appearance, which would you choose?
“I would choose a pizza. The flat geometric shape is easier to make than a 3D cake. We could make a square pizza by making four “triangle bases” and fitting them together, for example. You’re reminding me that it’s time to eat!”
Finally, you share “design thinking” techniques with children K through 12. What words of advice and artistic inspiration can you share with not only students but with all of us?
“The goal of “design thinking” is to create and encourage future innovators and breakthrough thinkers. Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, is also “math you can hold in your hand.” For most models, origami requires extreme precision in folding and in following directions. One missed step results in a dead end. When I teach origami, I emphasize following the steps, the importance of strong creases, etc. I also share examples of where a wrong turn led to something new. Sometimes, a closed box turns into a coin purse by accident. Or a cat head turns into a fox head – depending on the angles of the ears. Are these mistakes or are they new discoveries? Yes. Persistence and practice and an aim for perfection is important in any endeavor. Students also need to understand that a mistake can also result in a new invention. Much of art – and of scientific research or engineering projects – involves a lot of research and development – trying, testing, trying again. Students need to understand that it is okay to make a mistake and that is it okay to start over and try again. This is play with paper but it is also part of practicing how to discover new solutions.”
Thanks, Linda, and much success with your book!
“Thank you! Happy folding and happy exploring!”
The Day We Went to the Park
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