By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — He calls his technique “Benagami.” Benjamin John Coleman, a former math teacher has applied some mathematical principals to the Japanese art of origami to create beautiful and lifelike Bonsai displays.

In a studio in his Pawtucket apartment, Coleman produces unique Bonsai displays made from handpainted watercolor papers that are meticulously folded into paper blossoms and leaves.
The paper flowers are then precisely attached to a hardwood branch that is then mounted to a rock or stone base. The result is a work of art that brings a little Mother Nature into the home or office.
Coleman said he started practicing the ancient art of origami at around age 7, when his parents introduced him to the book: Modern Origami, by James Minoru Sakoda.
Since then, he has experimented with various papers and materials, as well as folding techniques, in an effort to come up with his own unique designs.
Since he left teaching, about four years ago, Coleman said he has been focusing on his art and has been selling his Benagami origami bonsai creations on E-Bay and through local art shows and galleries. “Many of my sales have been just through word-of-mouth,” he said. “People constantly tell me how real they look.”
Coleman said he uses high quality paper, which is coated with artists’ medium to make it water and fade-resistant. He gathers the rhododendron branches and the rocks, dried mushrooms and other natural materials that form the base of the bonsai displays from long walks in the woods behind Slater Park and other secluded areas. The pieces range from $40 to upwards of $300, depending on the size and complexity.
Coleman said that what sets his works apart from others is his use of what he calls the “Benagami ratio” in assembling his origami flowers. He calls this a “mathematically calculable distance that creates the illusion of depth in variably sized proportional objects.” To achieve this ratio, he uses a hand-made laser alignment tool that allows for precise measurements on where each petal and leaf should be positioned. The finished three-dimensional effect, he said, makes the bonsai displays appear to have much greater depth than they really do.
Coleman said he has a web site showcasing his work and explaining his techniques at www.benagami.com. He also has work currently being represented by JRs Fine Art on Wickenden Street in Providence. “I’m just trying to get my origami out there,” he said.