[Artist Story- 10] Rafa Moral Campayo - Amazing 3D Beads Artworks

[Artist Story- 10] Rafa Moral Campayo - Amazing 3D Beads Artworks

Amazing 3D Beads Artworks

Presentation

Hello my name is Rafa Moral Campayo, I am 45 years old and I’m from Valencia (Spain) where I live with my wife and two daughters. I’m a technical computer engineer and I have been working for twenty years in a technology services company as a programmer analyst for a Microsoft ERP.

I would define myself as a serious person but fun at the same time, passionate, responsible, demanding, perfectionist and I try to give my own style to everything I do.

I share my free time with family and friends, and I always leave something for the many hobbies I have and are passionate about. Sports, travel, gastronomy, music, photography... and of course beads!!!

Beads

I discovered the beads back in 2015 when a friend told me about them as a craft that he does with his son. I remember that he told me "I don't know how  but there are people who manage to do things in 3d with this"...

at that moment I didn't give much importance to the comment, I got a basic kit and started practicing with simple 2d things to learn the ironing technique.

3D Beads

I stumble upon the world of 3d beads by chance without having seen anything before. I'm passionate about soccer and one of the first things I feel like doing is the grass of a field with various shades of green and white stripes (I promise that's all I intended to do).

When have it done and before ironing it, occurs to me that in some way I could put a ring around as stands like a small stadium. And at this point why not a second ring and it would be more realistic.

And already why not do it with the shape and colors of Mestalla, the centenary stadium of my beloved Valencia C.F. Inspiration comes to me, I do some small tests to see if it is possible and decide to jump into the void to see how it turns out.

Without realizing it, I had just settled in my head the bases to use the beads in 3d format, now I had the challenge ahead and the difficulty of figuring out how to achieve it technically.

 

Evolution and works

I am inspired by monuments/buildings, my favorite sports and objects. Always on a proportional scale that allows to see the most characteristic details, looking for different solutions to make it as real as possible.

 

 

At the beginning I only used graph paper to make the 3d sketches through “plan + elevation + profile” and then transfer it to an Excel grid for easy handling and modification, calculate the necessary beads and write down changes that I make on during the process.

Now I know and use 3d design tools such as Magica Voxel that allow me to model the entire piece and then break it down into individual layers.

 

 

Almost all my 3d works are made with midi size beads, only the Ferrari SF 1000 is made with mini size beads and I consider it the most difficult so far due to the design and the added complexity of size.

 

 

Of course I don't only do 3d, here I show you a sample of some 2d works with my own designs.

For this I usually use mini size and sometimes combine midi+mini to add twice the detail in the same size.

 

 

For the 2d pieces usually vary the final format presenting them in plain squares, squares with a background, refrigerator magnets... many possibilities.

I like to keep the 3d models in methacrylate urns that I order customized, that way they are well protected both from dirt and from possible “accidents”.

 

 

Access to the beads community

I have been self-taught until 2020 when José and Rosa from @fanartfusebeads contact me and inside their beautiful project I know other great artists of the beads and friends like them.

Ginger @frenchy.ginger.beads Diego @diviarcade Leandro @beads.master Liliana @lilianagamerart Jesús @nadalbeads Sergio @the_hama_designs Susana @susana_beads Jona @jona.casado and many more people…

all of them have given me knowledge and advice that allows me to develop and grow both in handling beads and in handling and presence on social networks.

 

Artkal

I hear talk very well of Artkal brand and I decide to try it for the first time when I make the Adidas soccer ball, thank you Alina for your excellent attention.

I am very happy with the quality of the product and with the final result, it allows ironing on one side very well and they melt great, leaving solid layers respecting the original height of the bead.

Quality that makes them ideal for 3d work, I recommend them 100%. The wide variety of colors available in various sizes is another of its attractions.

 

Summary

I believe that the key is in the balance between technique and creativity.

Creativity allows you to do different and original things that capture people's attention, and technique is vital to be able to tackle complex jobs with a good final result. But without a doubt the most important thing is to enjoy and have fun with the beads in any of the forms and complexities that they allow us.

I invite you to see in detail everything I have done and my future works on my Instagram profile.

If you have any questions contact me and I will try to help you in any way I can. Thank you and greetings.

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6 comments

Nov 15, 2022
Rafael

Hello, thanks for your interest. Almost all my works are my own designs, although I do not dedicate myself to commercializing them, I do know other colleagues who can design the figures you want according to your needs and tastes. I have seen that you have also written in the Artkal post on Facebook, I will answer you there and give you their information so that you can contact them.

Nov 15, 2022
Rafael

Hi Suzanne, first of all thank you for your kind words. Indeed, the technique that I usually use in my works with beads apart from ironing them includes then joining the layers with glue and/or silicone so that the figure is very consistent. I like to use glue in a gel format that dries quickly but allows corrections for a few minutes. Many times thin wooden sticks are also used between the holes to make the alignment as good as possible. Congratulations on your work, I have visited your website and I find the geometric pieces that you get with the beads very interesting (I understand that in your case the technique is to sew them or join them without ironing them). I love how you use it to make necklaces!!!

Nov 15, 2022
Rafael

Hello Annick, thanks for your interest. Almost all my works are my own designs, although I do not dedicate myself to commercializing them, I do know other colleagues who can design the figures you want according to your needs and tastes. I have seen that you have also written in the Artkal post on Facebook, I will answer you there and give you their information so that you can contact them.

Nov 15, 2022
Rafael

Hi Suzanne, first of all thank you for your kind words. Indeed, the technique that I usually use in my works with beads apart from ironing them includes then joining the layers with glue and/or silicone so that the figure is very consistent. I like to use glue in a gel format that dries quickly but allows corrections for a few minutes. Many times thin wooden sticks are also used between the holes to make the alignment as good as possible. Congratulations on your work, I have visited your website and I find the geometric pieces that you get with the beads very interesting (I understand that in your case the technique is to sew them or join them without ironing them). I love how you use it to make necklaces!!!

Sep 22, 2022
Suzanne Golden

Love you 3D work and appreciate seeing the pictures of how you achieved it. I am also a bead artist and have been working in plastic beads. I started out with glass beads but liked the size of the plastic beads. I’ve worked with Hama and Perler beads but currently just use Artkal because of the many colors they offer. In addition to ironing, do you use any form of glue??
www.suzannegolden.com…..my current work on my website is listed under “Menu” at the top…I am currently playing with “Geometrics.” Thanks again for sharing……Regards.

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