Bead Sprites
Unless you were an Arts and Crafts kid, the names Perler and Hama may mean nothing to you. Believe it or not, there are entire communities of young adults that use these fuse beads to re-create sprites from video games. I happen to be one of them.
So, what is a Bead Sprite? Let’s break it down:
- Bead [beed] - the particular beads used for this art form are made of soft plastic, around 1/5″ in diameter with a hole through the center, and a relatively low heat tolerance, for the purpose of being ironed, melted, and fused together with their adjacent kin. These beads are generally manufactured by Perler or Hama company, the only difference between the two being their color selection and a fraction variation in diameter.
- Sprite [sprahyt] - a two dimensional, pre-rendered image, generally one of a sequence used in animation, as pertaining to interactive games, best known on home video game consoles, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. These images are generally low resolution (8 or 16 bits) and limited in color, being made of clearly visible pixels (units of display in all computer or digitally generated images).
So, put the two together, and you have a real-life interpretation/representation of your favorite video game character, pixel-by-pixel. I like to take it a bit further however, and prefer to draw up some of my own pixel art to re-create with the beads.
The above custom Bead Sprite was a pixel-by-pixel drawn image I did, based on a redesign of the character “Samus Aran” from the Nintendo series Metroid by a very talented artist on DeviantART, Torokun.
Below is an example of a more literal Bead Sprite, based on actual in-game sprites from Super Metroid for the Super Nintendo.
Between these three pieces, there are roughly 14,000 beads. This Bead Sprite trio will eventually be mounted on a printed background and framed.
Another method I have for re-creating larger sprites, rather than ironing one large piece at once, is creating seperate pieces from the same character and layering them on top of foam core. This works well for robot characters, like Gutsdozer from Mega Man 2.
Having layers also gives the piece a 3-D effect, sort of like a pop-up book. It naturally adds depth so the piece can be free-standing, as I have the giant robot treading by radiator at the moment.
My favorite pieces, however, are full 3-D pieces I make by created multiple “faces” that interlock much like those foam Puzz 3-D puzzles. These Gameboy Colors are a great example of a 3-D Bead Sprite piece.
Usually, the edges are interlocking like teeth, every other bead missing from the adjacent edge so they fit together right. Sometimes, like with the cartridges in the back of these Gameboy Colors, I left out an entire section on the top-back edge for the solid cartridge piece to fit through, to simulate the cartridge actually being fit into the slot. Also, the screens picture Tetris, and the Purple one glows in the dark!
If you would like to Commission a Bead Sprite, please visit the Commissions page. I am very flexible!
As you can see, I keep pretty busy with making these, and they are as fun to make as they are to look at. For being a kid’s craft material, they sure do pack a nostalgic punch!
I’ll Leave you with a few more images of my creations, then I encourage you to check out the links below!
More on bead sprites at my forum, Pixelgasm!
Also, be sure to check out my Bead Sprites Lense on Squidoo!
Posts About Bead Sprites
Awesome,
You are an inspiration, I started doing these a while ago, but not on the grand scale of yours!
I will sign up to the forum soon.
Thanks,
Kai
Thank you, I’m glad to be an inspiration! The forum is also a great place to get tips and tricks, not to mention content to bead, as well as more inspiration.
Ok, so you got me curious with this bead sprite thing. I was like, hmmm.. whats a bead sprite? So, now that I know, can you show me an up close picture of the beads put together in a piece? I see your pictures, that are amazing, but I don’t really see the beads. Looks like a totally fun project!
Good day!
It is very informative and has a very good quality in it.
I like it…
http://www.Squidoo.com/MPI
mliragana.blogspot.com
Thank you very much for your time.
I made one of these before! Here is mine:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/HitomiHayabusa/Drawings/Picture.jpg
I’m sure you get this a lot, and I apologize in advance.
Are you willing to sell any of these, or do you have others that are available for sale?
I absolutely love video games and video game based art and the original bead work is some of the best I have ever seen.
Feel free to contact me at myspace or in a comment here.
Thank you very much.
Shit dude. Youve been busy. Love the big samus. Stumbled by the way. =D
How can i make 3D for hama beads? do you have sample pattern? many thanks
how to make the 3d,doc??
i’m wondering…
thnks for the answer..
[...] O really takes the 8-bit bead sprite artform to a new level, make sure to check out some of his other creations. Bead Sprites, Pixel Art, [...]
Doc,
You rock!!!!
Can’t find anymore word to say it.
How did you make such grand scale like that? It really really need all the patient n heart…
LOVE IT!
HOLY CRAP! You’re an F’n badass. I looked at your site after you commented on some images I posted on Pixelgasm. This is a whole new world of art being created that I had no idea about and you’re insane at it. I can’t wait til maybe that AT-ST makes it into your Etsy store in some fashion. Way to go, this stuff is awesome.
@DrunkenRobot - Thanks a bunch for the kind words. I really do need to stock that ETSY store…my main concern about some of the 3-D stuff is shipping them. That AT-ST can barely stand on its own, let alone survive a trip through the USPS, haha.
I was impressed to see the Blaster Master tank.
I found some pictures. Might be of interest.
http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/1/18585/950267-bof1_tyr_strueform13_super.jpg
http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/112/332406-bof2_bleu_large.jpg
http://www.videogamesprites.net/BreathofFire2/Bosses/31%20-%20Ray.gif
http://www.videogamesprites.net/BreathofFire2/Enemies/Cancer.gif
http://www.videogamesprites.net/BreathofFire2/Enemies/Catfish.gif
http://www.videogamesprites.net/BreathofFire2/Enemies/Conch.gif
http://www.videogamesprites.net/BreathofFire2/Enemies/Lyverma.gif
http://www.videogamesprites.net/BreathofFire2/Party/Gold%20Dragon.gif
http://www.videogamesprites.net/ChronoTrigger/Enemies/DarkAges/Giga%20Gaia.gif
[...] Bead Sprites [...]
Saw some of your work in the window on Main St. in Media. Great stuff. I was totally shocked to see some pixel art. Skull Castle is super impressive in person.
[...] obige Bild stammt von einem Künstler, der unter dem Nick Doctor Octoroc eine Website betreibt, auf der er Bilder von den von ihm gelegten Perlenbildern veröffentlicht. [...]
[...] obige Bild stammt von einem Künstler, der unter dem Nick Doctor Octoroc eine Website betreibt, auf der er Bilder von den von ihm gelegten Perlenbildern veröffentlicht. [...]