30 Jan 2024
I started drawing while in primary school but realized my full potential when I joined secondary school where I learnt about painting and graphic designing. I've had this passion to be an artist since i was 6yrs old. Now when i talk about 3D cards, I’m simply referring to cards that have volume, adding a visual and tactile texture. I wanted to craft cards that serve two functions - one, conveying the message and two, a home decoration.
Coming up with fresh ideas is largely influenced by customer input. The design inspiration often arises from their specific orders, prompting me to create designs that match their expectations. In the world of card design, the key is to tailor each creation to meet the unique specifications and desires of the customer.
Most of my cards are crafted by hand, employing different techniques. One method I use is assemblage, where I piece together pre-made materials to create a card. It's simply an assembly of materials. The second technique involves creating everything entirely by hand from scratch. The time required for designing these cards varies, typically taking between 2 to 4 hours, depending on the level of detail and intricacy desired.
While most of the materials I use are conventional and locally sourced, one particularly interesting material I've used is bamboo bark.
Challenges often arises when a customer provides a specific theme for the card, such as a wedding card with a musical theme. Integrating these elements effectively requires one to find a balance that simplifies the design while ensuring it remains impactful. To overcome this challenge, I engage in multiple thumbnail sketches, experimenting with various ideas to select the concept that best suits the card's theme.
Art allows one to express himself/herself freely and in the most effective way. It's not only a means of conveying inner feelings and thoughts but also a source of inspiration for others.
My favourite design features handmade paper flowers. This holds special significance as I created it for my wife on our first anniversary. Cards that are entirely handmade, like this one, are so dear to me. I use these to rate my creativity.
My advice is simple—find joy and love in what you do. Art serves as a medium of expression that allows one to convey their feelings, ideas, and arguments to an audience without relying solely on words.
My greatest aspiration as an artist is to establish my own art gallery where I can showcase my artworks and other collections from various artists. Additionally, I aspire to collaborate with KQ, to design appreciation cards for different stakeholders such as retiring staff or our esteemed platinum elite guests.
You can find my card designs on Instagram @beluvuno3.
01 Sep 2023
Let's talk about your passion for the piano: how did you start out? How did you learn? Since I was a child, I used to love music and playing instruments; a passion untold at the time. When at Moi Forces Academy primary school my love for the piano grew though I was never to access one back then until while at Moi Forces Academy Secondary School, Nairobi. I without a thought took on music as a subject in high school from form 1 to 4. That gave me the foundational piano playing skills. Additionally, this was the only voice and music theory, which gave me a strong ground in voice training choral singing and training. Thanks to that training I am now a Choir choral Trainer and voice coach to various music groups! It is from my interest to mentor upcoming musicians that with the help of one of my teachers I set St. Paul’s ACK Choir in Nairobi South. I also doubled as the church keyboardist and spent most of my days assisting the choir master manage the choir activities.
17 Aug 2023
What inspired you to start your YouTube channel? I love to see people grow. In Africa we believe that somebody somewhere will do something. We wait for someone else to act. So, the idea here is personal leadership. How can I lead myself, what can I do to make my life better or grow? I was inspired to make everyone believe that they have what it takes to be their own saviour and to be the best that they can.