Beginner’s luck is how Todd Kamisugi describes his first experience of creating oversize bubbles.

His interest in the ephemeral art began while he sought activities to engage his nephew. After watching a video of expert bubble makers on the Internet, he headed to the store, bought some supplies and was able to replicate their soapy masterpieces.

On his first try, Kamisugi was able to make 10-foot tubes and was hooked. Later attempts were not quite as successful, but through trial and error and persistence, he was able to mimic the work of the bubble makers he’d seen on the Internet and eventually turn it into a part-time job.

Kamisugi’s skills landed him a role in Sprint’s "Bubble Mania," an online video that documents 10 bubble artists as they surprise unsuspecting folks at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The video, in both 2-D and 3-D versions, is intended to showcase the potential of the HTC EVO 3D smartphone and inspire Sprint users to capture, upload and share their own adventures.

"The ‘Bubble Mania’ video was a great experience. All I knew at the time was that they wanted us to make big bubbles and there was going to be the sponsor’s name at the end of the segment. Most of us, including me, did not know it was for Sprint until we got there," he said.

"This was the first time that I was actually bubbling with other people. I had known everyone from the Internet, but we’d never met in real life. The best part was being able to see what everyone else was doing and how their gear worked," he said.

Honolulu resident Kamisugi, 40, performs his airy magic at parties. He works as a network engineer, plays in several bands and surfs when he’s not making giant bubbles.

For folks interested in giving it a go, "try a commercially available big-bubble wand, like the Bubble Thing or Dip Stix," he said. "The conditions are just as important as the equipment: You need high humidity, clean air and a bug-free environment. The common misconception is that there is one best bubble mix and one best set of equipment."

Early morning or sunset hours normally provide the most favorable conditions, Kamisugi added. "Wind is not good for big bubbles, but it is good for lots of smaller bubbles," he said.

Do-it-yourself wands can be fashioned from wire hangers. Make a tri-string wand using two dowels, bamboo or fishing poles; 3 feet of cotton material such as yarn, twine, or fabric strips from old T-shirts; duct tape; and a metal washer or heavy bead. Thread the string through the washer or bead and then tie or tape both ends to the tip of one of the dowels. Create an upside-down triangle by wrapping or taping a middle section of the string to the end of the second dowel, with the weight dangling down at the point.

Hold the dowels close together in each hand and immerse the string into a bucket of bubble solution. Lift the string from the solution and slowly pull the dowels apart to form a film between the strands of string. Slowly wave the wand to release the bubble.