Balloon animal
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A balloon animal is a generic term used to describe balloon modelling, balloon art and balloon sculpture. It is the practice of taking one or more balloons that have been twisted and shaped to resemble an animal or other simple object. People who create balloon animals are called Twisters. Twisters are often clowns, buskers, or restaurant entertainers.
Equipment
There are two things needed to create balloon animals.
First is an assortment of balloons, usually in various colors. The most common size of these balloons is a "260." The numbers are used to describe the size. The first number describes the diameter while the second represents the length. Thus a "260" is 2x60 inches and a "160" is 1x60 inches when fully blown up. Some twister's will use other shapes as well. Most professional balloon twister's will use Qualatex balloons. There are other brands out there, but Qualatex is perceived by most Twisters to be the best quality of twisting balloons.
Second is something to inflate the balloons with. The most common methods are air pumps similar to bicycle pumps, electric air compressors, and via the mouth. Inflating a balloon via the mouth is difficult and can be dangerous. Talented twisters, however, can blow-up multiple balloons at once or "160's" which are much more difficult than the common "260".
Air pumps and air compressors have only recently been accepted in the twisting community. Fifteen years ago, almost every balloon twister blew up balloons with their mouths. The use of a pump was associated with unprofessionalism. Today, most twisters will use some sort of mechanical means. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, most twisters are physically incapable of blowing up hundreds of balloons over an extended period with their mouths. Second, there are possible health risks to the twister associated with blowing up balloons. One can pass out or become light headed due to the pressure. Rarely the pressure can damage the ears. Also, a balloon that is popped while blowing up can snap back and damage they eyes. Third, right or wrong, some believe that when a blown up balloon pops, that the germs of the twister are spread further and faster than they normally would. Finally, some are afraid to model putting a balloon in their mouth to little kids. Choking on balloons is one of the leading causes of death amongst toddlers, and some twisters believe it is inappropriate to model putting a balloon in one's mouth.
Simple Techniques
The first thing a twister will do when inflating a balloon is to leave some of the "260" uninflated, creating what is called a tail. The tail is necessary because it gives air someplace to go when manipulating the balloon. This reduces the changes of the balloon from popping. Experienced twisters will learn a reasonable length for each creation.
The first animal most people learn how to create is the basic weiner dog. The twister will leave about 4-5 inches of the balloon uninflated. They start at the tied off end of the balloon Creating the snout by moving their hand up about 4 inches and create a twist. While holding onto the snout, they move up the balloon another two inches and create another twist. They then create a third twist making a bubble the size of the second ball, these two smaller balls are the ears. Fold the balloon back over and twist the balloon so that twists 1 and 3 are linked together. The twister will then repeat the process for the front and back legs.
To finish the creation the twister will use a non-erasable marker to draw a face on the dog. Some markers will not dry on the latex and smear long after being applied to the latex. The acid in the ink of some markers will pop the balloon. For this reason Sharpies are the most commonly used marker on balloon animals.
Common balloon animals include:
- Poodle
- Sword
- Hat
- Turtle Bracelet
Blowing up a \"260\" with one's mouth
Blowing up a "260" can be dangerous.
A Twister who blows up a balloon will typically do the following:
- Hold cheeks in, this creates a funnel shape with the mouth. A common mistake for people is to puff their cheeks out while blowing up a balloon. Allowing one's cheeks to puff out, will cause them to hurt.
- With the left (or right) hand and grab the balloon at the mouth of the balloon. This hand stays stationary at the twister's mouth. The right hand and grabs the balloon 3-5 inches away from the mouth sealing the balloon creating a smaller 3-5 inch long balloon. (Longer balloons are harder to blow-up than shorter balloons.)
- As the twister blows into the balloon he will pull the right hand away from his face while maintaining the seal. By pulling the hand away from the face, he stretches the balloon. The air that is already in the balloon should start the balloon to expand. The twister will typically only release the right hand after the entire 3-5 inch section is inflated.
- Once the balloon has started to expand, the rest of the balloon becomes easier. While an experienced twister can inflate an entire "260" with one breath, most beginners require 2-3 breaths to inflate the balloon after getting it started.
People who can blow up balloon will often "challenge" a twister who is using a pump to blow one up with their mouth. Often times, these pump welding twisters will respond with, "I'll blow one up if you do." When the challenger succeeds, the challengee's reactions can be priceless and occassionally inappropriate for younger ears.
There are some stereotypes about people who can blow-up balloons with their mouths. They are generally older more experienced twisters having started before it was acceptable to use pumps. Men typically find it easier to blow up balloons than women. Bigger people are more likely to blow-up balloons with their mouths than smaller people. While a 10-year old tuba player can blow up a balloon, most people under the age of 20 do not have the physical strenght to blow up a "260".
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