March 13 - Graham's Horse

"A horse doesn’t care how much you know until he knows how much you care."

~ Pat Parelli

When looking for a horse to add to my pocket full of sunshine ammo, I saw this one as well and liked the look of it.

This was shown by Graham Lee on his BalloonTube channel. Graham is an icon in the balloon industry and has been on this blog a number of times already - he has a great style so it's nice to see all that he's created in the past few years that I've missed.  

I built the two in the colors he demonstrated, but then thought I could try a donkey.  I would probably do the mane in a darker color to really sell it.

... and if you can build a pig with it, then well ... you and I would probably make good friends.

(view other horses)

---

Other balloons by and inspired by Graham Lee:

November 16 - Trolls

With glasses

No glasses

Sandra’s seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I've had to make myself.

~ Shel Silverstein Magic

Graham Lee holds a monthly contest on his website where people are invited to try his latest build.  If you purchase balloons from his website, he will include the necessary materials for the design.  This months contest was for a Troll from the new movie. I haven't seen the movie, and though I do remember these guys from my youth - I never owned one personally. I have seen a number of people asking in various balloon forums if anyone has a tutorial for making one of these, but Graham has already set it up as a months challenge weeks ago.

One of the things I really appreciate about Graham's designs is that he includes his earlier attempts at coming up with a design, it's oftentimes a fascinating evolution.

My first attempt I tried drawing the face without using glasses, and it wasn't until I took the picture that I realized how sloppy I was! - I need to start using glasses whenever I draw.

My brothers would like to meat ... errr meet you.

---

Other posts with Graham's designs:


Show all

February 21 - Angel

    "It's not about the amount of years in your life,
     it's about the amount of life in your years."


Yesterday I had the sad task of singing at the funeral services for a friend of mine, Dustin Powers.  He was the guy I would sit next to at rehearsal practically every Tuesday, a passionate fellow bass in the North Carolina Master Chorale and just an all-around great guy.  I don't know if I ever saw him without a smile, a big beaming infectious smile - he was the type of person that you would know within seconds of meeting that you would be friends.

Tim Chapman mentioned something in his eulogy that points to what kind of person he was, Tim would sit on the other side of him during practice.  There are times when we sing some of the most beautiful, and at times heart-wrenching pieces of music - and I remember confessing at one point in particular when we were singing the opening of Dvořák's Stabat Mater (link), written as dedication when his two surviving children died within a short time of each other - that in knowing that, I had trouble singing the emotional opening passage without tearing up.  "Then we'll cry together." 

... and we did, and we laughed, and we made amazing music together.  He will be missed.

 The angel design is by Graham Lee, and was used as December's competition.  The wings of the ascending angel were inspired by a cupid design by Sam Cremeens.

"I miss you!"

January 11 - Dinosaurs

Dinosaur design by Graham Lee January competition - link

Graham has got to be one of the more hard working guys in the industry.  He puts so much time into keeping his forums running and current and challenging and interesting in the face of the ever looming Walmart-of-fan-websites that is Facebook.  His monthly challenges are some of the better and most useful balloons that I've made, and more interesting is he includes much of his thought processes in deriving and other attempts when showing a design.  

Gertie, Gronk, Punky, Freckles and Merple contemplating dinner

The scissorsaurus stalks his prey.

---

Other posts with Graham's designs:





Show all