December 31 - Tasmanian Pig

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.

~ Neil Gaiman

Everyone should be expecting this by now - but this purple pig uses that Tasmanian form from the recent Buster Balloon Christmas download that came with pre-order of his calendar.  I'm not sure if it will be available in some form in the future, you will have to contact Buster to see.

I tried something different with the mouth/tongue on this guy, it gave him a nice cavernous area - perfect for teeth.

... and there we have it.  The end of year two for this blog.   It's hard to imagine that this "let me play with this blogger phone app" experiment has grown to over 700 posts with 27+ different purple pigs this year alone.

But this year in particular has been in particular enjoyable and great practice/exercise building within the structure of a balloon design idea.   There were concepts that would start with no clue what to build and end up with no clue how to fit it all in. 

What I appreciated most about the limitation (if you can call it that) of building to a style, the hard structural part is over and you have to just "make it work".   This is a powerful tool to keep in your bag, the ability to abstract out a design within a framework - a level up from being able to build anything.  The ability to build anything in an infinite number of ways. 

Where now?  What does the future have in store for the Daily Purple Pig?

What's behind the door, the lady or the tiger?

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Other Tasmanian balloon designs:

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December 30 - Tasmanian Yeti

"Abominable! Can you believe that? Do I look abominable to you? Why can't they call me the Adorable Snowman or...or the Agreeable Snowman, for crying out loud? I'm a nice guy."

~ Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Very close to the end of the year now!

This is the first attempt at getting off grid so-to-speak with the Tasmanian form that Buster teaches in this recent Christmas downloadable.  Here is my attempt at an Abominable Adorable Snowman.

The image I had in mind while building this was Bumble from the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer animated short.

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Other Tasmanian balloon designs:

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December 29 - Tasmanian Tree

“Poetry is seeing everything when there is only one thing. It is looking at a rose but seeing the stars, moons, seas, and trees. It is a truth beyond logic, an experience beyond thought. Poetry is the Earth pausing on its axis in order to manifest itself as a rose.”

~ Kamand Kojouri

I saw this tree on Buster Balloon's Instagram feed and knew I wanted to try it.  In fact I think this is the one that pushed me over to decide using this as a balloon concept.

The posted version still uses feet, so I changed it slightly from that to give it a stand instead.   It was a worthy change as it made for better poseability overall.

This was a fun one and would be worthy of building again to get a good tapering form.

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Other Tasmanian balloon designs:

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December 28 - Tasmanian Reindeer

Santa knows Physics: Of all colors, Red Light penetrates fog best. That's why Benny the Blue-nosed reindeer never got the gig.

~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

This reindeer is one that Buster Balloon showed on his Facebook/Instagram and uses the same "Tasmanian" form we have been exploring.

Again, there is such freedom when building things to a balloon concept.  Just stick to the basic design forms - for a reindeer these would be color, horns and a red shiny nose.

This one probably most closely matches the original Tasmanian Devil design by Beating.  I will get that book at some point ...

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Other Tasmanian balloon designs:

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December 27 - Tasmanian Santa

You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town

~ Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

An upgraded version of the elf, this is what Buster Balloon actually teaches on his Christmas downloadable.  (I'm not sure if it will be available elsewhere later...)

One of the things I really like about this design in particular is the way Buster uses texture to give separation to the two whites.  You can easily tell which is the fuzzy hat/coat and which is beard/eyebrow.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday!

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Other Tasmanian balloon designs:

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December 26 - Tasmanian Elf

"I planned out our whole day: First, we'll make snow angels for two hours, and then we'll go ice skating, and then we'll eat a whole roll of Toll-House cookie dough as fast as we can, and then to finish, we'll snuggle."

~ Buddy - Elf (2003)

Elf after the season?  Well someone has to stay around and clean-up!

Actually I'm out of town and this is being posted by robot - or equivalent, in my absence.   Recently Buster Balloon published a balloon calendar including some of his more iconic balloons/poses/shots -and with purchase came a download of some Christmas designs.

Buster has Halloween and Christmas both on lockdown, posting amazing and unique designs daily - he posted a version of this elf recently that was very similar to one of the designs on the download - and has used the form for other things as well, so while I'm away I figured I would have a quick mini-montage/balloon-concept with this.

The original idea Buster credits to the Tasmanian Devil from a hard-to-get (for me at least) balloon book from Korean twister Hyun-Gu Park - aka Beating.

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Other balloon designs by and inspired by Buster Balloon:

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December 25 - Trippmas Purple Pig

~ Balloon Blast Video Show (S05E04)

Really didn't have to look far for the purple pig to use for the 11th and final day of Trippmas.  It was an honor to be asked to contribute to the show that serves as the genesis for this blog.  I felt it was only fitting to build a purple pig, maroon this this case - I included a picture of how many takes it took for me to get one where I was almost happy with. (and I'm not sure why the video gets blurry just before my section ...)

... and HAPPY HOLIDAYS by the way!

What I most appreciate about Scott Tripp is his hunger to "be more", he is aware that we are in an evolving artform - and has his eye on future evolution.  His purpose written into the theme of his show - "improve our artform", he's embraced the hunt to do that.  But what he doesn't realize, so I hope he reads this.  He already has.   \m/  You rock, Scott.

Right I was first starting the year, the idea of building 26 different purple pigs seemed an impossible task, but these kind of exercises are what I've come to know as "dirty dishes" tasks.  When faced with an insurmountable pile of dirty dishes, just pick up a bowl and clean it.  Then do it again .. and again.  Pretty soon the dishes are done.

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Other balloon designs by and inspired by Scott Tripp:

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December 24 - Fart Gun

~ Despicable Me (2010)

Counting down the last couple days of Trippmas!  For the 10th let me present this Fart Gun.

Looking at the video you can tell that the version of the fart gun in the movie is different than the "minion" version, but that one is definitely my favorite.  Scott made some initial versions but then  Christopher Lyle rebuilt applying his infectious flair and big bold inkwork to make it a minion.  It is a brilliant ploy in encouraging the viewer to understand exactly what it is.

I'm getting sidetracked by the actual coolness of the design though, what makes this "Tripp" is that it incorporates fun out-of-the-restaurant ideas and additions, and much like bubble-gum ice cream, you're left with something after you're done with the initial play and the balloon is gone.  Adding something like this is adding that new spice that ends up  making the meal something new and different and you maybe might plan an entire meal around next time.

Tosh came and photobombed when I was trying to take some pictures, and my boys were gracious enough to pose for the action shot.

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Other balloon designs by and inspired by Scott Tripp:

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December 23 - Scott's Super Smoosh Snowman Shooter

Do you want to build a snowman?
Come on lets go and play
I never see you anymore
Come out the door
It's like you've gone away...
We used to be best buddies
And now we're not
I wish you would tell me why!
Do you want to build a snowman?
It doesn't have to be a snowman...

~ Frozen (2013)
   Do You Want to Build a Snowman

Even though we've already looked at a classic Smoosh snowman, for the 9th day of Trippmas, let me present Scott's Super Smoosh Snowman Shooter.

A contribution to Christopher Lyle's recent balloon tutorial package A Very Yellow Christmas, this has the elements of Smoosh but taken to a more tactile and fun place.  In addition, there are some of Scott's techniques to give your balloon inkwork some added dimension.

The design didn't include arms, but I thought I could get a few more poses with them.

Making a yellow one seemed to be the obvious thing, this is from a download called A Very Yellow Christmas.  So here is a Lyle-man, opting for a pickle nose instead of a carrot.  The snow, that's .. that's ...

... ewwwwwwww.

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Other balloon designs by and inspired by Scott Tripp:

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December 22 - Nozzle Things

Giant nozzles, bolts and beams
They called her Atlas by all means
Blood, sweat and tears were her payload
She was a stairway to heaven
Old Apollo 11
The rocket ship their Grandpa drove

~ Jimmy Buffett The Rocket That Grandpa Rode

Bugs!   For the 8th day of Trippmas - I give you Nozzle bugs... creatures?

One of Scott Tripp's passions is saving and finding uses for all the little bits and bobbles and scraps.  The Balloon Blast Video Show has a segment every so often called "Scraps & Crap" with some suggestions.  These are the result of one of those experiments and another Patreon video (link) - Nozzlebugs!

Of all the fantastic Patreon videos, and there are many great ones, this is my favorite.  It's such a left turn from any sort of traditional "balloon" tutorial and is really just creativity exploration.  I've already explored this Nozzlebug video in a post last year when they were released (link), and I've been saving my nozzles ever sense - now finally with some purpose!

Beginning with the spider to refresh my memory, I next tried building a nozzle-only tree I saw posted recently by Russell Wells and got a little crazy jazzing that one up, the star is big even as a 160, so I should have gone with something on the inside.  Next I started building a candy cane - but it felt very bland and not something "Trippmas-sy".

So I present to you - Dr. Cane.  Deliciously evil and evilly delicious, borne from the forgotten and discarded remnants of half-eaten candy canes,  he is the sworn adversary of the Tooth Fairy - preferring to extract healthy teeth from rotten children.

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Other balloon designs by and inspired by Scott Tripp:

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December 21 - Christmas Mantel

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

~ Let It Snow

Presented for the 7th day of Trippmas - Scott Tripp's Christmas Mantel.  This is a fairly recent Instagram and/or Facebook post, and using the rainbow light to simulate fire is a stroke of genius.

Even though changing lights have been used before, typically it's in a fairly simple fashion.  This is the first time I've ever seen a rainbow light used to enhance any sort of drawing, it's a really cool flicker effect.

(.. note how simple the balloon really is, as all focus is on the fire.)

I think one of the things I love about Scott's designs are how well thought out they seem to be, masterfully so.   I'm struggling to come up with some other way to enhance this in any sort of meaningful way.  Thankfully the Balloonatics of Baton Rouge have come to the rescue.

Stephanie Gintz Morace shared her version of the design as a fancier and festive way to give out her business cards and added the balloon stockings and garland.  (Her business card was on top)

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Other balloon designs by and inspired by Scott Tripp:

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December 20 - Trippmas Ornaments

Down in the workshop all the elves were makin' toys
For the good Gentile girls and the good Gentile boys
When the boss busted in,
nearly scared 'em half to death
Had a rifle in his hands
and cheap whiskey on his breath
From his beard to his boots he was covered with ammo
Like a big fat drunk disgruntled Yuletide Rambo

~ Weird Al Yankovic
   The Night Santa Went Crazy

Presented for the 6th day of Trippmas - here is a balloon concept I saw Scott Tripp playing with recently.  His concern is that it might be too similar to Pico's to share, but I don't think so - this is more of a Smoosh160.

Ornaments perhaps?  These little guys would work great as another minimalist concept.  They remind me of "Little Tykes" toys, those toddler-friendly rounded bottoms that would fit into all of the various vehicles, I could even see them as lego-figures.

Once I copied the elves and Santa, I wanted to try something different and made the Mr. Hankey.  I've really come to appreciate in these minimalist-type balloons is how much freedom they really give you to create whatever you like.

Plenty more days of Trippmas ahead!

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Other balloon designs by and inspired by Scott Tripp:

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December 19 - 12 Flamingo

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

~ Charley Harper

I'd like to present this flamingo from the video 12 (link) for the 5th day of Trippmas.

This design by Scott Tripp holds a special place in my ... catalog of ... things .. flamingo?  12 was one of the first video instructions that I purchased.  This flamingo was one I practiced over and over again, and the sketch I made to remember the design is still in my original notebooks.

(Can't really show you a picture of my notes ... but here is the index for evidence!)

How can you not fall in love with the humor of Scott Tripp?  The video that was scheduled to release on 12/12/12, cost only $12, be limited to DVD release of 144 (12x12) ... is called 12!

... but it has 13 designs.

Anyways, here is the flamingo that is on page 1, the second design of the notebook I used to keep shorthand record of all the designs for memory sake.

Yet still I think this is the first time I've actually had to build it and I went ahead and watched the video to refresh my memory.  Ah well..

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Other balloon designs by and inspired by Scott Tripp:

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