I tried a few different combinations of leg designs, two bubble, three bubble etc with a loop for feet, all trial and error, in fact a lot of error and sometimes you get a good idea from a mistake so unless you are playing with the balloons you are unable to make any mistakes. With only the pinch twist at the shoulder the arm stayed but I wanted to move it a little more
with some control and looked at having two bubbles down the side of the body section which is on the second picture.

A few of the models and ideas, sometimes we come up with many ways that a model will not work but for me this is the way the thought process works.
Hands on and trial and error and with different colour combinations.

This is the latest model that I'm pleased with although I have come up with a slight tweak that I think may improve it but the only way to find out is to go and make it.

It's not very clear on one of the previous pictures that he has a lilac collar at the back, this was from a mistake. Originally I attached the lilac from the pinch twist at the shoulder and then on another model I started the lilac from the waist and had to go over the top between the two white pinch twists, the first time I just strectched the air out of the lilac balloon but the second time was a eureka sort of moment and the collar for Buzz was a fixture, in this early model I put a twist in the centre of the collar but later on it looke better, in my opinion with no twist.

The look I changed was the lilac pinch twists at the top of his chest, he has green buttons so I thought perhaps green pinch twists would emphasise this?
While I was making this model I attached the white 260 in the wrong position so his lower leg now has three twists and two pinch twists on the knee,
another mistake that may have helped the overall look of the model.
The lilac collar is a lot bigger on this model as well which I think helps the look again.

Then just trying to see if the top part of his body/suit looks better in White and not Lilac?
So that was my thought process with Buzz, now is this my model? I would not have come up with this design if I had not seen the original and I think the original is an excellent model to give out. I have just made the design perhaps mine but the concept was the originator and I would always give credit to the original if only the instructions were still up as I do not know who made the original.

So this has taken me a good few hours, possibly 4/5 with all the different styles, colour combinations and try outs, I'm a little old school, some may say old  
But If anyone does see a model on a website, youtube, facebook or any forum and they are put there for you to use the design then perhaps send the originator
an email to thank them as although the model may take only a few minutes to make the build and design may have taken many hours and I'm sure they would like
to see your variation on the model so maybe post it somewhere and send them a link.

I think this is still a work in process as I'm not sure what model and colour combination I like the best.

Thanks for posting Graham. Its very interesting with a few small changes what a different piece of art it becomes.

All of the models so that you can see the variations,

Just thought I would turn the original question on its head.  I recently applied for a fine art course in Staffs uni.  I took along the usual paintings and drawings in my portfolio but I also took a book of my balloon pics from past jobs, some of which were other people's deslgns and some my own.

I am sure the lecturer had never seen anything like it but his comments were to the effect that we as balloon modellers were already working through creative problems all the time.  Working out solutions as we create new images, I think they are instant, disposible mini pieces of art.

My only advice is to work backwards. Once you know what you want to create, do a sketch of it, trying to work out the best way to construct in out of balloons, where you put connection points, sizes/types of balloons to the best effect, etc. You will make mistakes and modify/improve designs as you go along. The other good piece of advice is someone elses.  Take a good design from someone else and come up with one simple way to improve it, or make it quicker.  When you start making your own and people like them, you will cross a line in your head.  Good luck.

p.s. got offered a place at uni, think it was the balloons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ali

Congratulations Ali!

 

Thanks Danny. Hope you are well dear.  
Ali.