[Fitzwilly]

Here is a balloon lion that I picked up somewhere. The jowls are remind me of Bruce Kalver’s “Yellow Bird Chasing Cat.” Start with a three bubble roll through with the bubbles being about three (3) inches long.

Then make one bubble about five inches long, a second bubble about six (6) or seven (7) inches long and lock twist together.

Repeat for the second cheek/jowl

. If you have enough balloon make two bubbles about five (5) long and lock twist together. Position between the two cheeks. This will be the back of the head. If you have any left over balloon position directly behind the nose bubbles. This will help keep the head and cheeks in the same plane.

Grab a white 260, this can be a scrap as you will only use about 8 or 9 inches of the inflated balloon. Tie the nozzle into the head around the base of the nose. Twist a bubble slightly shorter than the bubbles used for the top of the head. Feed the balloon through the two bubbles to lock in place and then bring back down towards the nose, twisting a second bubble the same size as the first. Tie in place and now you have the option of discarding the rest of the balloon, or you can use the remainder of the white balloon for the tummy of your lion.

Now grab a third balloon, I usually grab a complementary color, and again tie into the sculpture at the base of the head, where the cheeks meet the nose. Wrap around the head laying the bubble in the depression between the eyes and the back of the head. Lock into place and again you have the option of discarding the rest of the balloon or using it in the body of the sculpture.

Now it is time to add the artwork and you are done. Sometimes I make a body, usually using two balloons so it is proportional to the head, but often I attach this head to a helmet style hat for the child to wear.

Enjoy!