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Balloon Twisting From Scratch 10 - Skill 5: Pinch-Twists

How to make Pinch-Twists.

Basically a pinched bubble which is often used to make ears, like in the tiger tutorial, but also to consolidate certain parts of a sculpture, like in the frog tutorial.

 

Video Tutorial

Video in French, with English subtitles

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+ - Video transcript: Balloon Twisting From Scratch 10 - Skill 5: Pinch-Twists Click to collapse

Hello!

Another basic technique that should not be neglected is making "Pinch-Twists", or what I like to call "beans"!

So look carefully. You start with two bubbles in a row, the second one nice and round if you can manage.

At the start, I place a finger in the middle, to pull the bubble back, so it doesn't impede the pinching movement we're doing on both ends of the bubble. This allows me to block everything together very easily. There!

Well, you can still do this without pulling with your finger. For example, here, I'm pinching, I'm twisting... Well, sure... it still works. But it creates needless friction on the balloon, and with it a bigger chance of the bubble bursting!

No, the best is: one bubble, two bubbles, pull a little, pinch right in the middle, and twist! Go on! Practice making at least a dozen of these in a row. One bubble, two bubbles, pull a little, pinch right in the middle, and twist! And so on, and so forth!

So do practice this technique. "Pinch-twists" can be found in the tiger's ears, and in many other creations.

So... see you soon! For some new lessons with Mossieur Ballon!

 

Step-By-Step Photo Guide

 

1- To practice making a string of pinch-twists, inflate a modeling balloon about a third of the way.
2- Start by making a first bubble...
3- Then a second one...
4- Bend the balloon at the second bubble, so that the bubble is sticking out from your support hand.
5- Insert the pointer of your support hand under this second bubble to pull it out of the way, and so that it's easier to hold between your thumb and middle finger.
6- Once the bubble is firmly secured, you need to pinch it, and then twist it several times around the base (hence the name: pinch-twist).
7- You need to twist it at least 3 or 4 times around its base.
8- Having done so, you get a bubble that looks like a bean or an ear.
9- To practice further, make two more bubbles following the first one…
10- Bend the balloon again so the last bubble is sticking out from your support hand.
11- Insert the pointer of your support hand under this last bubble to pull it out of the way, and so that it's easier to hold between your thumb and middle finger.
12- And once you have the bubble firmly in your hand, pinch the bubble and twist it several times around the base.
13- This gives you a second pinch-twist.
14- Rinse and repeat as many times as you like!
15- You should now be able to make a pinch-twist!

And that was the end of this lesson!

 

Document pdf Download the PDF guide sheet with detailed photos of each step