By Irina

Is this outfit worthy of Lady Gaga?

Doing my best to channel Lady Gaga. This was for a story about me in the Readers Digest.

Kelly LaDuke, a fabulous photographer, has taken this photo of me for Reader's Digest magazine.  Question? Comments? Please, e-mail me at goahead_33167@yahoo.com

Balloon Art and Science. A German Professor twists Balloon Sculptures of Molecules.

I just came across something truly innovative. Dr. Rolf Eckhardt, a PhD chemist from Germany, uses entertainer balloons to twist balloon sculptures of molecules. Click Here to go to his site. 

Given my academic background, I say, Bravo! It is the first time I have seen balloon art in science application.

And, yes, dear, I can do that too. Just give me the picture from your text book, and I will whip it out for you. Question? Comments? Please, e-mail me at goahead_33167@yahoo.com

Halloween: Balloon Art or more like BOO-loon Art. Your Treat for Halloween..

I am getting ready for Halloween. That means buying the right color balloons. Green, Black and Orange. You can see my Halloween balloons from last year here. 



If you are in Miami on October 31, 2006 come by 5-8 pm at Six Aragon Avenue in Coral Gables. I will be entertaining there by twisting very scary balloon art. Question? Comments? Please, e-mail me at goahead_33167@yahoo.com

Click Here for More of my Halloween Balloon.

Balloon Art: Shaquille O'Neal, Paris Hilton, Jay Leno and Maria Sharapova

I just came across this news clip about my celebrity balloon art lineup:

Shaq-in-the-Box
A balloon version of Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal is going down well in the Big Apple as five effigies have been dispatched there already. Miami Balloon artist Irina Patterson rose to a challenge presented by one New Yorker to create a replica of the basketball player and did such a good job that other residents requested figures. It takes 50 balloons to make a Shaq, which retails at $270 plus shipping.

Ms. Patterson said another of her creations, Paris Hilton, was, perhaps not surprisingly, smaller and cheaper. "It took about 25 balloons to make her," she said. "She cost much less, about $225."



Ms. Hilton formed part of Ms.Patterson's pop-culture line - so-called because the figures last for 10 days before popping, mirroring the shelf-life of a socialite. Maria Sharapova, complete with Oscar de la Renta frock and Jimmy Choo shoes, and Jay Leno complete her celebrity lineup to date. (Miami Today, November 2005) Question? Comments? Please, e-mail me at goahead_33167@yahoo.com

Balloon Art What?

I realize that a lot of people have never experienced a balloon art performance. I'll do my best to describe it here. 

This is how I see it from my personal experience of performing and watching other balloon artists perform.

A true balloon artist will mesmerize you. You will witness the creation of a balloon sculpture right before your eyes in a matter of minutes. It will look magical, seemingly effortless. If you have any sense of wonderment, you will go, "Ahh!"

If you look at it from a design perspective, you'll recognize the elegant esthetics of the design. You will notice the perfect choice of colors and accents.

When I get complimented on my design, more often than not the person complementing me is an architect or an artist-designer.

People often ask me if balloon art is made in advance and brought to an event. Yes, it can be done that way, but I rarely do that. It takes all the fun out of the process.

My work is fueled by the present audience, by their desire to have an original piece that will have some special meaning for them.

My inspiration is fueled by the impatience of the audience. That way I am able to map out a whole new design in my head in a matter of minutes. If there are any Gods of Creativity, that very moment they come right down and guide me through the process.

At the end, I often look at my own creations and go like, "Where did this come from? Did I really do it?” Question? Comments? Please, e-mail me at goahead_33167@yahoo.com