If the client wants Sonic the Hedgehog, then you have to develop a design for it.

I’m not into gaming, and when a client asks for a particular game character I have to do an Internet search on the character.  I’ve seen Sonic the Hedgehog, but never played the game or made the character.  So, with that said, this was going to be a challenge.

Like most balloon designs, trial and error is how most are developed and mastered.  The challenge with Sonic is the head; a wide pointed face and spiked blue hair.

When I develop a design, I typically like to formulate the design in my head first days prior to building the sculpture. I feel I waste less energy and the assembly of the character goes quicker and easier.

I build the head first, that was going to be the most difficult.  The body was straight forward and easy to make.  After assembling the head, I attached the body, put some finishing touches on the shoes and it was complete.  When I studied the photo I noticed Sonic had menacing eyes.  My balloon design had nice friendly eyes, which through off the look of the character. So I risked everything and popped the eyes and redesigned them.  Luckily for me, nothing in the head or face broke and the Sonic the Hedgehog was completed.

I arrived early to the birthday party, like always, and was ready to jump out of my car when I realized I forget Sonic at home.  Luckily for me, the birthday party was 5-minutes from the house.  Needless to say, the client was very happy with Sonic the Hedgehog.

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