Her secret weapon? Pro Tapes® products! Jexsy trusts their quality and durability to keep her balloon creations looking their best, from birthday parties to grand openings. Check out our interview with Jexsy below.

Do you have a website or any social media sites you’d like to share with our audience?

My Linktree contains all of my social media and website links, but here is our main site for Jexsy Balloons.

Tell us a bit about yourself! How did you get into the balloon business?

I am Jexsy Armstrong, the CEO and Founder of Jexsy Balloons LLC. Along with my passion for balloon design, I am an accomplished accountant, a seasoned event planner, and a Certified Project Manager. My expertise and diverse skill set enables me to coach many other business owners in achieving success.

My company has grown our social media presence to a level of success that exceeds 350 million views across all of our platforms. Our content, online classes, and mentorship sessions are reaching and inspiring balloon artists and entrepreneurs worldwide. One of our inventions, the JB Telescoping Stand (a free-standing demi arch stand that’s perfect for attaching garlands without damaging walls) has become a game-changer in the industry.

During the pandemic, we offered discounted prices so that families could have celebrations at home, as well as no-contact deliveries to nursing homes. Our Love Bouquets became super popular during that time and continue to be a hit today!

At a young age, my amazing mentor, my mother Olga Ogando (a high school math teacher!), introduced me to the fascinating world of balloon art. Under her guidance, I learned to build and design frames, organic garlands, and rig balloons in unique ways. It all started at “D’Jexsy Sports & Balloons,” the balloon storefront business she owned. We’ve been creating organic designs since 1993, and I have been enchanted by the magic of balloons ever since!

What is your favorite type of balloon décor to design for parties or events?

Although I was trained on classic balloon décor, I specialize in creating fresh and stunning organic balloon designs that my clients adore!

Demi arches are one of our most popular and requested designs, and for good reason. These versatile free-standing structures are curated to seamlessly complement any theme, from chic and fresh to more elegant designs. They instantly become the center of attention in any celebration.

So, yes, it is safe to say that my favorite style is organic!

How do you come up with new and creative ideas for your balloon art, and what inspires you?

I am always brainstorming new ideas and seeking inspiration from the world around me for my designs. My mind is constantly filled with colors, patterns, and whimsical shapes. Nature is my biggest muse and I find peace and inspiration in its beauty.

Any tips for fellow artists looking to boost their social media presence?

Every social media platform has a unique audience, and each audience responds differently to different types of content. So it’s really helpful to be consistent with your posting and take the time to observe and learn the patterns of each platform – it’ll definitely help you succeed!

Do you host specialty classes or workshops focused on specific aspects of balloon art?

Yes. My personalized private classes are designed to cater to the specific needs of each student.

Additionally, I provide pre-recorded sessions on various subjects, such as cluster building, organic garland designs, pricing, and marketing.

I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be hosting my first in-person workshop in New York City on March 16th! The class participants will learn balloon design and installation, pricing and business numbers, where to buy inventory, and how to increase online sales, and more!

What’s even better is that we have Pro Tapes as one of our sponsors for this class. Pro Tapes is kindly providing product samples to our students, so they’ll get to experience the best of the best!

How did you discover Pro Tapes tape products, such as UGlu?

I was on the hunt for a more efficient technique to attach foil numbers to latex balloons than using 260Q balloons. My search led me to the UGlu 200 Strips Family Pack, which was just the beginning of my journey with Pro Tapes products. From there, I discovered the UGlu 900 Contractor Pack, and it has completely revolutionized the way I work. UGlu has become an essential tool in my kit.

Can you tell a little more about how UGlu enhances your work as a balloon artist?

With UGlu, you can attach any decorative elements to your balloons, such as ribbons, lights, flowers, and more, without leaving any residue. Trust me, you won’t find anything else like it on the market!

The best part? UGlu offers an exceptional level of strength and durability, making sure your balloons stay put for as long as you need them to. And the cherry on top? UGlu is highly portable, so you can always have some UGlu dashes in your pocket ready to tackle any decorating emergency!

What advice would you share with someone who is just getting started in the balloon business?

Starting a new business is an exciting and ambitious endeavor, but building a successful balloon company takes more than just passion. It requires hard work, dedication, and creativity. A clear business plan and an unwavering determination to succeed are also crucial. The balloon industry is highly competitive, but with a realistic approach and a willingness to learn, you can overcome any obstacles and build a thriving business.

Also, every balloon decorator needs to know about UGlu – my secret weapon for creating balloon arrangements!

The post How Jexsy Balloons Built A Thriving Balloon Business appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Website & Social Links:

Listen to The Bright Balloon Podcast at thebrightballoon.com and keep up on the latest via @thebrightballoon on Instagram.

Find Sara’s balloon décor business, Wisconsin Balloon Decor, wisconsinballoondecor.com or @wisconsinballoondecor on Instagram.

Tell us a bit about yourself! How did you get into the balloon business?

My first career was working as an art teacher. I had weekends and summers totally free – which wasn’t actually that fun as a 22 year old. I was bored out of my mind! So I started a side hustle as a face painter.

One day, I went to a face painting convention and discovered there were also beginner balloon classes there. I had no idea that was a thing!

The second I saw the instructor tie two balloons together into a duplet to make a quad, I was hooked. From there I quickly stopped taking face painting clients and started going after corporate balloon events instead. 

What inspired you to start The Bright Balloon podcast?

The podcast launched during the pandemic, a little bit out of boredom. I was in my car waiting at a stop sign and I just had a moment of clarity. I said, “I’m going to start a podcast and it’s going to be called The Bright Balloon”. It was weird- like a lighting bolt idea.

But from the beginning it’s been a really good fit for me. It feels easy and fun and I’ve learned so much from it! It really is a labor of love. I think I produced the podcast for more than a year without ever making a dollar from it.

Now I’m so happy it’s grown into a mini brand and has helped out a lot of balloon professionals. We all – balloon professionals- are out on the road so much, and I like to think I keep people company as they deliver and listen  

What is your favorite aspect of working in the world of balloons?

I think it’s the most sharing and fun industry I’ve ever worked in. Going back to that very first convention I attended, I didn’t know anything and wanted to just sit in the back of the class and watch. But the balloon twisters wouldn’t let me! They literally gave me their own supplies and made me twist along.

It’s a group of people who want to see their friends succeed and can’t help but share breakthroughs and ideas that they have discovered.

I also love the conventions. Some of my best friends are balloon artists all around the world. Getting to see them in person and learn together or work on huge creative projects is always a highlight.

How did you discover Pro Tapes products, like UGlu?

I sound like a broken record, but at my very first balloon class, the instructor was showing a twisted embellishment. She said, “You could make it more complicated than it needs to be, or you could just stick it on with a UGlu dash.”

So from the very beginning, UGlu was something I’ve always had in my kit. I started with the best and whenever I tried cheap substitutes, I realized nothing was as reliable.

How does UGlu enhance your work as a balloon artist?

I like that it’s a reliable shortcut. The easiest way to put a balloon exactly where you want it to go in an arrangement is to add a UGlu dash and stick it exactly where you want it to go.

I am also constantly lending them out. Florists and party planners are always asking if I have any of those “sticky squares” (the famous “dashes”) because they inevitably have a sign that won’t stay up or tape that won’t stick.

Since launching the UGlu Hotline, what has been your favorite tip or question?

I love answering advice and giving tips, but I really love when people call in with their own advice; because for me it’s always those tiny hacks that totally change how I do things and save me time.

Just like UGlu is such a simple solution, I love any time people share simple, obvious suggestions that I would have never thought of. For example:

• keeping UGlu dashes in your pocket to warm them up in the Winter
• putting a piece of tape on a tape measure so you can write your measurements directly on it
• or using a floral tape to cover the cap of your hi-float container

What is a key business strategy or tips that you have uncovered during your podcast interviews?

I think it’s the idea that customer service and the business side of balloons is the most important thing. We have hundreds of hours of podcast content, and none of it is about how to do balloons. Skill is important, but there are a lot of very talented, but broke, artists out there.

On the other hand, there are a lot of profitable businesses that rely on the same foundational work over and over again.

I have yet to interview an artist who is making money purely based on skill. It’s all about the networking, great communication, interesting partnerships, growing a team, and continuing to pivot and try new things.

What advice would you share with someone who is just getting started in the balloon business?

I mentioned that I stumbled on UGlu early, only to learn later that it was the best and that cheap substitutes weren’t an option.

I would say the same was true in many areas of my business. Because I learned at a convention, I started with good quality balloons. I purchased a high end inflator. I learned how to make sturdy and long lasting frameworks. I spent money to attend expensive workshops and learned from artists making tons of money. And after my first year, I was where a lot of people are after five years. Yes, you can learn on YouTube or use dollar store balloons with a $15 pump- but it will take so much longer to get to the place you want to be.

My advice is don’t cut corners and learn the right way to do things from the beginning and upgrade your tools as soon as you are able.

The post Meet The Bright Balloon Podcast host, Sara Meyer appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Check Michael out on social media:

Website: ww.michaelwinklerart.com

How did you begin working as a contemporary artist?

I never had any plans to be an artist! I was a composer of electronic music.

One night in December of 1980, I was in my room at the Savoy Hotel in Seattle working on an experimental music score involving the alphabet. I discovered a surprising patterning hidden in the letter-sequencing of the words that seemed to reflect their meaning.

The next morning, I had a chance meeting with an art curator, which resulted in my being invited to present a solo exhibition of what I’d discovered.

The exhibition got great reviews and the work sold–I literally became an artist overnight. I’ve been creating art that explores the imagery, as well as the implications, of that discovery ever since. 

How did you discover Pro Tapes products?

I began using Pro® 795 in the mid 80’s to create paintings. Creating hard-edge paintings using the tape allowed me to show the overlay of the lines and the dimensionality of the forms.

Pearl Paint was the major art supply store in New York City for many years. Hence, the masking tape I bought there was labeled “Pearl Paint 795.” I didn’t know it was actually a Pro Tapes product until Pearl Paint closed years later!

When I bought masking tape at some other stores, I had all sorts of problems with their tape products that I’d never encountered. Eventually, I was looking at one of my leftover rolls of the Pearl Paint 795 and saw that the inside of the roll actually said “Pro Tapes.”

I went searching through all of the art supply stores in New York City for masking tape that had “Pro Tapes” inside the roll.

Finally, I found it at a store next to the School of Visual Arts. Even though it was labeled “Chelsea Tapes 795,” I recognized it as the same high-quality tape I had purchased at Pearl Paint because “Pro Tapes” was printed inside the larger width rolls. I started using it, and it solved all the problems I had been experiencing!

Wow, that’s dedication! Is Pro 795 still your go-to masking tape product? What do you like about it?

Pro Tapes 795 Masking Tape is the only tape I’ve ever found that has all the features necessary to create my hard edge paintings.

My paintings mostly consist of lines of various widths, sometimes as small as 1/8th inch. Conveniently, Pro 795 is available in 1/8″, 1/4″ , 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/2″, 2″, and 3″ widths.

Pro 795 has the perfect amount of adhesion and stretch resistance. Its width is consistent and its edges are never ragged. It never soaks through– and I sometimes apply 4 coats of fluid acrylic paint over it!

With the right painting technique, it produces very clean edges. And when you pull it off, the paint on the back of the tape doesn’t flake off onto your freshly painted work as it does with many other masking tapes. 

Tell us about any fun projects you’ve completed recently. What inspired you?

The inspiration for my hard-edge painting technique originally came from looking at the 70’s and 80’s paintings of Al Held (a second generation abstract expressionist who passed away a few years ago).

Subsequently, my art is process-based and originates from a conceptual standpoint. I’ve been practicing it for 43 years. Working in the studio feels much like going to a job I genuinely enjoy.

However, there is one thrilling moment in the creation of each painting: It occurs after I’ve painted the background color, and the taped canvas seems to be uniformly colored.

I then peel off the tape and the image gradually emerges line by line from underneath the paint. This reveals the mysterious form that was initially concealed within the language sign patterns, now illuminated in vibrant contrasting colors. 

When my daughter was little, she always wanted to be around to watch the magic of the reveal!  

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or long-term plans?

I’m in my 70’s now. So, I’m primarily focused on trying to ensure that my overall project remains accessible in the future. Examples of my project and documentation are already archived in major museums and universities. Unfortunately, some of my major works were mixed-media installations that don’t lend themselves to being exhibited again in the future.

I began producing paintings early in the project, but they were not my primary focus until recently. The switch in focus was originally motivated by discovering a method of using the signs of language to generate colors. Presently I believe my paintings are the most likely works to be exhibited again when I’m gone (if I can make some really good ones).

Do you have any advice for people that are interested in making art using tape?

To create hard-edge acrylic paintings, make sure the painting’s surface isn’t too rough. It doesn’t have to be extremely smooth–my paintings are normally on #12 canvas (medium smooth).

• I prepare my canvas with 3 coats of slightly thinned acrylic gesso. Let the area of paint you plan to tape over dry overnight first.
• When it’s dry, you can begin placing your tape.
• After you have positioned the tape, seal its edges with either a thin coat of the color under the tape, or a thin coat of matte medium if there are multiple colors under the tape. The paint for this sealing coat should not be watery–I use fluid acrylics with no water added. Brush the sealing coat into the edges of the tape and entirely over it.

• Allow the sealing coat to dry completely to the touch. But don’t let it dry for too long -definitely avoid letting it dry overnight- because the paint/medium will adhere the tape to the painting.
• Apply multiple coats when the previous one is just dry enough for painting over. Remove the tape as soon as the paint becomes tacky on the final coat.
• To avoid touching the tacky surface of the painting when removing your tape, use a pointed razor knife to lift the end of the tape if it’s covered in paint. Finally, pull the tape off at a 45 degree angle from the painting’s surface.
• If any inconsistencies in the canvas surface have created spots where the paint has leaked past the sealing coat on the edges, it’s actually quite easy to touch up. The pulled tape leaves a raised edge, which you can just drag a small brush against until it looks fixed.

These suggestions are all based on using Pro Tapes 795 masking tape – I hope they help!

The post Contemporary Artist Michael Winkler uses Pro Tapes for Hard Edges appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Check Flekz out on social media:

• Website: www.flekz.art
• Instagram: @_flekz_

Tell us a little about yourself!

I have been making art for the last 15 years of my life and I have been creating tape art for the last 12 years.

I discovered tape art in high school while creating a stencil for a graffiti project I was working on. I realized that I could also use masking tape to create sharp and clean edges. After discovering this, I found myself creating murals as well as art pieces with tape only. I also experimented with inverting designs and creating a more permanent art piece with spray paint.

At that time, I didn’t even know that creating tape art was something I wanted to chase as a career. But people started commissioning me for murals and art pieces and I stuck to it. I haven’t looked back ever since.

How did you discover Pro Tapes® tape products?

I discovered Pro Tapes back in 2018. I was working on a big project for Ford in Las Vegas. I was in dire need of some tape. I found some Pro Gaff® tape at Blick, and it changed my life. It was the first time I worked with gaffers tape, and it blew me away!

What are your favorite Pro Tapes® products now, and what do you like about them? How do you use them? 

Still to this day my favorite product from Pro Tapes is the Pro Gaff® tape. I use this tape when creating tape art murals for my clients. It has a strong hold but it is easy to work with. It does not damage the walls I apply it to. (*Editor’s note: always test your tape in an inconspicuous spot first!)

Tell us about any fun projects you’ve completed recently. What inspired you?

I have fun with all of my projects! But recently I finished creating a small but very intricate art piece that made me realize how far I’ve come with my designs.

Throughout my whole career, my motto has been to continuously one up the last art piece I’ve made. I constantly try to create something original that no one has ever seen before.

The inspiration for this art piece was to create something simple. Instead, it ended up being more complex with a lot of detail.

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or long-term plans? 

Currently, I am working on the biggest project I have ever worked on, with the biggest company I have ever worked with. I wish I could disclose information about this project but it’s a secret until everything is released to the public. Expect information on this project soon! 

My long-term plan is to continuously work hard on my art career as well as myself to create the best art pieces I could possibly make. My tape art is everything to me.

Do you have any advice for people that are interested in making tape art?

My advice to anyone who is interested in making tape art is to have fun with the process. It’s an amazing medium to use and it’s a great tool to discover your own art style. 

The post Making Murals with Tape Artist Flekz appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

TAPE OVER is one of the largest artist collectives dedicated to tape art. This international crew of artists has created countless mind-blowing indoor and outdoor tape installations and murals, with an incredibly wide range of styles and approaches.

TAPE OVER has created artwork for big brands like Adidas, Converse, Mercedes, Absolut Vodka, and more.

Dive in and get to know TAPE OVER, and how they use Pro Tapes® products in their incredible tape art installations.

Check our TapeOver’s website and social media:

• Website: www.tapeover.berlin
• Instagram: @tapeoverberlin
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/tapeoverberlin
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/TAPEOVER

Tell us about yourself (and LaMia!) How long have you been making art, and tape art specifically?

TAPE OVER was founded in 2010-2011 by LaMia Michna and myself (Robert König.) LaMia was studying communication design at the time, and I was doing creative marketing and conceptual art.

LaMia started doing tape art as one of her study projects. She did tape art directly on the streets of Berlin. I fell in love with her and with the aesthetics of this art form. To be honest, it was one of those rare and magical encounters in life where you meet someone very special and decide to be together and create together.

At that time, the term “tape art” didn’t exist…. There was only one graffiti artist called BUFF DISS who lived in Berlin at that time who started using tape instead of spray paint. He was our inspiration. It took about 10 years for this new art form to establish itself, although it has to be said that tape art is still a niche art form.

How did the TAPE OVER artist collective get started?

LaMia and I started TAPE OVER as an artist duo making tape art in Berlin’s subcultural techno clubs. It was just a fun project that made us happy. It was also nice to contribute something to this creative and lively club scene.

After about 1.5 years, we were recommended by a friend to Mercedes Benz to do a tape art concept for the presentation of their new concept car in Berlin’s abandoned Tempelhof airport.

About 3 months later, we did another big project with Telekom at the IFA trade fair. After that, LaMia and I decided to dedicate ourselves fully to this project and started building the TAPE OVER brand.

It took another 2-3 years until we could actually make a living from tape art, mainly doing commissioned work and creative concepts.

As our projects got bigger, we asked others to help us execute our concepts (Editor’s Note: like Fabio de Saldanha, who we’ve also interviewed.) This was the starting point for the creation of a crew under the brand TAPE OVER.

How did you discover Pro Tapes®?

I discovered Pro Tapes® when I was looking for fluorescent neon tapes. We’ve come to believe that Pro Tapes® adhesive tape products are the best on the market.

What are your favorite Pro Tapes® products? What do you like about them?

My favorite products from Pro Tapes® are both the Pro® Artist Tape and the Pro® Pocket Spike Stack Fluorescent.

What I like about the Pro® Artist Tape is the texture and the very beautiful colors. It is easy to tear off, which makes it very easy and smooth to work with. But it’s also a very strong paper tape and very durable,
which is really great. Other crepe tapes just don’t have this high quality look and feel.

I also love the Pro® Pocket Spike Stack in fluorescent colors because you can carry it around in your pocket and make quick little pieces of tape art anywhere. For me, it’s the perfect street art tape because it has 5 bright and bold colors.

Tell us about the artwork you created for UpFest 2022. What inspired you?

For UpFest 2022 – Europe’s biggest street art festival – I created a tape art portrait of Andy Warhol. He and Jean-Michel Basquiat are two of my artistic idols.

Andy Warhol is so inspiring to me because he was both a designer and an artist. He was the first to put everyday objects into an artistic context. Also, his conceptual way of thinking and creating is something quite unique.

Watch the UpFest 2022 recap:

In my eyes, Andy Warhol was a pioneer because he tried to bring street art or urban art into the rather conservative art world. Also, he was not only an artist, but also a supporter and patron of other artists…. such as Jean-Michel Basquiat!

What’s next for you and TAPE OVER? Any upcoming projects or long-term plans?

At the moment, LaMia is on sabbatical and traveling around South America, while I am doing some very interesting projects in Paris and Stockholm. During the summer, me and some of my team members will participate in different street art festivals all over Europe.

Do you have any advice for people that are interested in making tape art for the first time?

My advice is to just try it!

There is really no better material than tape to start with a blank canvas or a blank wall, because if you don’t like what you’ve just done, you just take the piece of tape off and put it in another place.

You don’t have to worry at all because you can always change it back. So it’s rather about the process than doing it right. It’s really encouraging and fun.

The post Tape Art with TAPE OVER Co-Founder Robert König appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Today we’ll take a closer look at what they do and see how Pro Tapes® UGlu® products help them with their amazing balloon work!

Do you have a website or social media you would like to share with our audience?

www.globosmanas.com

Instagram: @globosmanas

Pinterest: @globosmanasca

Facebook: @globosmanas

Tell us about you two! What sparked your interest in balloon art?

We are two sisters who started working together in the balloon industry back in May 2008. We started out as distributors of Anagram and Kaleidoscope foil balloons nationwide in Venezuela.

As we visited our clients who used these balloons in their amazing work, our interest in working with balloons ourselves quickly grew.

In 2009, we began to work with latex balloons. In the following years, we attended many balloon workshops and classes offered all around this wonderful world, where we met incredible people with impressive talent.

Little by little, we began to specialize in our own techniques, which led us to venture into hosting workshops ourselves during the pandemic. We continue to offer classes now, while balancing the needs of our clients who request daily balloon arrangements and decorations.

What do you like most about being balloon artists?

There’s a lot of things we like about being balloon artists! The main thing is seeing the final result of our work and the emotions that we inspire in our clients. Each arrangement and decoration is unique and personalized to them.

Each workshop we carry out is a unique experience, too! We don’t just teach; we also learn from our class participants. 1000% effort goes into each workshop. We thank God for each experience and the great friendships that we have made.

It’s a wonderful world, where day by day we continue to learn and work hard so we can offer the best. Our slogan is why we like what we do: We are LAS MANAS (the sisters, in Spanish.) We’re in it together!

How did you discover UGlu® products?

We discovered UGlu® through Planet Balloons Venezuela.

How does UGlu® improve your work as a balloon artist? What do you like about it?

UGlu® helps us so much in our work! We are known for our impeccable compositions. We pay attention to every fine detail of our work. UGlu® makes it so easy to create this highly-detailed level of work.

UGlu® is easy to use, it’s practical, it’s portable, and it comes in many different shapes and sizes to match any type of project.

Tell us more about the Floral Mural you created this year! It has gained a lot of attention.

We were preparing for an online master class back in April 2022 (one of the many online courses that we offer worldwide.) To help market the class, we did several live shows, showing some techniques to demonstrate our knowledge and ability to train future entrepreneurs in the world of balloons.

During one of these live shows, we just happened to create something different! Something really artistic that shows more than just balloons. This mural is really tall, too! It’s about 7-8 feet tall.

What inspired you to create this mural?

We were inspired by the natural beauty of women and what their hair represents. A woman’s hair speaks for itself, it indicates personality and moods.

How did UGlu® help you create this mural?

It was actually our first experience using UGlu®! We needed a glue that would provide us with a super strong and long-lasting hold that would not be noticeable in the final balloon arrangement.

We found that the UGlu® Dashes fit all of our requirements: it performed impeccably. UGlu® did not leave residues or damage the walls, and it was easy to remove.

We used exactly five hundred and fifty UGlu® Dashes to hold together all 270 flowers and 20 leaves that you see in this balloon mural.

It lasted a long time, too! We kept the artwork up for 8 days and we think it could’ve held even longer than that, but we had to clean the wall off for new projects.

We always tell our students to work with quality and responsibility, to take good care of the infrastructures to be decorated (thus guaranteeing a new contract in the future.) UGlu® Dashes are essential to meet these goals.

Tell us about the special feature this floral mural got from Qualatex!

It is an honor that our work has been recognized and appreciated by Qualatex, being that they are currently the #1 balloon company in the world! Their recognition meant that the photos of this mural got shared all around the world, and we are thankful for that.

Do you have any other favorite projects you’d like to talk about?

We’ll show you a whole gallery of balloon art that was created with the help of UGlu®! The red hearts, the wearable wings, the different holiday decorations – ALL of them are held together using UGlu®! That is why, in our workshops and classes, UGlu® is the first tool we put on everyone’s tables.

If someone has never used UGlu® for their balloon arrangements before, what advice would you give them?

Again, we would emphasize the importance of working with top quality materials, like UGlu®.

In our workshops, we talk about all the materials we work with, and we show every presentation of UGlu® that we have available. Our workshop participants always want to work with UGlu® after they’ve seen how easy and practical it is!

Planet Balloons Venezuela has also talked to us about Pro Gaff® and how we could incorporate this product in our decorations. They mentioned that Pro Gaff® can be used to cover tubes and bases. We haven’t had the opportunity to try this tape yet, however… Hey Pro Tapes®, can we get a sample kit?

The post Balloon Artists and Sisters?! See how Globos Manas use UGlu®! appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

First, check out Fabio’s artwork for UpFest 2022, “BIG FISH:”

Do you have a website or any social media sites you’d like to share with our audience?

Instagram: @fabio.de.saldanha

Tell us a little about yourself; how long have you been working in film and art?

I started filming my friends skateboarding when I was 11 years old. When I finished high school, I moved to Berlin to study film & motion design.

Berlin broadened my horizon, showing me that film is just one subcategory of audiovisual art. I began visiting many “new media” art installations and was confronted with new vocabulary such as: immersive, generative, procedural, real-time, kinetic, and interactive.

During the covid lockdown, I assembled a PC with my brother and got myself into 3D animation. I loved it, and I still do, but I felt like I was spending too much time sitting at my computer.

Then, I discovered tape art through a YouTube recommended video. Who would have thought? On the same day, I went to the local shop, bought some tape, and started taping my apartment.

So, you got involved with the Tape Over artist collective for UpFest 2022. We’ve known Tape Over for awhile; they’ve even visited our headquarters in New Jersey! How did you end up working with them?

After doing a couple of projects on my own, I reached out to all of the main tape art collectives and artists based in Berlin to find a group to collaborate with. Tape Over was the group that wrote back. Since then, I have been working with them on many different projects.

Tell us about the artwork you created for UpFest 2022. What inspired you to try combining tape art with projection?

Choosing tape as your medium comes with many unique features: you can draw perfectly straight lines, fill surfaces with uniform color, remove it, and put it back on. In addition to that, you are directly in contact with your canvas/wall.

On the other side, projection mapping is just purely magical for me. You work with light, space, and movement. It’s intangible; you can’t touch it, while the tape really sticks to you. Combining these two very different workflows and mediums is just extremely rewarding to me. I found the perfect balance: Part of the time I work with my computer, and part of the time I work with my body!

Which Pro Tapes® products do you use now? What are your favorite qualities about them?

I really like the paper tapes, like Pro® Artist Tape. The fact that you can easily tear it by hand makes you loosen up your body and your mind. You free yourself from perfectionism. You think less and work more intuitively.

If someone is interested in combining tape, digital art, and projections to create art pieces like yours, what advice would you have for them?

Just buy a cheap projector or borrow one from a friend. Get the trial license of MadMapper and start mapping objects in your apartment (chair, washing machine, kitchen cabinets, etc..) 

Or, go straight to walls and tape some lines up with Pro® Artist Tape or Pro Gaff® and try projection mapping on those! Abstract polygon shapes work great for this. If you are still feeling intimidated, use your projector to project a photo on the wall, and tape the outlines and shapes you see. There’s no shame in doing that!

It’s much less complicated than you think and much more rewarding than you would expect!

Start simple and move on to more complex tape mapping ideas. The sky is the limit. You can project simple 2D keyframe animations or heavy particle simulations. You can project on the tape (line), between the tape (surface), or continue the taped lines with projected lines. There are many things I still want to explore, personally…

Do you have any upcoming projects our audience should keep an eye out for?

In a few days, rehearsals will start for a dance theater show that I will be involved with. It’s quite a technical challenge, because alongside the dancer there will be 3 high-power drones, each carrying one projector! I’m super excited as it’s the first time I’m creating visuals for flying projectors, hahaha. 

The post Tape Art & Projection Mapping with Artist Fabio de Saldanha appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Do you have a website or other social network that you would like to share with our audience?

At the moment, we handle everything via our Instagram: @pinadoradapanama

Tell us a bit about yourself and your balloon décor company!

We are Darys & Monica Torrero, a mother and daughter team and owners of Piña Dorada, a 100% Panamanian balloon décor company! (Fun fact: Piña Dorada means “Golden Pineapple” in English!)

Monica is an Interior Architect by profession and Darys is a Graphic Designer. After practicing balloon art privately for three years, Monica quit her job in 2019 to fulfill this great dream of having a balloon decoration company.

Like anything worth achieving, it was very difficult at first. But over time we managed to find our own style and types of decorations and events that we like to create for.

More recently, we attended various trainings and events for balloon artists locally and internationally. In January 2022, we managed to be exhibitors at the renowned international convention called “FLOAT the Convention.” It was a great and enriching experience!

With a lot of effort and dedication, we have fulfilled several dreams. We have met very good balloon artists and decorators, great people that we constantly admire. The sky is the limit of our dreams.

What do you like about being a balloon artist?

We love to push our creativity and always try to achieve more with each balloon arrangement or decoration. We also love to make our clients happy, of course! To know that our effort and dedication brings them joy makes it worth it.

How did you discover UGlu® products?

We discovered the products a few years ago at a convention. If I’m not mistaken, it was at GLOBOCOM 2019.

How does UGlu® improve your work as a balloon artist? What do you like about it?

UGlu® is the absolute best for making our balloon arrangements. Particularly in Panama, due to the hot and humid climate, it is not easy to use any type of glue, since the humidity causes it to detach in minutes.

We love UGlu® products because they do not come off, and we can trust that the customer’s delivery will last a long time.

We use UGlu® in balloon bouquets to stick on foils, balloon twists and details. Our favorite type to use are the longer, rectangular pieces, because we can easily add a larger piece of décor or balloon shape whenever or wherever we need to.

If someone has never used UGlu® for their balloon décor before, what advice would you give them?

We recommend UGlu® tapes 10000%!!! In particular, we recommend getting the box of large tapes (the UGlu® Contractor Pack) because we feel that it allows us balloon artists to be very dynamic. It’s a wonderful product.

The post Meet Piña Dorada, The Mother & Daughter Balloon Artist Team appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Do you have a website or any social media sites you’d like to share with our audience?

Website: www.BalloonsOfPureAwesomeness.com

Facebook: Balloons of Pure Awesomeness by Anthony the Balloon Kid

Instagram: @AnthonyTheBalloonKid

Tell us a little about yourself! How did you get started making balloon art?

Hey there! I live in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and I am the owner of Balloons of Pure Awesomeness.

What first sparked my interest in balloon art was when I received a balloon animal kit for Christmas from my mom and dad when I was 10 years old. Then, I had my first job with balloons when I was 13 years old, with my stage name: “Anthony the Balloon Kid.”

To this day many people know me as “The Balloon Kid,” and that’s ok because I’ll always be a kid at heart!

What is your favorite thing about being a Balloon Artist?

I absolutely love being a part of peoples’ most special days of their life! When you see someone’s face light up when they receive a balloon delivery, people take pictures with your balloon décor, or when you bring joy to someone’s day by making them a special balloon sculpture… that is what it’s all about.

I am passionate about spreading joy! When someone expresses happiness because of our balloons, that is what makes me happy!

How did you discover UGlu®?

I was at a balloon convention called “Twist & Shout” when a fellow Balloon Artist told me I had to try UGlu®, and that it was a game changer!

I ordered the boxed roll of UGlu® dashes and I couldn’t believe how great they were. They held the balloons together so well! Needless to say, it instantly became a staple in my balloon artist tool bag.

How does UGlu® enhance your work as a Balloon Artist?

UGlu® really helps me enhance my work as a Balloon Artist by allowing me to add details very quickly and precisely. I don’t have to worry about the detail work falling off with UGlu® because its adhesion is strong.

The UGlu® dashes are small enough to not be seen, and if I need to, I can cut the dashes in half easily for those really fine details. Whether it is latex to latex, latex to foil, or foil to foil – UGlu® has helped me in all of these situations.

We attended FLOAT 2022 this year, and were delighted to see you win Designer of the Year at the Awards Gala! What was that experience like for you?

Thank you very much! It is hard to put the amazing experience of winning Designer of the Year into words. It was truly an honor and a blessing to be able to compete along side so many incredible Balloon Artists. I really enjoyed the fellowship within the balloon community, and receiving affirmation from my fellow artists and friends meant so much to me.

I love competing because it gives me the chance to create something I want to create, and maybe something that a client would not normally order. Also, it helped me work on my time management skills, which will definitely help me in my day-to-day business at home.

After the competitions were done, I really enjoyed looking at all of the amazing and original competition pieces! I knew any one of us could have taken the title of Designer of The Year. When my name was announced, I couldn’t help but think of my Grandma Lena and Grandma Sherman who passed away in 2020 and 2021. Before I boarded the plane to Chicago, I told my family I’m dedicating my competitions to them. My entire family have always been my biggest support system, and to be honest, I wouldn’t be the artist and businessman I am today without them.

Tell us about the balloon sculpture that helped you win Designer of the Year at FLOAT 2022! What was your inspiration?

The sculpture that really put me over the top was my piece, “The Garden of Mystery” which won 1^st place in the Organic Design competition as well. It was given high marks by the judges, and helped me win the title of Designer of the Year!

I’ve had that design in my head for a while, and I was just waiting for the right moment to make it. It turned out FLOAT the Convention 2022 in Chicago was the perfect opportunity! A child’s imagination is so amazing, and I wanted to make a piece that drew the viewer in and helped the viewer rekindle their childlike imagination.

In this piece, there is a little girl holding a giant key behind her back as she stands before a door with a giant keyhole hidden in a garden. The girl is able to hold the giant key thanks to two UGlu® dashes! No pun intended, but UGlu® was a KEY part to the success of my pieces.

This piece makes one wonder things like, “Where did that little girl get that giant key?” “How did this little girl find this place?” “What is behind that door?” I hope my piece takes anyone who views it to a place of wonder and imagination!

That’s awesome! Do you have any other favorite projects you’d like to share with us?

There are so many that are my favorite! Most recently, I really enjoyed my competition pieces from FLOAT. I made a Claw Machine for the Foil Design Competition, which won 2^nd place! You really can’t twist foil balloons together like latex, so I used lots of UGlu® dashes to make sure everything was sitting perfectly.

Also, I used UGlu® dashes to adhere the facial features of my monster in my 3^rd place winning piece, “Lost Dog,” in the Sculpture Competition. The monster lost his dog, but the dog is about to find his master. Soon, they will be reunited and happy once again!

I have also used UGlu® in many of my delivery pieces and in décor. One décor piece stands out in particular! I must say, I could not have pulled off making the “Emblem of Dentistry” for a graduation party if it were not for UGlu®! It is one of the pieces I am most proud of.

If someone has never used UGlu® for their balloon art before, what advice would you have for them?

I have very simple advice for anyone who has not used UGlu® in their life as a Balloon Artist: USE IT!! UGlu® allows you to work smarter, not harder.

The post The Secret Behind Balloon Artist Anthony Lena’s Awesomeness appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Do you have a website or social media you’d like to share with our audience?

I’m still in the process of making a separate site for my tape art, but here is my main website where you can see all of my various projects: monmondesign.com

My tape art Instagram: @monmon_tapeart
My design Instagram: @monmondesign

Editor’s Note: Some of the photography featured in this blog is by photographer Nic Crilly-Hargrave, whose Instagram you can visit here.

Tell us about yourself! How did you get started working in design and art? Do you have any favorite projects?

I’m an Art Director and Production Designer for TV/Film and commercials based in London, Brixton. I am also a tape artist! I’m originally from Iran and spent most of my life in Frankfurt, Germany… yes, I speak all three languages.

I studied Visual Arts, and my thesis project was a short film about migraines (watch here) that I directed and produced. The film gained worldwide recognition and has been shown in several film festivals, nationally and internationally, as well as 500 hospitals throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria between 2010 and 2015. After graduation I started an internship for a cinema production company as a set assistant and a few years later I landed in the Art Department.

I have so many favorite projects I’ve worked on, but I guess the Summer Promo I have created for Manoto TV and the Set Design for the music show Echo are two of my top ones. Both projects can be found on my website!

How did you begin creating tape art? What sparked your interest?

I have been making art with tapes for nearly 9 years now. The idea however, started way back in 2010 – believe it or not, the film set inspired the start of my tape art! 

When I was working on my first film sets, I was always amazed by the colors of the tapes the camera assistants and clappers were carrying around. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the tapes and kept thinking about making something with them.

When I moved to London in 2013 and visited Cass Art (an art supply store), I happened across a big roll of neon pink Pro® Console Tape. I immediately bought it and began experimenting. Eventually I created my first piece by mixing chalk paint and marker into the artwork – the piece is about 2m x 2m large, and hangs in my home now!

Over the years, I stopped using the chalk paint and markers and just worked with tape. I’ve produced many pieces, both small and large pieces, always working with fluorescent colored, 12mm tapes.

What is your favorite type of tape artwork to create (outdoor murals, smaller pieces, portraits, etc)?

I love to make large tape art pieces, both indoors and outdoors. I find my tape art works best on big surfaces. Hence why I always aim to create big installations.

How did you discover Pro Tapes® tape products?

Since I only work with 12mm fluorescent colored tapes and Pro Tapes® is the market leader in that regard, it was a very clear choice! My regular suppliers and I always order Pro Tapes® for my work. 

Which Pro Tapes® products do you use in your tape art now? What are your favorite qualities about the tapes?

For my tape art pieces I mainly use Pro® Console or Pro® Spike in pink and yellow, and the Pro Gaff® cloth tape in black. But sometimes I like to mix Pro Gaff® in orange and blue into my artwork as well.

(Editor’s Note: Most visual artists can find the console tape Mona is referring to as Pro® Artist Tape.)

If someone has never used tape to create art, what advice would you have for them?

As an artist, you have to find your “tool” to express yourself and your art. I did find my art tool in tapes and I would have never been able to call myself a Tape artist if I had not tried it.

I always say just do it! Just try it! What is there to lose and what can happen? Worst case scenario, you find yourself not liking it, but at least you can say you have tried it.

And when I started, I didn’t know any tape artists, but through social media I discovered that people like me are actually part of a small (but growing!) community. There are such amazing tape artists out there, and I’m happy to be a part of it. 

The post Tape Art with Mona Wishkahi, Designer and Art Director appeared first on Pro Tapes®.