Ralph Dewey Interview 7/13th April

Started by G L Admin, March 31, 2008, 10:57:26 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Ralph Dewey

#15
Quote from: "Petra"Hi Ralph,

we've met in Belgium a couple of weeks ago (I was one of the girls who game in mutch to late!!)
I liked you lecture and was wondering if you improved the little car you designed there.

Can I post a picture of it in the cars topic?

Petra


Hello Petra,
I'm still tweaking on the car design, but yes you can post a picture.  I posted a photo of it on BalloonHQ's photo page and I called it a Lady bug (Lady Bird to you) or a Doodle bug car.  I still haven't solved the hubcap design.  By the way, that is one of the keys to being creative, keep tweaking your designs until you get it just the way you want it.
Dewey

Ralph Dewey

#16
Quote from: "Billy Bongo"Hi ralph,

Are you a full time baloonist or do you have another job?

Norm

Hello Norm,
For lots of years I had a full-time job and did balloon work on the side.  Now that I'm retired I have lots more time to do balloon activities.  Mostly I teach at workshops and conventions.
Dewey

cashmagic

#17
have you got any more planes to do any more dvds?and if so what is likey to be in them?
life is full of twist and turns i just twist it first !!!
http://www.twistandmake.co.uk

bickers

#18
You said to keep tweaking designs - have you ever tweaked one so much that it became far too complicated to make? Or have you ever tweaked one a few times and when you came back to it felt that your original design was better?

Wim

#19
Hi Ralph, we met in Belgium three weeks ago (do you remember the Dutch guy who was exited when he did a deep hook twist while you were already showing another model?... yep, that was me....)
You showed a Indian hat that turned into a (Belgium) mosquito that turned into the egg laying swan. Sadly I didn't took notes and made no picture but can you tell me, the second bubble (not the egg) was that a pinchtwist?I really cannot remember it.

I tried to make the thing again but somehow it was not as good as the one you showed...
And I want to take  this opportunity to thank you again for the great workshop, you inspired me a lot. Thanks!

Wim

Dave

#20
do you still perform magic?
A load of hot air
http://www.davehickory.co.uk

Ralph Dewey

#21
Quote from: "cashmagic"have you got any more planes to do any more dvds?and if so what is likey to be in them?

Books sell easier because of their lower price, but are harder to produce.  It takes a lot of time and effort to write the text and draw the graphics.  On the other hand, DVD's take a few hours to shoot.  The editing and jacket design does take some work, but I have that done by my video guys.  The big drawback is the upfront money that I have to invest in order to get my cost per DVD low enough.  I don't have a timetable for producing them, but here are some possible future topics.  
Making balloon caricatures and faces.
Balloon Flowers.
More Gospel Balloon Routines.
Professional Balloon Secrets & Techniques.
Balloons Designs That Transform.

Dewey

Ralph Dewey

#22
Quote from: "bickers"You said to keep tweaking designs - have you ever tweaked one so much that it became far too complicated to make? Or have you ever tweaked one a few times and when you came back to it felt that your original design was better?

One of the secrets for developing your balloon creativity is "perpetual tweaking."  A few times I have tweaked and it led in a direction that was too difficult to make consistently.  Then I had to back off.  That has been rare.  Mostly the tweaking has led to a better design.
Dewey

Ralph Dewey

#23
Quote from: "Wim"Hi Ralph, we met in Belgium three weeks ago (do you remember the Dutch guy who was exited when he did a deep hook twist while you were already showing another model?... yep, that was me....)
You showed a Indian hat that turned into a (Belgium) mosquito that turned into the egg laying swan. Sadly I didn't took notes and made no picture but can you tell me, the second bubble (not the egg) was that a pinchtwist?I really cannot remember it.

I tried to make the thing again but somehow it was not as good as the one you showed...
And I want to take  this opportunity to thank you again for the great workshop, you inspired me a lot. Thanks!

Wim

That design is called the Swan that Lays an Egg.  The #260 is tied off leaving a 1-1/2" nozzle.  Then I inflate that into a 2" bubble and tie it off.  That bubble becomes the egg.  Then I twist off another 2" bubble.  That is the bubble that later gets popped to release the egg.
Dewey

Ralph Dewey

#24
Quote from: "Dave"do you still perform magic?

I like the easy and self-working type of magic.  I still perform it now and then.  About 7 years ago I decided to concentrate on my strongest talent, balloon twisting.  So other things that I do, clowning, magic, chalk talks, juggling and other skills have not gone away.  They have just taken a back seat.
Dewey

Dave

#25
What's chalk talk?
A load of hot air
http://www.davehickory.co.uk

Ralph Dewey

#26
Quote from: "Dave"What's chalk talk?

A chalk talk is a cartoon-style drawing presented to an audience which has a surprise ending.  In other words, a short talk using a chalk board.  That is how it got it's name, but now it is done with a marker.  So I use an easel with large sheets of paper and a marker to make simple line drawings.  One example is where I draw an axe.  I talk about how you wouldn't let your children play with something a dangerous as an axe.  Then I add some more lines and it is a train on some tracks.  Then I mention that we should "train" up our children in the proper ways to keep them out of trouble.  I sometimes use them in my stage programs to add entertainment, but mostly I use them with a gospel message for shows in churches.

Graham Lee

#27
Ralph,

A couple of questions;

1, What would you say has been your proudest achievment in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
or do you have several.

2, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?

Graham Lee
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

Ralph Dewey

#28
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Ralph,

A couple of questions;

1, What would you say has been your proudest achievment in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
or do you have several.

2, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?

Graham Lee

Question 1:  It is difficult to point to just one thing so I'll name off several.  I was the first recipient (2005) of the David Grist Memorial Award.  In 2004 at the Millennium Jam I received the "Lifetime of Sharing the Magic of Balloons" award.  I'm grateful that I've been instrumental in the growth of gospel balloons as a way to communicate the Good News about Jesus Christ.  I was proud that Kevin Dewey, my grandson, made history by being the youngest (10 years old) instructor at a major balloon convention last January.  I had to do a lot of tudoring and encouraging in order for him to meet that challenge.  We are both proud of that accomplishment.  Giving out my annual Balloon Excellence Awards to deserving twisters has been a very positive event for me.  I was glad to be on the team for the world record balloon project that was constructed in 2000 at the Millennium Jam in Mol, Belgium.  I'm also glad to be part of a community of twister who are so willing to share ideas.  

Question 2: In my early days I was too concerned about being the fastest and best balloon twister on the planet.  Too often I tried to impress people with complex and fancy models.  As time went on and maturity kicked in, I modified my goals.  Now my balloon art and activities are more about creating ideas and sharing them with other twisters.  So even though I'm retired from my regular full-time job, I seldom take typical twister jobs.  I prefer to spend my time and energy teaching at workshops and conventions.  To me I get pleasure from helping other twisters become even better twisters.  And if they surpass me in ability, that's okay with me.  Another rewarding part of what I do is using my creativity to develop new and interesting ideas.  In fact, I've started working on a book that explains how someone can become a top twister by improving their balloon creativity.

Dave

#29
It's difficult to see all publications on each artist and when I saw you at Grahams care and share (which I got a lot from and enjoyed meeting you) you had loads of books I hadn't seen before, I was wondering if you could list them?
Congratulations to Kevin Dewey look forward to seeing his lecture sometime.
A load of hot air
http://www.davehickory.co.uk