If you ask the Internet?
Balloon twisting or balloon modelling is the art of shaping specialised balloons into animals, characters, objects and sculptures.
The people who do it are called balloon twisters, balloon artists, balloon modellers... and occasionally things considerably less flattering when one pops.
Technically? that's the answer.
If you ask Patches?
Squeaky Jazz in Motion.
That's how Patches describes balloon twisting.
A handful of balloons, an idea, and absolutely no guarantee where it's going to end up. Like jazz, there's technique underneath it all... but there's also improvisation. Someone throws out an idea, Patches runs with it, and a few minutes later there's something sitting in their hands that didn't exist before.
Bringing Imagination to Life. That's the bit Patches loves.
Kids don't think in balloon designs. They think in dinosaurs, superheroes, monsters, princesses, video-game characters and whatever completely ridiculous thing has just entered their head. The fun is figuring out how to turn that idea into balloons, right there in front of them.
Fast. Flashy. Seriously Impressive.
Years of practice mean Patches can work quickly without taking the creativity out of it. Some creations are simple. Some are wonderfully ridiculous. And sometimes you get something like Chico the monkey (he's the slightly less hairy guy in the photo).
For Patches, balloon twisting isn't just about the finished balloon. It's about making the creation of it part of the entertainment.