How Are Custom-Made Inflatables Made: Hand-Painted For The HU

When the Mongolian rock band The HU takes the stage, their performance is about more than just music. It’s a full-scale spectacle of sound, movement and visual drama. So when their creative team approached Air Artists to design inflatable artwork with striking detail, the custom-made inflatables had to reflect the same epic energy and cultural force that defines their work.

The result was a striking, hand-painted inflatable warrior built for the touring stage. Towering in scale and rich in detail, the sculpture now travels with The HU as a dramatic feature of their live setup. This case study offers a unique way to answer the question: how are inflatables made for high-profile music tours?

From initial collaboration through to hand-painted finishing and tour-ready engineering, this project offers a glimpse into the artistry, logistics and technical care behind every successful stage inflatable.

All custom inflatables with artistic detail start with a creative brief. In the case of The HU, this meant understanding both their cultural roots and their theatrical ambition. This was not about making something decorative. It had to deliver presence, capture emotion and visually echo the spirit of their music.

We worked closely with the band’s creative team to refine the concept. The final design was based on a warrior figure, stylised with bold armour, a commanding stance and striking facial features. The collaborative process ensured the final form was not only visually powerful but also culturally accurate and aligned with The HU’s brand.

How inflatables are made reflects an artist’s visual world. The process begins with listening, sketching and building trust between creatives.

In a busy festival setting, visuals compete for attention. Stage props need to be memorable from every angle and readable from long distances. The HU’s inflatable was designed with all this in mind.

The sculpture’s proportions were chosen for maximum clarity. Every detail was intentionally exaggerated to maintain its impact in open-air conditions. This is one of the most important considerations when asking how are inflatables made for outdoor stages. Height, structure and bold shapes take priority to ensure the inflatable becomes a visual signature, even in large or chaotic environments.

What made this piece even more effective was the hand-painted finish. Instead of flat colours or digital prints, the custom-made inflatable was painted entirely by hand in Air Artists’ studio, giving it texture, shadow and depth.

Hand-painting is a rare and specialised option in the world of stage props. Most large-scale custom-made inflatables rely on digital printing, which offers speed but often lacks depth. For The HU, hand painting was the best option.

So, how are inflatables made when every surface is hand-painted? The base form is produced using heavy-duty materials suited for performance. Next, artists use brushes and high-performance paints to build the final surface. In this case, the paintwork brought out every line of the warrior’s expression, every flame in the design, and every shadow in the armour.

This method creates something visually unique and emotionally powerful. The finished piece does more than fill space. It carries the same energy as the performance itself.

Touring presents tough practical challenges. Props must be lightweight, easy to pack, and quick to deploy. So, how are inflatables made to meet those conditions?

The custom-made inflatable for The HU was engineered for the road. It inflates quickly, remains stable during performance and packs down into a manageable volume for transport. These are the kinds of structural decisions we make to ensure their work is viable for multi-date tours and one-off festivals alike.

It’s one thing to ask how are inflatables made to look good on stage. It’s another to make sure they function seamlessly behind the scenes. The HU’s custom-made inflatable had to do both.

Once the show begins, there is no margin for error. Touring props need to function across variable weather, terrain and lighting setups. So, how are custom-inflatables made to meet that standard?

Air Artists designs every piece with touring conditions in mind. In this case, that meant choosing materials known for durability, ensuring seams are reinforced, and testing the inflatable’s ability to hold its shape across extended performance periods. Although the exact internal structure is not public, we know that this inflatable was selected by the band for its ability to travel and perform consistently.

That is a vital part of the answer to how inflatables are made for real-world stage use.

Custom-inflatables like The HU’s warrior do more than frame a performance. They become part of the story. As soon as fans see something bold and unexpected on stage, it shapes their expectations. It invites emotional investment before a single lyric is sung.

This is why production designers often ask how custom-inflatables are made to support atmosphere and tone. In this case, the inflatable helped broadcast a message of power and presence from the moment the audience arrived.

On social media, photos and videos of the inflatable spread fast. Fans recognised it as a symbol of the show and associated it with the band’s identity. This viral visibility is another powerful answer to how are inflatables made to support an artist’s brand.

We build all our inflatables in-house. That includes sketching, cutting, painting and final construction. Working from its UK studio, the team develops each concept with full creative control.

For touring acts, this matters. Every custom-inflatable must balance visual ambition with practical performance. The team ensures each element is robust enough for regular use, light enough to transport and visually strong enough to carry a stage.

The HU’s project reflects that process from start to finish. So when asking about how are inflatables made, the best answer lies in collaboration, craftsmanship and creative rigour.

Add unforgettable character to your event with hand-painted custom inflatable sculptures from Air Artists. Contact us and explore the full collection, discover more about how inflatables are made and bring your vision to life.