This is one of my favourite projects.

The design for this tap handle was based on the watermelon shark head (with a mullet) from the Moon Dog Bjorn to Boogie bottle label design.

The initial sculpt for this piece necessitated the use of 5 different materials including Epoxy putty, polymer clay, sculpting clay, wax and wood. The totem pole on which the watermelon shark is perched was hand carved from real wood. I selected a specific wood with a course grain as I knew the surface texture would be picked up in the mould for the final pieces.  Through the casting process the texture was then transferred to the final cast Polyurethane handle, allowing me to maintain the strength of a Polyurethane handle, whilst maintaining the look and feel I was seeking for the totem.

The Bjorn to Boogie tap handles were finished with a combination of airbrushed and hand painted details.  This particular edition also called for a number of specialised painting and finishing techniques to compliment the appearance and feel of wood and to create the texture of the watermelon skin.  All finishes were created using automotive paint for strength and durability.

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