Folding Brass Knuckle Ring; Xenomorph, Sexy Beast

Wax & Resin Prototype

The xenomorph was the first obvious form to encapsulate my folding brass knuckle ring concept.  It was far too insistent to ignore, so my concept debuts as an Alien Drone tentatively donned; Sexy Beast.  They've always scared the sh#t out of me and I love them for it.  In a similar way to the Alien movie's heroine, they managed to embody both monstrousity and sexiness, kind of like a folding brass knuckle ring.  Hmmmm.

So what is a folding brass knuckle ring?  It's an inconspicuous out in an open adornment that transforms into the iconic ominous brass knuckle.  I love transformation in its literal and transcendental senses.  The brass knuckle is a tool for fighting, for protecting your money makers, for inspiring fear and mutually assured destruction.

Two Components; Palm Piece & unfolded ring base

Palm Piece locks out ring base

On that last point, I think the brass knuckle pretty much throws out the self defense argument.  Let's face it, the time it takes to take off the ring, transform it, and throw down, is premeditated all the way, or you'll find yourself waking up concussed clutching a partially transformed brass knuckle ring.

Though designed for durability and strength, this sculpt is meant to symbolically channel the fights we all face, embrace, and/ or displace.  We fight, that's what we do instinctively in some unconcious way or boldly and loudly for that which we hold dear.  Not all of these methods are physical or violent, but they are all battles we all have endured.

So enough of the back story mumbo jumbo, let's get to the nitty gritty within the ditty!  I'm happy with this ring's current phase.  I've already adopted four additionaly friction locking mechanisms to hold the ring securely closed not including the ring size itself.  The ring sizing will be on the last loop leaving the remaining three oversized.

This accomplishes two important things.  First the finger holes will be loose when the ring is transformed and worn as a brass knuckle.  Since the pinky is generally smaller on the majority of humans that I've met, the correctly sized ring will align with the pinky or index finger.  It's 50/50 on alignment, but alignment with the pinky will ensure a looser fit for smooth placement on and off your hand.

Brass Knuckle locked straight

Secondly, the correctly sized ring hole on the last loop will also aid in keeping the ring closed on the finger, redundantly assisting the six other friction locks.  It's overkill and perhaps makes it more challenging to transform the ring, but alternatively losing the palm piece portion of the ring would really really really suck! 

So what's next!?  Well, I'd like cleaner surfacing, the choice colorway, and some demo testing after a casting in the indestructible stuff.  And the all important question in many minds; how much?  For sexy beast, around the $60 price point.  Variations, and one of a kinds will mottle the inventory as these will be a combination of stocked and made to order.  Pick one up here:

Xenomorph Brass Knuckle Ring

Xenomorph Brass Knuckle Rings

With that stated, I do find the debut ring a little stifled as I failed to thoroughly incorporate the hand and to attack various perspectiveness more aggressively, but I forgive myself because like Shiva, this concept will manifest itself in many different forms!

I'm really stoked about this platform, as I've already envisioned various forms easily encasing this concept.  From a .22 derringer to encased millenium falcon usb drives to Queen Xenomorph, various totem animals from the jaguar to bear, to an ambitious voltron crew of lions and a faberge egg and that's just within my own selfishly entrenched imaginings and ecclectic tastes.

Deringer, Scarab, Kraken, Predator, more

Here's the first youtube demo;  

Chewy the Skull Teething Ring

 This is my cranium with mandible ring concept.

 Biter waxed out without the hornz.

Chewy in a dark metallique resin. Though fun, this is really an early iteration.  I do however anticipate a cool line of forensically accurate skull ring sculpts.

The Black Pearl and Kraken Ring: Sketch to Sculpt

This was my simple sketch of the Black Pearl.

I built the Black Pearl up with wax before adding the Kraken.  She evolved in relation to my hand.

Black Pearl & Kraken Nickel Silver Finish

Ghost Ship

Aaaargh get your sticky tentacles on me boat here!!

Trojan Turtle

I can be a bit compulsive so when inspiration strikes, I get obsessed with it. For some reason my latest muse has taken the form of a turtle.

Turtles have roamed this earth for hundreds of millions of years. Not unlike their cousin the crocodile or their fish friend the shark, turtles represent divine design that has remained relatively unchanged for nearly as long. They are pervasive throughout the world existing in a variety of terrains and environments. Which is why their impact on world cultures is of little surprise. They've had a constant presence throughout our time and space.

So my approach wasn't so much to alter or enhance the appearance of the turtle itself. Instead what challenged me was creating a mechanism within that form that would allow me to use the turtle as a puzzle box. I thought it would be cool to stow away small items within, like notes, poetry, micro sd cards, a soul, etc. This pic is an early solution. I call it a Trojan Turtle.