About Me
I’m Taras Harkavyi, a Canadian artist and prop-maker originally from Ukraine. I immigrated to Canada at age 12 in the mid-’90s.
Before prop-making, I had a brief music career that culminated in his 2006 debut album Liftoff (Spotify link). The album’s single “I Will Love Again” earned a Canadian Juno nomination in 2007.
During that time, I also produced remixes for artists including Britney Spears and Michelle Branch.
After graduating from the University of Winnipeg with a BSc in Biology and a BA in Religious Studies, I spent 11 years in public service as an officer with the Canada Border Services Agency.
In my spare time, I taught myself digital modeling and prop-making, building my skills step by step and putting every spare dollar into tools, 3D printers, and materials.
A few years after meeting my lovely wife, Annette, I left the CBSA to pursue prop-making full-time. Together, we built a backyard workshop that became the home of Mynock’s Den.
In 2022, I put the business side of Mynock’s Den on pause to stay home with our one-year-old son while my wife returned to work. Four years later, I’m still a stay-at-home dad, though I’ve slowly been finding more time to return to the shop as my kiddo grows and kindergarten approaches around the corner.
Feel free to browse the site, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. You can also follow me on social media (links at the bottom of the page) for the latest builds, behind-the-scenes looks, and updates on what I’m currently working on.
Thanks for stopping by!
