Tell us about your first cosplay experience. Who, what, where, when, and how did it go?

Well, in the ancient past, before the internet and widely available anime were invented, I got on a Renaissance kick and started sewing fancy, 16th Century-style dresses just for the heck of it. I sewed and sewed, and soon I had about 9 costumes sitting in my closet. (Now, I was only able to go to the Renaissance Festival about once a year, so several of those costumes that I made never actually got worn anywhere. They simply hung in my closet until I grew sick of them, took them apart, and then used their components to make new dresses that I wasn’t going to wear anywhere.) Then one day, I discovered anime and, soon after, witnessed some cosplayers at my first anime convention. Sensing a new outlet for my persistently incessant creativity, I decided to pour all of my efforts into making and dressing up in cosplay costumes, starting with Filia from Slayers TRY (with Christmas-ball headdress, giant foam mace, and all). It was round about this time that the internet came along, providing a means of showing off to larger and larger audiences. (So finally, people actually got to see what I was wearing, which was a nice change of pace.) I always thought I’d quit dressing up after a few years, but thus far, the cosplay bug hasn’t gone away...

When did you realize that cosplay would be a serious hobby and not just a one-time deal?

The day I spent 5 hours outside on my patio in frigid November temperatures, applying fiberglass and Bondo to a breastplate mold. And then, when the materials became too much for me to handle and my armor project got ruined and my hands and lungs were stinging with toxic chemicals and I was forced to toss out everything I had done up to that point,-- I did not do what any reasonably sane person would do and give up. No. I spent another 100 hours hacking out a way to make decent-looking armor without fiberglass. ( It was then that I knew this whole cosplay thing was getting pretty serious. Scary-serious.  “Who needs food when I can buy craft foam and enamel paint” serious...)

Your costumes tend to be bold and extravagant. Even though they require way more work & dedication than simpler options, what attracts you to these types of outfits?

Well, thanks to my schedule and geographical location, I don’t get to make it to many conventions. So I want to make sure I have something that will catch people’s eyes whenever I do go. Big wings, hoop skirts, and armor are things that are always guaranteed to get a notice. (And if you have a costume that combines all three, –and yes, I have made such a costume– well...they won’t be able to look away...)

Do you have any projects that you had to scrap or put on hold because they became too difficult or ran into obstacles? (material failure, construction trouble, natural disaster, etc.)

I had a lot of delays in my Alphonse armor thanks to its sheer size (and to the fact that I had to extend its legs and arms much farther than the natural reach of my own arms and legs). It wound up being very heavy, and I almost wasn’t able to wear it onstage for the convention masquerade. I had gotten so worn out from wearing it (or parts of it) earlier that day, that I started getting heat exhaustion while waiting in the green room. Thankfully, my friends and the con staff managed to get me some water and calm me down enough so I was able to put on the costume and go out onstage, but things were pretty hairy for awhile there. When designing costumes now, I know I have to keep my own comfort and physical limitations in mind because although my character might be a disembodied soul in an indestructible suit of armor, I most certainly am not.

You’re pretty well-known for your armor & props. Is it a natural talent, or have you had training in woodworking, sculpting, or other crafts that lend easily to 3-D projects?

I have taken a lot of 2-D and 3-D design classes in college. I also had some experience doing work-study in my college’s costume shop.

Lab: What was your major?
Amethyst Angel: I majored in Graphic Design with a comprehensive arts minor.
Lab: What did "comprehensive arts" entail?
A Angel: A little bit of everything: jewelry making, studio arts. I learned lost-wax casting and other neat things. I'd like to work with metal again, but I don't much get the chance to.

It’s only just recently I’ve gotten heavily into armor and props, though –most of my early work was strictly costume/fabric centered. The very first prop I ever made –Filia’s mace– was actually kind of crappy. I made it from green chair foam which I carved into a rough club shape, sewed foam spikes to and then covered with black acrylic paint. The handle I painted with –GASP!– Sharpie marker. It didn’t look good, but I could bop people with it, and that was all that really mattered to me at the time. (Heh heh.)

Lab: Your arts background is really good, then, for cosplay purposes.
A Angel: Yes, I think it's necessary. 2-D and 3-D design skills are important, and life-drawing classes give one a good sense of the human body and its proportions. And color theory is good to know too. HCC has a great proportioning tutorial here.[ http://whatishcc.com/tutorials_proportioning.php ] I think most people who take up cosplay have an affinity for arts, even if they didn't study it in college.
Lab: Agreed. They probably wouldn’t be drawn to the hobby if they didn't have a creative tendency.

How did you progress from making items for yourself to being confident enough to build things for others?

Once I had discovered a way to make decent armor out of craft foam and styrene plastic, I found those materials worked just as well for making good props too, so I started experimenting. At first, I made things strictly for my own cosplays, but when enough people asked me how I made them (and whether I would make similar things for them), I realized I could probably do commissions for other people, so that’s what I did.

It’s one thing to make and wear something great at home, but it’s another story getting a grand costume from home to the con in good shape. Please share some tips for transporting bulky or odd-shaped items.

Tip #1: Remember to tell the person you’re going to the convention with how many costumes you’re taking so they’ll know how much space to leave in their car for you. (Remember also that if the person you’re taking to the convention is me, and if I tell you that I’m only taking one costume, that one costume will probably take up enough space to house an elephant. Pack accordingly.)

Tip #2: Try to design your bulkier armor and prop items so that they have parts that can be easily snapped off and reattached once you get to the convention. (Because regardless of whether or not you design those pieces to snap off, they invariably will snap off once you try to push them into your car. Be sure you have a glue gun and lots of hot glue handy for the gluing on of snapped-off parts...)

Of the 3 main tasks involved in making a costume, which do you enjoy the most: sewing, props/accessories, or wigs?

Props, because I find those often go the fastest. It might only take me a day or two to whip up and paint a prop, but it might take a week (or even months) to finish a costume. (Instant gratification is soooo me...)

What does your family think of your hobby?

On one hand, they think I’m very creative and talented. On the other hand, they think I should get a real job. Maybe they’re right, but as long as I can do this and still keep a roof over my head, I intend to go on doing so.

From where do you draw the inspiration that keeps you going through good times & bad?

From my small but spirited fandom. And from knowing there are a lot of people who like what I do enough to tell me so. It really helps.

Mild-mannered “librarian” by day, flashy cosplayer by night; or all cosplay, all the time?

Eh, I’m pretty laid back when I’m not cosplaying. For most of my time, I wear very plain, utilitarian clothing –especially since I work with paint so often. If I were to wear anything nice, it would get ruined in no time. I try to make up for it, though, by being as splashy and as over-the-top as I can be in my choice of costumes.

Lab: Where do you work that involves painting regularly?
A Angel: I make props and costumes in my apartment and do a lot of armor and prop painting.
Lab: Cool. This started after you earned your degree?
A Angel: I got my degree and then worked for a tombstone company for awhile (designing bronze memorials). It got too depressing and non-creative, and I didn't like my bosses, so I stopped doing that and started making props and costumes for a living
Lab: So you're one of the few people who’s actually full time into commissions.
A Angel: Yes, I figured I may as well do something I liked and was good at. I don't make nearly the money I used to, but I can set my own hours. (I need that option because I just can't function before noon...)

Has cosplay opened doors that you otherwise wouldn’t have even encountered? (travel, work, 15 minutes of fame, etc.)

It’s given me a little fame here and there. It’s cool when people recognize you at a convention or write you and ask you for your advice.

Lab: Do you see yourself putting your talents to use in tv/movie production, museum displays, etc in the future?
A Angel: That would be nice to get a professional gig like that. I've always dreamed about going to Vegas and getting a job costuming for a big show like Cirque du Soleil.
Lab: It's certainly possible. With cosplay becoming more high profile, talent scouts are bound to notice eventually.
A Angel: Or I could just start applying for those jobs too. Been staying put for the time being.

I would probably have an even bigger presence if I were able to live out on the east or west coast where there are a lot of conventions. (Although the ones in the Midwest where I live are nice and small and have a charm all their own so, I don’t know if I’d want to move. It’s a lot cheaper to live here too.)

Lab: Have you been to any of the giant east or west coast cons?
A Angel: I went to Animazement one year since I was living in NC at the time and could day-trip. My finances have prevented me from going to any really big cons (because you practically have to plan a year in advance for those), and since a lot of my costumes are too bulky to put on an airplane, and since I hate long distance driving, I've been pretty much confined to the Midwest. I don't know if I'd like a big 10,000-person megaconvention anyway; the lines are long enough at the smaller cons.
Lab: Well, they're each their own experience. Smaller ones do have perks: close knit group, not so sprawling.
A Angel: I can be a bigger fish in a smaller pond too.
Lab: Ah, the hypnotic effect of celebrity.
A Angel: Validation. I craves it...
Lab: Doesn’t everyone? ^_^

If you were permitted only one more costume for the rest of your life, what would you make and why?

Probably something simple and comfortable (since I’d be having to spend a lot of time in it). Maybe some fancy silk Chinese robes (in a different style from the ones I’ve already made). Or maybe a nice-looking kimono. I could wear that to pretty much any special occasion, anime-related or otherwise.

Here’s your space for additional comments and the dispelling of rumors.

Let’s see... Projects I’m currently working on. I’m trying to write a series of how-to books on props and armor (to clarify and explain a lot of the stuff I’ve written about online) which I’m going to fill with pictures.

Lab: That'll be great, a wonderful resource.
A Angel: I want it to be as comprehensive as possible which is why it's probably going to be a series of books – too much material for just one book. I want to get volume 1 done by AnimeDetour if I can, in March.

I’m also trying to expand my skill base by getting into resin casting, molding, building large props, etc. That’s about all I’m up to for now.  (That and trying to catch up on answering my always-behind e-mail...^_^;) That’s about it...

See more of Amethyst's costumes

Amethyst Angel, we had a really nice conversation. Your work in armor and attention to detail on many fantastical costumes have gained you numerous admirers. We're glad that online venues have given you a much wider audience or else we'd be missing out on some great cosplay! We hope your desire to help others with your upcoming series of how-to books meets with success. It would be a testament to your persistence in finding not only what you can get out of your hobby but what you can contribute to its advancement. Thanks for spending some time with us, and best of luck in your future endeavors.

~Mrs. Tomoe