Cosplay in the time of Quarantine
If the Cosplayers can’t come to you, you can certainly come to the Cosplayers! In today’s age of modern technology, connection is possible even in a time of mandatory social distancing.
As the Covid-19 outbreak makes its way through our communities, we’re all being asked to stay home to ride it out. That being said, most conventions and gatherings have been cancelled, so it’s harder to get the word out about the cosplay community. Many artists who depend on Conventions and Cons for survival are unable to make ends meet… so they’re turning to the online community to help. Never has there been a time where platforms like YouTube and Twitch were needed more- with the click of a mouse you are able to connect with your favorite artists and see what projects they are working on from the comfort of their own homes.
Who to Watch
Artyfakes – a Professional Prop Maker and Cosplayer
Tabitha Lyons, mostly-known under the name Artyfakes, is one of the first Twitch cosplayers. Artyfakes is famous not only in the native UK. She enjoys being a part of different international conventions and events, such as the Live Action Roleplay. She also was a cosplay judge for the first UK season of King of The Nerds – the popular show based on the American series of the same name and featuring nerds and geeks competing in challenges. Tabitha’s main interests are interrelated: she is making props and cosplay streaming. For Tabitha, props making is not a hobby, it is her full-time job and passion which she shares with her Dad Nic Samiots. Together they are the owners of Artyfakes Action Props Ltd. Artyfakes props and costumes are crafted fully by hand, so everything is unique, quality and safe to use in theater, cinema and cosplay shows. In 2014, Tabitha convinced her father to start streaming their prop making process. She provides both gaming and creative streams on Twitch and wants streaming to become her full-time job in the future. Among her popular characters are: Nidalee from the League of Legends, Kitiara from Dragonlace, Red Sonja from Marvel Comics. Along with cosplay, Tabitha Lyons works as a presenter and interviewer. Сheck out her latest interviews with the actors of “The Game of Thrones” – Sam Tarley and Euron Greyjoy. Check out an interview with Tabitha, where she tells about her priorities, passions and plans for future:
DaraDef – a Variety Streamer and Cosplayer
DaradDef is “a Canadian dweeb” that enjoys making props, cosplay costumes and playing video games. She plays a variety of games from PUBG to indie and story-driven games, combining this with creative streaming. DaraDef has been creating costumes for 14 years, have won multiple cosplay contests. Her first cosplay debut was in early 2006, when she dressed up at Calagry Comic Expo. Since then, DaraDef has regularly attended cosplay conventions and started to make new costumes. Besides the famous cosplay characters, Dara also invented her own characters, such as My Little Pwny and Sith Lord Minlke.
~Join us next week for more Cosplay Coverage~
Have a Cosplay question you would like Mayhem’s Muse to answer? Know a Cosplayer you’d like to see featured? Send an email here!
Learn more about Mayhem’s Muse
