So maybe Cosplay is too expensive for your budget, but that doesn't mean you can't wear something to a con to join in with the festivities!

Here's some options that you could check out!

1. Wear a gamer/ anime/ comic book shirt - lots of people do this, it's cool to wear a shirt with your favorite pop culture stuff on it to a con. Show your geek pride!

2.  Wear special head gear - Neko ears, gamer hat, viking helmet, headband. The options are endless! You could even wear a wig!

3. Wear a funky mask - The Meme masks are pretty popular especially the troll face masks and I see tons of people wear them to a con and it really is quite funny. You can also wear something simple like a Bleach Hollow mask or even a pirate patch and that's still fun.

4. Wear a cool pop culture accessory! - A scarf, watch, tie, pair of earings, socks, shoes. Lesser stuff that hopefully isn't too expensive that's pop culture related. Special patches, pins, key chains etc.

5. You can even paint your face, temp tattoo - if you're feeling up to it : )

6. Girls, you can do your nails! - There's all sorts of pop culture related nails and things you can do on your own too!


I personally feel better when I something fun when I go to a con even if I'm a civilian just to join in, ya know?

So I started a new job as a retail assistant and something I thought that was really interesting that the store manager told me was that when you're in retail, it's not about you, as a civilian, selling something to someone. It's about you representing a brand to sell something to someone and that comes with switching on the 'friendly retail person' persona. You speak in a bright voice, you greet customers sincerely and pleasantly when they enter and leave the store, even if the customer has an attitude problem, don't take any of it personally because you represent a brand and you still have to be nice to people. It's basically like unconscious acting.

Having thought about this, I thought it would be interesting to share an article on Cosplaying in character. The difference between cosplay and just wearing a Halloween costume is when you cosplay, you ARE the character. You're no longer you, you become this persona of your favorite character.

This is an article written sometime back by Cairdiuil of 'All About Cosplay' blog about 'how to play your cosplay character' here's an except

 "What really helped me with playing my character was I didn't just constantly watch footage of Rei (from Evangelion) in the series and seriously studied her mannerisms, I would look at cosplayers who portrayed Rei really well. I would save their photos onto my computer and study the photo and ask myself, "Why I am I getting a Rei vibe from this image?" "Is it the lighting, her pose?"

What also helps is study your body in front of the mirror and take lots of photos of yourself. Practice your facial expressions and see how their come out. The more time you spend in front of a camera, the less shy you will be! Get a family member or friend to take photos of you in your cosplay and try acting as your character. Even at home or when along in your room, in the bathroom say some lines as your character, acting as them. Well known theater actors and film actors like Danial Day Lewis do this, when coming up to a play they walk around staying in character. I try do this subtle when coming up to a shoot."

It's a helpful article written by a fellow Singaporean, very cool and thanks for sharing!

 
A friend referred me to this sweet post by webcomic artist, Aaron Diaz who's the artist of Dresden Codak.

He was nice enough to share his notes he gave to his art students about composition. Note this info is basic Art 101 for not just illustration but pretty much Photography, Film etc.

Very clear and very cool notes that might help frame your photos/ comics better

See his full notes here

It's a Deutschland con! Last weekend in Frankfurt, Germany was the Frankfurt Book Fair, which is basically like a comic con : )

There were cosplayers and lots of em! Let's see who was there!

Anna Kushima - K Project (sin2a4)

Diablo 3 Wizard - Lightning (Laura Jansen )

Kaito (LiteratKS)

Panty and Stocking...? (TheMaraudersProngs and her friend)

Team Dr Who (Nightrose85 and a friend)

Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière - Zero no Tsukaima (Like-A-Kitty)

Team Vampire Knight

THE CAKE IS A LIE!! Says the Companion Cube - (noji-tan)

Wild Tiger - Tiger & Bunny

Jack Sparrow!

Wasp and Black Widow ( ArenWindover and Becky Brooks)

Dottore (DrVogelkasper)

Heisuke - Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan (Cherrycherry13)

Catwoman and Harley! (NiKcKu & PersonalMadness)

Midna from Zelda (xAtashix)

Team Resident Evil! (full credits here)

More Resident Evil

Gothic Lolitias!

Gandalf the Gray

Nice outfit!

Dr Who skin face thing! AWESOME

It's a Miku!

And more Vocaloids

Cool stuff Germany! XD

I was at the bookstore yesterday when I caught sight of the cover of 'MAKE' magazine. It was a guy standing next to a Warhammer 40K Space Marine suit he had built!

So I find out his name is Shawn Thorsson!

Shawn is a costume expert based in San Francisco who recently made a Warhammer 40K Space Marine outfit for the Maker Faire this year!

Other outfits Shawn has worked on

Dead Space 2

Halo Spartans

HALO UNSC Marines

 And many more

Shawn is so great at what he does, he makes costumes professionally for clients and stuff! Check out his production blog and his latest projects here

 
Wall Street Journal posted this AMAZING behind the scenes look at making up a Zombie, Walking Dead style!

WICKED makeup! Well, if you ask me, sometimes really awesome makeup is way more awesome than CG creatures in live action movies.

Here's the actress playing the zombie: Xan Angelovich without makeup

Applying makeup, prosthetics, airbrushing...

They even insert black gunk to 'rot' her teeth up! (and of course the contact lenses)

Give a sexy face!

Great photos! Check out the nice big size ones here