The lovely and talented Amy Coleman is this week’s KCCP featured member. She fell in love with costuming and hasn’t looked back since. Her various skills and hobbies lend themselves to her being able to pump out numerous costumes every year, giving her and her audience multiple opportunities to see her strut her stuff!
How did you get into cosplay?
I attended a comic convention several years ago and it was like a whole new wonderful world was opened up to me. I was overwhelmed but also felt very at home. I was around people living out their fantasies in costume. I mean, I love costumes, I’ve always made my own; it was a perfect fit. I only wish I would have discovered it sooner. It didn’t hurt that that year the theme was Star Wars and I lived that when I was a child!
How many characters are you currently cosplaying and what are they?
I have 6 costumes planned this year, some of which will share some props and aspects. The first day I will be Triana Orpheous from Venture Bros., and an older time travel version of Duela Dent. The second day I go green with a vintage comic version of Gamora and then my female Green Goblin. The final day will be the Mad Hatter and the crazy Queen of Hearts.
What’s your favorite cosplay you’ve done so far and why?
The cosplay most dear to me would be the first, because it started the whole love affair. I was a steampunk elf from my favorite steampunk novel the Tinker’s Daughter. I got attention from fellow steampunk cosplayers and I was a little surprised at how well it was received. I’m not always the most outgoing person but it’s good to meet people who share your interests.
What’s your favorite way to craft?
I’m a messy crafter. I love to go and hunt for items that can be used for costumes at hardware stores, secondhand shops, any and everywhere. Then I just start painting, manipulating and gluing. I always have a plan in my head. Many times my costumes are inspired by an item I found. I am visual; I have to have everything around me.
What’s your favorite crafting item to work with and why?
I love all mediums (paint, metals, sculpting, carving) but my best friend would have to be glue and velcro. I’m looking forward to working with new materials in the future. I would say I’m better with some than others but it’s always great when it works out the way you want it to with the materials you used.
What are your cosplay goals?
My goal is to have fun with it as long as it makes me happy. I enjoy meeting people with similar interests and sharing my creativity. I love doing the charity work too, and it’s great to bring joy to other people.
What’s your dream cosplay and why?
I would love to do the opera singer from the Fifth Element, Diva Plavalaguna. She would be a challenge, I love the character, and I’ve never seen her done before.
What advice would you give someone who wants to get into cosplay?
I would say start with a character you really love. If you do you will put all you can into doing it right and more likely get more out of it. It’s like living a fantasy instead of just making a costume.
What other interests do you have outside of cosplay?
I read everything. I make and sell jewelry. I love fashion (my closet is my happy place). Dance and zumba are my obsessions and I love animals (my house is full of them). Costumes take up a huge part of my time because of my other hobbies I have to make time for all of them to keep my sanity.
If you could have dinner with one fictional character, who would it be and why?
Willy Wonka, because it would just be a weird sort of day, and thats what I live for. My interest is very hard to keep, I want to experience wonder, share in his imagination. I would like a snossberry!
KC Cosplay & Photography 