Featured Cosplayer, Yaya Han
Interveiwed by Cornstarch
Photos by Richard McCant
Images Personalized by Yaya Han
>What got you into cosplay?
Before I ever knew Cosplay existed, I was a big anime/manga fan and avid artist.
I attended my first anime convention in 1999 and throughout the weekend I kept
seeing people dressed up as these cool anime characters! It really inspired me
to expand my artistic interest into making costumes.
> How long have you been doing it?
The first convention for which I planned and made costumes for was A-kon 2000.
I've been cosplaying ever since, so that's about 5 years.
> Who took you to your first con, or how did you stumble into going to conventions?
I went as part of an anime club to my first con, Anime Expo 1999, with the intentions
of selling my Fan art. It ended up that I did really well, so I started planning
yearly con trips to make money with my artwork.
> What was your first cosplay, and what's your favorite?
I consider two costumes my true firsts, since I made them from scratch simultaneously
for the same convention. They are "Mill-chan" from "Maze" and "Au Revoir Mana"
from the J-Rock group "Malice Mizer". I don't think I can pick a favorite costume
of mine out of all of them; I love each for different reasons. Often my favorite
is the one I am working on at the time.
> You do your own original designs, what got you into that, and where did you
learn to make things?
I started making costumes based on my own designs pretty early on. The first
one was a kitty girl for an Ironcat Calender. It was really simple and gave me
a taste of how fun original costumes can be. While I enjoyed the challenge of
creating an accurate replica of a design, I think my creative side was getting
a little bored with just duplicating. So I started deviating from the reference,
adding details and changing elements to fit my liking. As a result, I did a few
cosplays of existing characters with my own designed costumes. I also began to
design and create complete outfits from personal ideas. As for how I learned
to
make costumes, a friend showed me the basic use of a sewing machine and patterns.
From there on I was self-taught, experimenting and learning by doing. I think
a lot of the fun in Costuming lies within problem solving - it would be boring
to only stick to skills you've mastered. I try to challenge myself with each
new
project.
> What's your favorite original design?
For a long time it was my "Baelfir" costume, the Fire Fairy. My friend Meg who
makes fairy wings inspired me to design a costume and we formed an elemental
Fairy
group for a con. I spent a long time figuring out the design, then an even
longer
time making the costume. As a result I grew pretty attached to it. I have
recently
retired it, since my skills have improved so much since the time I first
made
it, and hope to make a new version of Baelfir for next year. My new favorite
original
design is actually the costume I just finished "Amethyst Enchantress".
I find
the design very well rounded and the colors very complimentary.
> Have you ever collaborating a costume with someone, if so; do you like collaborations
more then working alone?
Yes, I have collaborated numerous times with other Cosplayers in the past, usually
for a competition skit. In some cases I helped organize, choreograph, or design
costumes for groups of 7 - 10 people, which is stressful yet very rewarding in
the end. These days I don't have the time to go to many cons anymore so I make
solo costumes at my leisure for my Portfolio and fun. But I do have a few group
projects planned for next year with good friends!
> In the shoot you were with another cosplayer, Lillyxandra, do you like doing
photo shoots alone or with other cosplayers?
For me both are fun! I love doing group photo-shoots and wish I had the chance
to pose with other Cosplayers more often. You can just do so much more with posing,
composition and mood when multiple models are being shot, especially if they
compliment
each other. But I also like doing solo photo shoots with my costumes,
to showcase
them in my Portfolio.
> Have you ever had a bad photo shoot?
Definitely, and when it happens you just have to try again. The worst incident
was when a friend of mine took pictures of my Aya Brea costume in a Museum, shooting
at a full size T-Rex skeleton (anyone who's played "Parasite Eve" will understand).
But her film camera messed up and all the pictures came back quadruple exposed
- completely useless. In that case, it was a once in a lifetime chance (no way
I'd get in again with a replica gun) and we just had to let it go.
> How has photography affected your cosplay?
I was fortunate to be introduced into Photography not long after I started cosplaying.
My photographer friends quickly taught me how important good pictures are when
it comes to presenting a costume. Especially for my Portfolio I strive to include
the clearest images of the highest quality possible. I love doing photos hoots
in appropriate settings with costumes, creating artistic photographs that express
the mood or theme of the character. Also, I try to keep Photography in mind when
I design an outfit, the thought helps me coordinate the colors and themes.
Have your reasons for cosplaying changed since you started?
Sometimes I used to choose to cosplay characters I related to on a personal level,
no matter if their design appealed to me or not. Now the design element is my
first priority, and I strive to learn a new skill or hone a skill with each project
I work on. I think I used to limit myself to certain types of cosplays (anime,
j-rock etc.) unconsciously, until I made original costumes and was introduced
to the Sci-Fi costuming world through DragonCon. Now I feel more liberated as
a Costumer, with unlimited ideas and the confidence to bring them to life, and
a possible career road ahead.
> I noticed you were just the model for a painting that Nene Thomas did. Was
that the first time some one used you as a model for non-photographic purposes,
and what was it like? Did you have to stay still for a long time, or how did
you
do it?
I have been casually asked to pose for a number of artists at events; usually
they take photos of various poses and refer to them later. I have also received
several awesome gift art pieces of myself drawn or painted. Nene Thomas is the
first one to create a commercial print series of a painting featuring me as the
model. I was honored to be chosen as her first live model. Now that her work
on
"Aria" is done, it's my turn to roll up the sleeves and make the costume she
drew
me in, lol.
> What inspires you to create?
Many things I see everyday. Movies, Music, Art, Myths and Stories, Magazines,
Landscapes, Photography... and of course Fashion and other costumes.
> How did you get into modeling?
Through Cosplay :)! People started taking pictures of me in costume, and through
the repeated occasion I developed an affinity for being in front of a camera
I
guess ^^. Two friends of mine really began to spend time with me doing Photography
- Meg Hanson who photographed me modeling her creations for www.Faeriegrove.com,
and Nadine Dodd, a wonderful photographer and cosplayer, who kindly shot several
of my personal outfits. Both really inspired me to pursue modeling as a part
of
costuming. I branched out into fashion and glamour style modeling through
another
incredible artist, Kevin Stewart of Black Eye Photography, who pushes
me to new
heights with each photo shoot we do. We just exhibited a gallery of
three years
of collaborated photography work between us.
> What is it like to be well known in the cosplay circuit? Any advantages, or
disadvantages?
I accept the fact that I am well known, but sometimes wish I could just be a
newcomer again. It's a little easier to relax and be yourself. When you've been
around for a while in such a specific circuit as Cosplay, you have to kind of
be aware of what you say and do. Small insignificant things can affect others
in a much bigger way and be lasting. People read into your words and actions
more
than necessary sometimes. I think many Cosplayers who are well known receive
a
great deal of admiration, but also judgment. I maintain a website that is open
to the public, so the more visitors come to it, the more they find out about
me.
Inadvertently that affects the view people I don't know have of me. I've
been
labeled a number of things, mostly either extremely positive or negative.
Some
choose to call me "famous" and "inspirational" and themselves "fans". Others
view
my self-promotion as a premeditated quest for fame/attention; they think
that
pride in my work is arrogance. Neither is true and I think 99% of that comes
from
misinterpretation and misunderstandings. I make costumes because I enjoy
it, and
I promote myself because it may turn into a career for me. Of course
false judgment
is annoying, but I've long stopped worrying about it. Trying to
connect and appeal
to everyone is impossible, so I just put out what images and
words I believe it
and let people think what they want of it.
> You cosplay, sing, and draw, is there anything you don't do, and what is
your favorite thing to do?
Oh, there are plenty of things I don't do, or don't do anymore. Most regretfully,
I used to play the piano but had to give it up after moving to Germany. Also,
I published a manga there and have sadly never found the time to work on another.
I have always been creative, and it's shown through in different ways. Drawing,
pottery, vocals, acting etc. Nowadays I am just too busy to pursue many of these
crafts I really love, so I concentrate on costuming and art. :)
> Is there anything you don't like about cosplaying?
A couple of things, this surely is the most money and time-consuming hobby I've
ever had. Most of my projects require too much of both, to my dismay ^^;. And
I probably will never find enough time to realize all of the ideas that are swimming
around in my head. I also think a lot of people don't understand how much effort
is involved in making and wearing a costume. Small annoyances are that I can
never
keep my sewing room clean or cluster-free; and the more elaborate a costume
is,
the more difficult it is to transport.
> How long does makeup take for your costumes, and how do you decide what kind/color
to put on?
Make-up is a very important part of Cosplay, and I always try to have a matching
color scheme of make-up for my costumes, to bring out the character even more.
It usually takes me about half an hour to put on make-up, not too bad when you
consider the hectic situation of a con or photo shoot. The difficulty lies in
wearing multiple outfits a day and having to re-do your make-up for each one
^^;.
I am pretty open to different brands of make-up as long as I can find the
obscure
colors I need sometimes, but when it comes to eye shadow I stick with
MAC. I also
love Ben Nye make-up!
> Have you ever had a bad cosplay experience?
I think I have been very lucky so far and can't classify any of my experiences
as bad. I've never lost or accidentally destroyed a costume, never sewed through
my finger, never fallen off a stage. I dread either terribly O_o.
> Do you have a favorite cosplay moment, if so what?
I recall not so much favorite moments but am the most thankful for a couple of
things that I gained through Cosplay. One is that I've made some true life-long
friends through this hobby, and another is that Costuming opened a world of boundless
creativity that has changed much of my life and my dreams.
> What is your favorite thing to do at conventions?
Wearing costumes with friends you haven't seen for a while, changing into normal
clothes after a strenuous but fun filled day, then catching up and hanging out
till the wee hours of the night. ^_^
> Sometimes it seems like people don't like it when people wear original designs
to cons, how do people react to yours?
Surprisingly I have never encountered true ridicule or judgment toward my original
costumes. The reaction has always been positive so far. I try to put the same
amount of effort into all of my costumes, and view an original project not as
short cuts to a quick costume but another way to challenge myself. Hopefully
the
result shows that. ^^;
> How many cosplay/original outfits do you have and how do you store them all?
I haven't counted in a while but including my own costumes and ones I've made
for friends, it must be over 50 by now. Some are elaborate projects that took
many hours to complete, others are simple outfits created within a day. I keep
them organized using garment bags, which saved my life when I did the fashion
show. Unfortunately my sewing room closet is running out of space, and between
the number of wings hanging on my walls and cases full of wigs and shoes, I may
be in storage trouble soon. I may sell some older retired costumes in the future
to make space.
> What kind of career do you want to have?
I used to have two career goals - Archeology and Artistry (comic or illustration).
But for a couple of years now I have been seriously considering turning Costuming,
specifically Costume Design, into a career.
I really enjoy it and want to keep it at a part of my life. Right now I freelance
as a Graphic artist, but the prospects of doing Costume Design are more intriguing.
I'm working on it, so we shall see ^_^.
> What is your dream in life?
Be successful, healthy and happy, and spend my life with the people I love. Oh,
and cosplay till I'm old and toothless!! ^__^
Want to know more about Yaya Han, Visit her Website at www.angelicstar.net
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