Are you big into cosplay as well and love fantasy and fairytales? Then you might find Skadivore’s tale on how she designs her own costumes and accessories inspiring.
“I’m in love with mermaids, witches, vikings, the wild hunt, old mythology, fairies, elves, unicorns and basically everything that’s iridescent.”
Girl Living in Berlin
Skadivore aka Pauline Voß is a German illustrator based in Berlin and her passion for everything magical might be familiar for a lot of you.
Like so many girls she grew up with Disney movies, Hans Christian Andersen and Grimm’s Fairytales. But she also played Diablo 2 with her dad at the age of 11 and spent tons of time with trying to be a mermaid or to paint with all the colors of the wind. ♫
“First thing I remember was when I watched Atlantis and I wanted to have that glowing necklace so badly that I built my own out of an LED and carved soapstone. it looked like a brick on a chain.”
But then there was the point where the disappointment in the available merchandise became an obstacle for actually becoming part of that world.
“The urge of diving completely into that fantasy world and to actually become part of it is the drive behind creating costumes for me. Painting those is a way to visualize something exactly how I want it to be. To take the beauty of the real world and transform it into what I want it to be is pure satisfaction. It’s dealing with emotions and experiences and that can be very powerful.
Back in school I always drew a comic version of someone I wanted some interaction with, e.g. My current crush. And after that something *always* happens. I still believe it has an impact what you draw.”
Pauline working on her Cintiq 27QHD with Express Key remote
The Process
It starts with the design in photoshop on her Wacom Cintiq pen display (27″ QHD), because to work digitally is perfect for making adjustments. During the pattern creation she’d go through up to 10-20 iterations that involve designing, drawing onto the fabric, draping, cutting, trying to put it on and again from the start.
She also built her own mannequin with tape and loads of cotton so she can be sure everything that she drapes onto the mannequin on it fits well. After the designing, cutting and pinning, she starts sewing it all together.
Pauline working on her self-made mannequin
“For me the process is almost more enjoyable than the result. Of course it belongs to each other, but sitting down and imagining your character wandering around the world of your desire and actually being able to execute that idea while already being inside that world with your mind, listening to audiobooks or fantasy music while doing so, is like living a very realistic dream, changing reality actually. But there’s too much to learn that’s still on my list.”
Pauline in action on the sewing machine
Of course cosplay and costume making is not only about sewing. Next things she wants to learn are leather crafting and jewellery making.
Watch this realm for updates!
Some links that might be useful for you
● Skadivore’s Fairy Flow Playlist on Spotify.
● Good sewing tutorial channels that’s very helpful when it comes to details: madetosew – DreamLearnMake
● German, but best video on how to create your own mannequin.
Follow Pauline aka Skadivore on social media
ArtStation – Facebook – Instagram
Skadivore and her boyfriend in full cosplay
