#FeatureFriday with Inkfall

Today we have an interview with the incredibly talented Inkfall. Her highly detailed costumes are so stunning, and her digital art is another talent on its own! Read the full interview below.

Sup! My name is Brie, on the interwebs and social media I’m more commonly known as Inkfall. I’m Florida grown, and I created and wore my first cosplay, Lilith from Borderlands 2, in 2014.
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How and when did you get into cosplay?
I was kind of late to the convention scene in general, so I didn’t know cosplay was a thing anyone could do til a few years ago. I know that seems pretty lame, but it didn’t occur to me that people could casually do this for fun. I knew of Holly Conrad for her Mass Effect work, so my sister, Kasie, and I watched through the season of Heroes of Cosplay that she was on.

Seeing the process of costume making made us both decide this was something we wanted to take a crack at, even though we had no sewing or prop making experience. Kasie was the one who suggested we try making the sirens, Lilith and Maya, because why ease into a hobby when you can cannonball, right? We wore the costumes for the first time to Megacon 2014, and we’ve been hooked ever since.

How did you come up with your cosplay name?
I chose Inkfall because I like the imagery and ambiguity of it. I originally came up with the name while I was in college and a lot of my focus was going towards art. I started going to conventions by selling my prints in Artist’s Alley, and have slowly transitioned to being on the other side of the booth wearing costumes.

What do you do when you're not in cosplay or geeking out? 
On week days I work at a law office as a paralegal, and during nights and weekends I freelance graphic design and illustration work. These two things alone keep me pretty busy, but when I do find some free time, I’m either attempting to be social, catching up on video games, or creating art for myself. And always drinking large amounts of coffee or tea.

What is your proudest cosplay accomplishment?
In all honesty, getting to make and wear original Powerpuff Girls designs with my sisters AND pulling in our dad as Professor Plutonium has been the biggest highlight for me yet. My family has always been close, so getting to involve them in a hobby I love made me so incredibly happy. I only wish we could’ve convinced our mom to be Miss Bellum!

What cosplay(s) are you working on right now?
The costume I have the most progress on right now is Little Sister from Bioshock, which is completely thanks to Delaney (Little.Songbird on Instagram), she’s an incredible seamstress! I’ve got pieces for a BioshockxBorderlands crossover that she and I have had planned for years now too. Aside from that, my focus is on prepping for Colossalcon, which is mostly beach and pool party themed cosplay, and I’m really excited to bring something new to that this year.

Who is your cosplay idol/inspiration?
Definitely Alyson Tabbitha. I’ve gotten to speak with her a handful of times, and not only is she a phenomenal and inspiring cosplayer, she’s also incredibly grounded and has a fantastic sense of humor. What she’s able to do with a small budget and essentially scraps just blows me away, and she is always so eager and excited to share her experiences with the rest of the community. She FINALLY started up a Patreon too, so 10/10 highly recommend to anyone in or out of the cosplay community!

​What is your dream cosplay?
There are a lot of costumes I’d like to get around to, but the only one I’ve had my heart set on for a while has been Little Sister. Bioshock is my favorite franchise and has shaped me in so many ways, and I really want to pay homage to it in this way. I’m kind of afraid I may not be able to pull it off, since I don’t exactly look “little”, but at least I know the dress will look stellar!

What is your favorite convention to attend and why?
Holiday Matsuri in Orlando, FL! I’ve been going to this con for 3 years now, and it’s consistently one of the most relaxed and fun conventions around. I love how creative everyone gets with the Christmas/holiday theme, plus we get tons of cosplayers from out of state. Everyone just seems genuinely happy to be there.

Do you have any cosplay or convention pet peeves?
Rushing, and people taking candid shots while you’re not paying attention. I’m notoriously bad at estimating how much time it’ll take me to get into costume, and it’s one of those things where I want to look just right before I go out. And then when you get to the convention and finally have a chance to grab something to eat and sit down- the worst is people coming up to you with their phones to snap a pic while you stuff your face. They’re not going to get a good shot that way, so why not wait a minute?

Do you have any horror stories or mistakes you've made that others can learn from?
Pay attention to what your body is telling you, ESPECIALLY when it comes to your eyes. I had a pair of contacts recently go bad on me without my realizing til it was too late, and my eye was completely bloodshot and swollen the next day. I was extremely lucky it went down with proper care, but you only get one set of eyes. So be careful!

Do you have any tips or words of encouragement for other cosplayers?
If this is something you love, do not give up. No matter what people say, what you tell yourself, how small you start out, how big your dreams are, self belief, perseverance, and patience will get you there. I never thought I would be where I am now, and there were more than enough times that I just wanted to quit. But you’ll never realize your potential unless you keep pushing.

Do you have anything else you want to say, or add to this interview?
Be kind and thoughtful! I know it’s so easy to get caught up in the social side of cosplay where everything seems like a popularity competition, and everyone is posting and sharing their best selves and everyone else just seems to have it so together but you. But don’t lose sight of who you are. You never know how hard someone else might have it, and comparing yourself to one facet of someone else is such a slippery slope. You are not them, you are you. They didn’t get to where they are by trying to be someone else, and neither should you.

Where can we find you on all things social?
Instagram: @Inkfall
Etsy: Inkfall
Facebook: InkfallCos

Photos for this interview by:  Hung Ngo (NgoPhotosPlease), Alexandra Lee (AleeStudios), and Brian Lansang (BriLanImagery)

Wow, what a great read! I highly encourage you to go follow her on all things social.
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If you or someone you know deserves a #FeatureFriday, then send me a message! All skill levels and people welcome!