Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Studdard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I have been costuming unprofessionally for about fifteen years. It is only in the last four that I have really buckled down to learned the craft in an efficient and competent manner. Looking back, I wish I had taken the time to learn the basics and build a more solid foundation in sewing particularly. Naturally experience is the greatest teacher, but for anyone wanting to get into costuming, it is imperative to begin with the basics. I myself jumped straight into the world of costuming back in middle school with barely any knowledge of how to properly handle my mother’s Kenmore sewing machine. And while the only way to improve is via practice, I would suggest to invest in a few classes, in person classes. Now, depending on where you are and what kind of connections you might have, its relatively easy to find a community to work with. And that is what will be the most helpful for learning and growing, having others to work with you. The University of Youtube can only get you so far when you don’t know what you’re doing in the first place, especially when it comes to hands-on crafting. Unfortunately for me, growing up the internet waws still in its early years and so tutorials and resources online weren’t readily available, so most of everything I worked on in my early teens and twenties was a confusing mess of figuring it out.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a costumer and alterations specialist, so a heavy amount of what I do is sewing. I do anything from creating a whole character outfit to simply hemming up a pair of pants. The former is where my passion lies and what really fuels most of my business. Most of my clients attend comic or anime related conventions, so my work can be varied and unique.

For these costumes, I tend to do a lot more than just sewing an outfit, so I’ve learned to do many things to help the client make these characters come to life. Anything from embroidery, painting, foam armor, wig styling, and, my newest skill, 3D printing. Usually I will only get asked for one piece or aspect of a costume rather than a whole outfit, but there have been a few cases where I will create the outfit from head to toe!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

A single word could describe what’s driving me: independence. Being a small business owner is an incredibly challenging because there can be so many uncertainties, especially when you first start out. Being independent also means taking responsibility for my own success and failure, and learning from both. I enjoy the challenge and the reward of being my own boss, and I believe that this motivates me to be more creative and innovative in my work.

My creative journey is driven by my love for sewing and the satisfaction of creating something inspiring, not just for myself, but for those whom I work with. I have the chance to combine my crafting skills with my interest in different genres and media. Creating cosplay allows me to explore different technical skills, and to connect with other fans who share my passions. Because this hobby for most is so niche, every client that comes to me is unique and I want to strive to meet their expectations. Cosplay is not just a fun activity, it is a way of expressing yourself creatively, whether you’re the artist or the model.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One thing that I think non-creatives might struggle to understand about my journey as a creative is the amount of time, effort, and dedication that goes into making these costumes. Crafting these outfits is not just a matter of sewing and gluing things together to make an outfit that looks similar to a reference. There is a huge process of researching, designing, crafting, and perfecting every detail of the character’s appearance and personality. Cosplay also involves a lot of trial and error, learning new skills, and overcoming challenges. This is not a cheap or easy hobby, it is a passion and a lifestyle.

I think some non-creatives might also underestimate the value and impact of cosplay. Cosplay is not just a form of entertainment or escapism, although it definitely holds both, it is a way of expressing oneself, so my job as the crafter is to capture that essence for my clients.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paint_chip AND/OR https://www.instagram.com/paintchipprojects
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084410293475
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaintChipPro
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paintchipprojects
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paint.chip.projec

Image Credits
Phoenix Point Photography