Cyberman Cosplay construction 3 of ?

November 20-27 weeks left-12 

Well, I knew I wasn’t gonna be able to get into the shop this week but I was determined on getting something done over this Thanksgiving holiday. What I didn’t know was that the universe had other plans for me. While I *wanted* to be able to finish the helmet, Cut out and assemble all of the chest pieces, get to work on figuring out lighting for the chest piece, and much more. I instead got sick with a cold. And a bad one at that. One that took me out of commission for several days including Thanksgiving. That’s right, no Thanksgiving dinner for me with family and friends. I was able to have leftovers, but I spent the majority of the time sleeping and trying to recover. I’m not 100% but I am on the mend.

That being said, in the short moments that I felt well enough I decided to try and get a little bit done with the construction of the Cyberman. I was able to fully assemble (without the pipe of course) the Cyberman helmet as well as cut out all of the ½ inch thick foam needed for the chest pieces. I’ve never dealt with so many play mats in my life! I’m really understanding how to cut foam now though. Definitely leveling up in that department.

As for the engraving of the circular Gallifreyan, I’ve sort of reached an impasse. The engraving tool that I thought would be better doesn’t really do much on the foam so I think I’m gonna be sticking with the woodburning tool to do all of the hard Gallifreyan in the chest pieces and arm and leg pieces. When it comes to the helmet however, the engravings are so small that I might just paint them on. It’s not worth possibly fully messing up the helmet in order to woodburn such small engravings and details onto it. I think this is a good compromise.

Anyway, I plan on getting so much more done this upcoming week and I do plan on going back into the shop. Wish me luck on my road to recovery and not falling too far behind in making this cyber man actually come to fruition. Thanks for reading and stay mythic out there geeks!

“Jack of All Trades”

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase jack of all trades? I’m here today thinking about if this is actually true. The whole phrase is "Jack of all trades master of none"; a pessimistic viewpoint, truly. As an artist that tends to find myself having many interests (Digital drawing, crafts, sculpting, dice making, cosplay to name a few), this phrase feels disheartening. Essentially, it’s saying you need to choose only one path to be an expert at it. While I can understand needing a few thousand hours under your belt to truly gain any sort of proficiency in the thing you’re doing, saying that this is the sole hobby or career or path feels limiting. Not to say that having hands in a bunch of pies isn’t limiting in and of itself (I’m sure we have all experienced too many options of what to watch on Netflix) but just because you split your choices, your hobbies being various, shouldn't mean you can’t become some sort of skilled at it.

I have always drawn visual art. One of my earliest memories of this is pausing the VHS tape of Beauty and the Beast just to try and understand the forms that Lumiere had and when the VHS would eventually resume trying to go back to that exact frame and pause again. In high school and college drawing took a major backseat. It wasn’t just on the back burner, it was off the stove. I had got it in my head that I wasn’t any good at this passion that I loved. That I wouldn’t make anything from it. That I was wasting my time and if I was to be a master at something, it wasn’t going to be this. In recent years I’ve picked it back up again, moving into digital art; something my nine year old self wouldn’t have even dreamed possible. Just a few months ago, I was able to participate in my very first art show, an achievement in and of itself. Friends and family came to support but I also saw strangers enjoying my art and even going so far as to purchase some.

Now while I’m not claiming to be a master, I am claiming to be an artist. If I wish to be a master of anything it’s of learning. Of evolving. Of learning from my mistakes and fixing them. Of coming up with new thoughts and ideas and perspective to better the hobbies I enjoy, not just the ones I’m good at. That’s the kind of artist I am. And while THAT did take me countless hours to master; the mistakes, the trauma I had to work through, the achievements and excepting those achievements, celebrating even the smallest improvement, tearing my hair out when I’ve had some kind of block and being patient with myself to overcome it. It was worth it. "Jack of all trades master of none"? No. Passionate about many trades, experience in some.

Have many hobbies, Geeks. Love them all. Learn from them all and don’t feel like you have to master any of them.

Sent from my iPad

Welcome Home Gally!

Over the weekend, we got to spend five days in LA for an annual Doctor Who convention called Gallifrey One. This wasn't our first time going to this con, as it's a regular one we frequent every year. Well, every year except last year. In February of 2020, Gallifrey One was the last convention we attended before the Pandemic hit. We went from being around each other, laughing, hugging, singing to closed in our houses in a matter of weeks wondering what was to come. In February 2021, Gallifrey One decided it wasn't safe enough for us to get back together; a sentiment I agreed with wholeheartedly. While we were saddened by the news we knew it was for the best.

This year, we got the green light to meet again and, I'm not going to lie, the weeks leading up to it were filled with many conversations with friends and family about anxiety and apprehension but also, excitement. These are good friends

I haven't seen in years now and while it was risky there were some precautions put into place (The con required vaccinations for everyone in attendance, minimized the attendance cap, provided free rapid tests, and required masks at all times indoors while there to name a few).

When we touched down in LA, the butterflies started to begin. We got on the shuttle that would take us to the hotel, and of course, the first person to get on after us was a beloved friend! We squealed at each other. This was the proof that Gallifrey One, or Gally for short, was a really thing again and we had made it.

Personally, I had a BIG milestone at this con. I placed my art in my very first art show and I did okay for myself (though Jo would tell you that I did great). When I tell you I was nervous about how my art would be received, whatever you are imagining in your head, times that by 13. I was a wreck. Luckily lots of friends came to help me set up and, at this con, I didn't have to stand next to my stuff the whole time. The convention takes good care as people can buy prints or bid silent auction style on your displays. I could set it and forget it for a while.

I decided that one of the pieces, a cool digital art piece of the Fugitive Doctor with the Circular Gallifreyan on her lapel saying "Fugitive" needed to go to the actress as she was at the con this year. I waited in line for what seemed like an eternity in my head going "What if she doesn't like it?" "I need to tell her she can keep it" "I got to get her to sign my copy" before it was finally my turn. I explained I had a gift and I also wanted a signature. I handed her the art and she said "Oh! I've already received this." She patted a protective sleeve next to her. Someone else had given her my art as a gift! I said, "No, no. This is my art. I'm the artist." Her face immediately changed. She looked like she was welling up with tears and said "This is beautiful work! Thank you so much. My gosh!" I had received two compliments just then: one from the actress - the subject of my piece - who was flattered, AND that someone saw my artwork, bought it and decided it was so great they needed to give it as a gift.

Never give up on your dreams, geeks; no matter how crazy you may think they are.

The next few days were a blur of conversations, meetups, autographs from our favorite Doctor Who people, panels, and late night shenanigans. We presented our panels and workshops, but it played second fiddle to the real highlight. Everyone I spoke to said the same thing: this con was for catching up. You see, the Gally attendees have a saying, whether this is your first time or your 30th, Welcome Home. It's a family reunion and this family hasn't met in person in two years! Everyone is so wholesome and sweet to each other and everyone is just doing their best to be kind. People have chats in the lobby (Lobby Con for life), chill in the hot tub, work out together in the gym, have meals with one another or speak about our lives over the past few years on the patio. Many people come out, try new pronouns, be silly, without judgement or punishment and it is always met with resounding acceptance! It truly is one of the best cons we attend for these reasons.

The weekend came and went faster than anyone wanted. We said goodbyes and made promises to see eachother again next year with a little catch in our voice. Would we have Gally next year? None of us really knew, but we did as Doctor Who fans do and held on to hope.

Welcome Home Gally. It's great to see you.

(Pictured: A digital art piece featuring Circular Gallifeyan saying " Welcome Home" and two different textures: the old hotel carpet in swirls of yellows, blues, reds and greens and the new hotel carpet a more minimalist blue with a few circular arches of grey. )