GT's Lab

“As for me, I'm certain I don't need you. After all I'm every color of the light! But you're a part of me...the part I always have to repress. “ One of the few pictures I am working with before I improve my White Diamond Cosplay! Base Picture by Mario Spinazzè Contact Lenses are Blind Mentalist by Meralens (Courtesy of Sacadranca Shop)

White Diamond in action! Here’s a video of my Skit (albeit in Italian Language. As much as I LOVE the original Dub, I had to use my language version to allow the public to understand), which brought me Best Prop Award.  I plan to improve the costume, very much so, but this Test Run  left me satisfied! I tested movement, LED implants and most of all, Contact Lenses. I was soo afraid of falling or tripping but it did not happen. I was trembling in tension the whole time, tho! This Light up Crown is my first work with LED ever, and since the electric connection got damaged, I will need to change LED stipes inside and this is the chance for me to improve. It will become much brighter and more confortable, I’m learning from my mistakes! This Test run helped me seeing clearly where it needs to be improved, otherwise it would have been impossible to notice! After all if Every Porkchop were perfect...

First pictures of my White Diamond Beta! Sooo I managed to bring my White Diamond to a Con, and even Win a Best Prop Award (For my Light Up Helmet, Scenery and Cape)! Not too shabby if I think I was almost going to miss the Con due to some problems with the costume. Not too shabby if you also think I had no make up artist to help me and so I had to rush in the last 30 minutes, almost blind due to the Lenses I was wearing. Speaking of lenses, those are cool and they let me see better than I thought. It’s hard to see wearing them but they are comfy enough to allow you to walk around without bumping into people! Albeit the costume is showing some imperfections to fix, this event gave me the chance to see what needs to be improved and now I know clearly that I need to: - Fix the way the Cape is attached to the shoulders and back. ‘cause it weights a ton, almost 10 pounds! - Fix the cables for my LED implant - Improve Makeup - Re-do the Leotard from scratch or improve the details - Iron the Shit out of the Skirt, its fabric is really a problem and wrinkles super easy! I may re-do the skirt with a different sheer fabric as well - Most of all, improve the Shoulder Pads, which is no easy task but can be done I’m waiting for some videos to have a look at my cosplay skit as well but as much as I know it went pretty well and the Helmet shines brightly on Stage! Can’t wait to see, and can’t wait to improve! Expect some better pics sooner or later!

Well, guess I have a Light Up helmet after all! White Diamond is almost done, this picture is not recent (it’s still missing the bottom piece) but you can see that it indeed lights up. My first work involving led lights, I’m a bit anxious about them turning off or not working at the worst time. Though it is not as bright I imagined the effect is not bad I guess, it shines like something Crystalline and the light beads on the forehead look like pearls that enrich a crown. It’s a Helmet, just like Yellow Diamond, not a Wig, I decided to keep a non organic look to it. And just for the sake of it I also put leds on the “sideburns” of the helmet.  The pattern was hellish, it’s not quite as easy as you expect and thus the final result is not 100% clean but for now I am contempt. Now let’s finish the dress and this Sunday will be the Day!

Shoes For White Diamond... by no means perfect but I’m not complaining either. I decided to add few gems here and there to make them shinier, Just a stylistic choice that won’t hurt.

‘cause Making an Entrance is everything! Here’s some pics of my cosplay props. I will bring them on stage so that I can replicate White Diamond first Appearance! I made a Mural in which I will hide, a little white pearl, a Tiny steven which I will capture inside an Orb! Did you know? I’m working so that I can have a fully light up head!  That will be awesome in stages with dim lights! Simple but effective, I cannot wait to debut! Costume is still WIP but I think I will be finished within September! I’m a little bit nervous about the skit, as I will be almost completely blind, but I will have some Staff helping me so I’ll try to relax!

Lemme just die for a little bit! Since I have a week off work I started the most time consuming feat on my White Diamond Costume. The cape. 400 big gems to sew on, plus 4600 small round ones still to go. The photo does not give justice but it already sparkles a lot! Still waaay too much fabric to cover.

I’m workin’ on White Diamond at the moment.  While the fabric part of the costume is currently on its first stages due to projectation, I’m focusing on my Helm. While many cosplayers tend to use a Wig, I’m gonna build the head in hollowed LED Foam, completely light up If I can! Patterns were a bit of a nuissance but I’m almost there. I also tried a brief Make up test with my new lenses, so that I can be sure I can see and complete my make up without any help (These Lenses cover 90% of your sight so as much as I love them, I don’t easily recommend them if you are self confident with walking around almost blind and alone). I still am not good at putting on fake eyelashes, I guess I will need some help with them! It’s pretty Hot in here atm, so my facepaint and lipstick smeared a bit, but not too shabby I must say! I’m confident I will complete the whole costume within the end of September. 5000 rhinestones are waiting for me to be fixed on the cape!

White Diamond Step 1: Let me tell you something: I really suck at Geometry. I cannot really make precise patterns unless I have a 3d Example in front of me first. So, how to make White hair? IKEA helped me with a Stråla! I cut two portions and fixed them on a temporary helmet, now I can use this Mockup to get a whole Pattern. First, I need to fix the points as White has thicker forms, then draw a pattern...Then I can start building the thing with Polypropylene and light up everything. Funny enough, it already lights up a bit when I insert some crummy led lights!

My next big, and I mean BIG cosplay Project, what’ll be? Well... I did some Math. Expecting 20′000 rhinestones and small gems, at least 5 m of fabric, 3 more for the “cape”. Glowing Hair will be a must! Prop is already set, as you can see from this drawing I made!

Once I will improve some parts of the costume, I must get a photoshooting session asap! 

Lucatiel of Mirrah Photoset WIP It’s been a while since the last time but I am glad I was able to take further pictures of my Lucatiel.  Good news is, I have a decent sequence of pics.  Bad news is, there’s some post production to do for the background, I’ll be working on it. Anyway, Here’s a little preview!

Lucatiel of Mirrah - part II **I hope I can fetch other pics, I actually did not spend a lot of time taking photos. A video will surely be published in the future** Already working to improve/update the costume, can't wait to wear it again!

First picture of my Lucatiel of Mirrah (took from a person among the public) At last I was able to wear her this Sunday. The "test run" went pretty good, so much so that I won the Convention Special prize! I cannot wait to see other pics and even better, improving more and more! Some minor details need to be fixed but I am quite happy with that. More coming soon!

I’d say I am at…80% of the work done. Not counting the weapon and shield. This Autumn She is done!

“Unless I surpass myself who fears the past, I’ll just continue to run away.” Well, here’s my little Tribute to Krillin and to Episode 76. What an episode! I HAD to draw something. In this drawing, Krillin’s pose has a lot of meaning:  It’s Abhaya Mudra,"Gesture of fearlessness" in Buddhist symbolism. To Conquer and defeat Fear is no easy task.  Unlike Goku, who is always optimist and happy no matter the situation, Krillin has a lot of things he loves...people he may lose with death! Thus, his rebirth as a warrior is an extremely emotional moment for me, and it’s absolutely satisfying.  Now he’s up to him...Krillin may become a very strong warrior after all, for his heart and love is already this strong! @chestnutisland Huzzah for Krillin! *wipes out tears of pride*, and Happy Belated Birthday, girl!

Picture by Francesco Veronese