STILL WORKING

Follow any of these creators to fill your cosplay void

@IRELANDREID uses Twitter to comment on things like how Baloo would beat Beast in a fight with no weapons. Her prints are still for sale with new shoots on Instagram.

@PUNKYBRUISERCOSPLAY graced our 2018 comic con cover. In a year without cons, her Facebook feed seems to be more active than her Instagram.

We stopped at Emma Davey’s table at New Jersey Comic Expo so Kal could ask her if she likes chimichangas in 2017. @BLUEGRAYEMMA on Instagram is building armor, playing video games, and posting on OnlyFans!

@KATIECOSPLAYS is still posting makeup and costume updates on Instagram even if her other business card links are outdated. Her link tree will take you to her shop on Etsy.

HALEIGH CIEL can still be found at the portfolio dotcom with her name. As a visual storyteller, it seems she’s been trying to keep working throughout the pandemic.

You can find @MNIKALEE on Twitter and @LONDON2191 on Instagram to see what she’s crafting, watching, and playing (and see her adorable dog). Subscribe to her on Twitch for video game swag.

@RUBINEKSO on Instagram is full of posts about meet and greets, customized toys, and his Dachshund. As an ’80s child, I think it’s a lot of fun.

The card Madeline picked up at NYCC 2016

Madeline Strum Photography

Fans don’t need a convention to find special gear

Aisles of T-shirts are a staple of convention floors but fans need new ways to express themselves whether there are conventions or not, so it’s not surprising that TeePublic’s card leads to a site bursting with merchandise. What I’ve forgotten is that TeePublic is a marketplace for independent creators to sell their designs on clothing, pillows, notebooks, wall art, mugs, totes, and more. There are 277 pages of mask designs that support all kinds of opposing views.

teepublic.com

Supposing you do have a bunch of followers who would like to buy your merchandise, TeePublic not only offers 75 products in a variety of styles but also a commitment to the environment. According to the site, “Our printing partners are held to sustainable, non-hazardous, and toxin-free production standards. DTG inks are 100% biodegradable, water-based, contain no animal by-products, and are vegan-friendly!” The third party printers are held to ethical manufacturing standards on top of the expectation that “every product you sell is perfect, just like your art!”

We quickly found all kinds of designs we’d be happy to wear. Shopping online will never be the same as getting bumped by a Deadpool in a sombrero or someone in an inflatable T-Rex costume in the aisles of a convention floor, but you still end up with your fan piece. —MV

teepublic.com

teepublic.com

teepublic.com

The Art Whino card Madeline picked up at a past NYCC

Madeline Strum Photography

GATHER IN PERSON

With a move to permanent space, the future is bright

According to their new site, whinova.com, the 6000 sqft venue in Arlington, Virginia, brings a state of the art kitchen, 40-foot bar, art gallery, custom collectible retail space, and 4th space concept all with full immersion murals creating unique sitting environments. “The future of experiencing the arts is here.” For ten years, Art Whino was a cultural leader in the Washington DC area. Showcases, pop up events, and custom collectibles seem to still be part of the unique experiences they plan to create when the space opens June 18, 2021.