We recently connected with Ella Strickland and have shared our conversation below.
Ella, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
As someone who wants to both make a living in a creative field and continue being creative in my personal life, I think about imposter syndrome a lot. And honestly? what helps me stop spiraling is asking: why do I need to worry about it at all? I’m just trying to live my life in a way that makes me happy- like so many other creatively minded people- and why should that give me or anyone else shame? If I could wave a magic wand and make all my problems go away, if I won millions in the lottery tomorrow, I’d still be doing the same things I’m doing now- and that seems like a good way to live to me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hi, My name is Ella and I love Costumes! I make them both recreationally as a cosplayer and professionally while I study at Savannah College of Art and Design.
Professionally speaking as someone who’s been studying costumes as an art form for the past four years, costumes are so incredibly powerful- and unfortunately, I think, overlooked. It’s like speaking a language that everyone can understand but few can speak. Being a costume designer for a piece of media means being fluent in being human. I’ve worked on dozens of student films and projects and every time I read a new script, I start dressing a character by asking myself: how can I put this person’s insides on their outside? I love being a designer and showing people what I want them to feel in this new story world.
While theater, film, and entertainment storytelling are where I wish to work some day (hopefully someday soon as I’m a senior!) cosplay has always had my heart. It’s in playing dress up, figuring out how to sew strange, animated garments and donning wigs and makeup with my friends that I got my passion for what costumes can do for people. I see it when my actors do their first full costume fittings too, but costumes transform people into different people, its like real life magic! Yes, we dress ourselves every day in clothes that are ours, but the second we wear clothes that aren’t ours? Clothes that belong to a hero, or a warrior, or a princess or a poet? We step into another person’s life and gain their powers- at least in our heads we do- and its so beautiful to both watch and experience. Though I rarely roleplay (the play part of cosplay) the confidence I have gotten from dressing up as characters like Vi (Arcane) or Mizu (Blue Eye Samurai) has changed my life and how I feel in my own body. Even when I’m not in costume I carry that feeling with me, and I believe its costumes and their wonderful magic I have to thank for it.
My current costume project is working on a play for SCAD called “Dancing In Lughnasa” which goes up February 27-March 2! This is my first live theatre project where I’ve been the head costume designer and its been a huge honor and a wonderful experience. After that I’ll be working on my senior thesis, which is designing costumes for EPIC: The Musical! I’m so excited to get moving on it, I’ve already begun research and planning- look out on my profinsta @ellastricklandportfolio for progress! As far as cosplay projects go, I’m determined to do all of Vi’s new season 2 outfits (including new gauntlets!) and I’m determined to document as much of that process as possible, so keep an eye on @bonelessbingus for that !
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If I could advise someone who’s much earlier on the path of costumes or even just pursuing being a creative professional, I’d tell them: Be so flexible, Don’t take anything personally, and Be thankful for everything. Especially not taking anything personally, that one is harder to do as an artist- because all of our work can feel so personal, especially if it comes from a personal experience or story- but I think you’ll come out as a more skilled creator and with more emotional strength if you heed that one. A critique, though potentially biting, comes from a person with their own experiences and tastes and says more about the person giving it to you than you. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it or take it seriously, but it has nothing to do with you as a person. It never does!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I am so lucky to have chosen both a really wonderful place to attend school and a really cool hobby with such a wonderful online community of support. I know if I ever have questions or need to learn a skill, I have people around me- both here where I study and online- that I can ask and who are happy to help. If I need feedback or constructive criticism or confidence in a new idea there are people out there that are kind enough to be resources- and I act as a resource for others as much as I can as well! We’re all just artists figuring things out as we go 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellastricklanddesignportfolios.com/
- Instagram: Industry portfolio: @ellastricklandportfolio cosplay: @bonelessbingus
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-strickland-130095263/
- Youtube: @bonelessbingus
- Other: Blue Sky, Kofi and Tiktok: @bonelessbingus
email for inquiries is [email protected]
Image Credits
Vi photo- @worldofgwendana
Mizu photo- @zephie.jpg
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
