The heart that Bell infuses into her art leaps has likewise captured the hearts of the FFXIV community, so it was my great pleasure to talk with her about her artistic journey that led her to bringing XIV's most beloved characters to life in her work.
As cosplay veterans face the increasing popularity of cosplay, it’s easy to fall into discussions about what are the “right and wrong” ways to cosplay. For Kate aka Back of Beyond Cosplay, though, cosplay is really for everyone, and the growing accessibility of resources for new cosplayers only makes that growth all the more exciting!
Long before Alex Moukala was known to FFXIV players, he was already an accomplished musician and composer working relentlessly at what he loves most: video game music. If you're looking for encouragement to never give up on your dreams, look no further than the interview below, because Alex Moukala's fearless pursuit of knowledge and skills to create and further his art is nothing short of inspirational.
If you’re looking for someone who exudes joy for every character they cosplay, look no further than Firagafox. Her love for cosplaying as her favorite characters is infectious, and anyone looking for inspiration to cosplay their Warrior of Light shouldn’t miss out on this interview!
In Final Fantasy XIV, we witness Warriors of Light from thousands of players' imaginations, fight, stumble, get up, and grow into heroes. For Surfacage, FFXIV was an open invitation to chronicle their Warrior of Light's story in comic form - both serious and silly - and I was delighted to find out more about their artistic journey through Final Fantasy XIV.
Jazzy and Dustin are no strangers to costuming, and their first debut on the Final Fantasy XIV scene was - shall we say - a fiery one. Given that Jazzy donned black mage gear while Dustin wore the garb of a machinist, yes, that was pun intended.
For Chezah, cosplay is one way to not only connect with fellow FFXIV pplayers and express joy for a game we all love, but also a way to encourage other creators in the XIV community to pursue their own creative expressions of that joy. From our interview, it is clear that XIV not only the imaginations of its players, but also builds the foundation for talented communities where these artists can gather together and encourage one another to create - and keep creating!
No character had caught Jayson Slone's eye for a cosplay - until, that is, the reveal of the character then known as Solus zos Galvus, and later, Emet-Selch. Inspired, Jayson decided he had to cosplay the larger-than-life Ascian - mere weeks before FanFest.
Myricaria always admired the craftsmanship of cosplayers, but she admits that when she started playing FFXIV as Catriona Fraser on Shiva back in January 2015, cosplaying for herself wasn’t even on her radar. Then came the release of Heavensward, and she fell in love with the Halonic Priest healing set. It wasn’t long until Myricaria realized she wanted to wear the robes herself, and thus, in 2016 she dipped her toes into the world of cosplay for the first time.
Lystrade, known as Ly’strade Navaarne on Balmung, made her first Final Fantasy XIV cosplay before even playing the game. Thanks to some friendly peer pressure, she created the female miqo'te starter set to cosplay with a group all wearing XIV costumes, including her fiance in a Jandelaine costume. She ended up having such a positive experience that she picked up the game, and her love for XIV and its community has grown ever since.
Inquiries of Art 