Today we’d like to introduce you to Ødfel.
Ødfel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started cosplaying back in 2015. I had always loved being creative- making things, crafting, and especially dressing up for Halloween. My Aunt attended conventions and had an art booth at several events, and really was the one who introduced me to the whole world of cosplay. My first few cosplays were mainly alterations; characters like R. Luetce from Bioshock and Sherlock. Diving deeper into the hobby taught me how to sew, sculpt and create armor. It was my Poison Ivy costume that really pushed me forward and introduced me into cosplay photography and modeling and both would become a huge part of my life! After that I decided to really push myself and create more intricate costumes that tested my creativity- Pokémon’s Kyogre did exactly that and was my first adventure in designing a cosplay, making armor and prop weapons, as this one I had sketched from the ground up. It was a huge challenge but it really helped to get my social media pages on the map. After that, I just wanted to make sure that whatever I made was something I felt was my best possible work. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to take part in some amazing experiences like being a guest at conventions and traveling to red carpet premieres in some of my costumes like Scarlet Witch, Jean Grey, and Lady Sif.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has been a bumpy road at times. A lot of things had to be cut back on while I was in college and when I graduated, I was more than excited to push it to the max and finally become a full-time creator! The only issue? That was 2020. Now that covid restrictions are slowly lifting I have been able to make the final push to do this full-time and begin traveling again. But it definitely impacted the cosplay community in more ways than one. Not only did creators have to adapt to having to make their own content rather than having photography resources so available but also some cons just don’t exist anymore, or others have had to change significantly. It definitely will be interesting moving forward to see how things evolve from here.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For the past 7 years, I have been a model, cosplayer, and social media influencer, and worn a number of other hats. Largely my closet is full of comic book character outfits from various eras, alongside those from video games and other media. Lending to that, I am really interested in comic book history and have worked on several panels at conventions and videos deep diving into it. I feel like my passion for the older less popular comic designs has given me an interesting niche in the cosplay community. I also love research, and whether it be a video game, comic book, or cartoon character I think really laying my groundwork in advance helps to fuel the accuracy and level of detail in my work. I truly love getting to go to events and meet cosplayers and fans that have love for the same sort of things; the passion is palpable.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Keeping with the theme, my first convention really helped to shape more than creativity but also my outlook on life. Behind the scenes, I’m rather shy and introverted, but something as simple as wearing a costume can help to overcome that instantly. Not only does it make it easier to socialize because everyone is emblazoned with whatever their interests are, but my favorite memory as a young con-goer was just how much I love becoming someone else for a little while- it’s the ultimate escapism. It can be theatrical and fun, or mysterious, or any part of yourself you feel like expressing. That can be magical as a teenager. I learned that I don’t need to worry about work, real-life stresses, or chores, I’m just there being someone else for a little while, and it’s very freeing. That feeling is something I’ve kept with me since.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://odfelcosplay.wixsite.com/odfel
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odfel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OdfelCosplay/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/0dfel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TemperanceHolmes
- Yelp: https://www.twitch.tv/kingodfel
- SoundCloud: https://www.tiktok.com/@odfel
- Other: https://odfelcosplay.wixsite.com/odfel/links
Image Credits
Jeff Zoet Photography
Wurmwood Photography
Ryan Sims Photography
Avid Exposure Impa
Clear Shadow Photography
