Witchiko is a Brazilian artist who makes her own plush and dresses up like fictional characters (commonly known as cosplaying) to bring 2D individuals into reality. She came from a humble family that did not have many material things, creating an unhappy childhood filled with numerous hardships.

Despite all the troubles she has endured, these trials have made her a better and more focused individual. She has said that even if she were to come across a large amount of money in her life, she would still be the same person that her art (drawing, sculpting, cosplaying, and sewing) set free when she was finally able to stop repressing her talents.

ToonariPost (TP) How and when did you first start practicing your art (are you traditionally trained or self-taught)?

Witchiko (W): I started because of my cosplay hobby and I started making plush to use with my cosplays. Many people have asked me if I accept commissions to make plush and when I saw that I had practiced enough to make orders I started to accept the commissions. I am a self-taught plush maker and have learned to sew clothes, too.

TP: What mediums do you use for your art work?  Which is your favorite and why?

W: Fabrics (plush), is my favorite, of course, but I know how to work with various materials, such as polyurethane, epoxy and others!

TP: What are some difficulties you have with making plushies and cosplaying?

W: To be sincere, time! I have many projects, and since I like to give my special touch to each of my cosplays, like painting and doing some accessories, I don’t have much time to do everything I would like to do.

TP: How do you decide on poses for your cosplay and how do you find the ideal photographer?

W: Short answer: The photographer is my fiance. The poses I make from a combination of observation of other photographs, cosplayers or not, and illustrations.

TP: Do you prefer to do cosplay in a group or alone and why?

W: I like both, but individual is better to me because it depends only on me to accomplish an agenda.

TP: Do you make the clothing you use for your cosplay? If so, how do you come up with patterns to recreate character’s apparel? If not, how do you decide on the perfect costume?

W: I made some clothes, but mostly I ask a seamstress to do it for me. But there are parts of the clothes I’d rather do. Some I guide the seamstress the way I wish her to make them. I draw some details to show everything to the dressmaker so he/she understands how the clothes of the character look. I buy fabrics, painting and add clothes for many things, too.

TP: Which of your plushies is your favorite and why?  Which one are you most proud of and why?

W: I like “Uriel” the most because of his looks and the fidelity of him/it in the final product. The most complex is “Metabee”, the hardest to make of all.

TP: Which cosplay is your favorite, which did you have most fun with, which are you most proud of, and which was the most difficult?

W: My favorite is Ranka Lee from Macross Frontier, and I will make several versions of her clothes.

The most fun was theTenma Tsukamoto, because the own character is funny. The cosplay I’m most proud of is the Myoubi (Alichino).

My cosplay Momohime (Oboro Muramasa) was the hardest, because of the paintings, complicated clothing, and other accessories.

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

W: In the plush/sewing I don’t have any inspirations. In the cosplay area my inspiration are photos I see around the internet. But I follow the works of cosplayers Ryoko-Demon and Jin (Behind Infinity), and the photographers Z3LLLL, Shiroin, Hexlord and Kira-Winter.

TP: What artists would you consider working with to do a piece (either plushies or cosplay)?

W: In reality, I have never thought about it, but I would be very happy to have a large and talented group of cosplayers of the same series to do a photo shoot with me.

TP: If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

W: Singing because I think music is the most beautiful thing there is. If I had a gift for singing … this would be the art that I would want to master.

TP: What are your goals in life?  Do you plan to continue art as a hobby or make it a career?

W: I intend to have a virtual store with plush created by me with my brand and have a plush manufacturer.

TP: Do you feel that your culture has influenced you in some way that makes you different than other artists?

W: I don’t think so. My personality may be what makes me different from others artists.

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About the author

Kala Istvanek
Presently, I am attending Carthage College in Kenosha, U.S.A. I will be graduating with a degree in Asian Studies, with a minor in English and Studio Art. I have been a bookworm ever since I could read and I can never turn down a book. Art is also one of my loves and discovering new artists is always a thrill for me.