Showing with Gallery 1988 for the first time since 2015 when I did the Guillermo Del Toro Show curated by CHOGRIN and Gary Decampo. “Off the Leash” is themed around the animals and pets from Pop Culture/Films. So I went with Gizmo and worked on him during Christmas Break. Here’s the end result!
The title is “Remember the Rules!” It sold within one day of the show opening. This was an online show release with Gallery 1988 West.
It’s been a year.
I finally got diagnosed with ADHD. Which needed to happen so I could get treated because the past few years my coping mechanisms went out the window. My focus was shot which affected my projects and work. I also suffered from some serious depression as a side effect. The holidays last year were pretty rough.
Things are better now and going as well as they can. I recently submitted art to the first show in a long while, I think my last art show was in 2019. It’s at Guzu Gallery! Feeling really pleased with the piece I made for it and chomping at the bit to work on some more fiber art.
Just finished filming a SciFi/horror/western short film this past weekend where I got to play the creature. Which is a dream come true; being a monster in a movie. I love Doug Jones and follow his work.
A film I worked on as a Production Designer back in March is going to play at Other Worlds Film Fest, and I am going for the first time as an attendee and not as the Outreach Director for the fest or as press. So that’s wild.
Overall, it seems I got a fair amount done given the circumstances and global pandemic. These days I also review films for “One of Us Network” podcast and guest co-host on YouTube Channel “Rage Select” reviewing and playing video games.
(This was written sometime early 2020. Oohhh sweet summer child, this is a little bittersweet to read over, but figured I’d go ahead and post this for posterity.)
Once again it has been a hot minute since I’ve posted anything on here. Last was a 2016 recap? Geeze. My life doesn’t include much free time for long-form blogging with my day job and many volunteer gigs. If you really want to keep up with my cosplay and artwork I highly recommend following my Instagram. There is also my Behance portfolio for my fiber art.
A fair amount has happened since 2016.
I keep pretty busy. It’s now 2019, but here is what I was up to 3 years ago.
“This past year has been quite hectic for me. And it’s been a while since I’ve had the time to post anything. So here’s a little recap on some of the nonsense I managed to get into:
– Became Outreach Director for Other Worlds Austin SciFi Film Festival (OWA)
– Created a replica of the balloon alien from Dark Star
– Wrote an article for Strange Kids Magazine Issue #7
– Commissioned to make an Ariel Puppet
– Stage-handed for a burlesque show and 2 wrestling shows
– Modeled for a cosplay figure drawing group
– Modeled for video game company for the character design department
– Dressed as a zombie teacher with pencils impaling my arm and neck to a Walking Dead Premiere Party
– Made an original cosplay character “The Succubus Driver”
– Made an Apple from Turbo Kid costume
– Helped a friend with their booth at Waco Comic-Con
– Manned booths and attended several conventions/events to help raise awareness for Other Worlds Austin
– Placed 3rd among 119 teams in a STRANGER THINGS themed trivia night with the Blood Over Texas Crew
– Placed 4th in a FIREFLY Trivia night and won the costume contest with my Mal Reynolds
– Was on Zombie Life TV on Austin Public Access with Other Worlds Crew
– Went to my brother’s wedding in New Mexico
– Moved into a house (renting) and got a new roommate
– Tried pole dancing and burlesque classes
– Learned ax-throwing
And of course made oodles of friends and learned how much more I could love this town. Austin is pretty baller. 2017 is already shaping up to be just as awesome, if not more so as last year, dead celebrities and politics aside of course.”
-2016/2017 Tessa.
This puppet was a commission for a client who wanted to give a very unique birthday gift to his wife. Super sweet, right? This guy is winning at the whole husband game.
The Little Mermaid was in my top three favorite Disney films growing up (the others being The Lion King and Aladdin). So when my client told me they wanted a mermaid puppet, I was all in.
I started cutting out the fish scales for her tail pretty early on. This project was finished back in July 2016. 
It has come to my attention these past few years that I really enjoy dressing up in costumes. October of 2014 I did what I dubbed the “Costume Challenge” where I wore a different costume every week day. If you are doing the math that is 23 different costumes! Now the stipulation was that the costumes were pulled from my pre-existing wardrobe/costumes (with the exception of the April O’Neill costume, which was rented) and props were created from supplies around the print shop I worked. So, some costumes are better than others…
Growing up my mom hand-made our costumes and she taught me how to sew. However most of my costumes are more compositions than built/sewn from scratch (why re-invent the wheel?). My favorite costume that my mother made was Demona from Gargoyles only using my action figure and the TV show as references for the pattern. She surprised me at school and came dressed as Eliza Mazda. I barely recognized her in the black wig. Best. Mom. Ever.
I’ve attended many special film screenings, premieres, festivals, art exhibits, concerts, and fundraisers in costume. Managed to win a fair amount of costume contests, including one at Guzu Gallery’s “Icons of Horror” art show with my Ash costume and was featured in Gore Noir Magazine’s coverage of the show.
Above are some of the highlights over the past few years. I didn’t really think of myself as a cosplayer, because I don’t use a lot of elaborate wigs or makeup. But I’ve come to embrace that title and am currently working on an official Cosplayn Jane website which will hopefully roll out in a few months. I’ve got an exciting collaboration project in talks right now, but that’ll have to wait before I can make any official announcements.
Until then, if you want to follow my costumed antics more closely, follow me here:
Instagram: tessamorrison
OR
Facebook: Cosplayn Jane
So after my Ellen Ripley puppet finished up her time at the Gallery 1988 West “30 Years Later” Exhibit, she went to Creature Features Gallery for a CHOGRIN curated ALIEN inspired art show called “LV-426.”
This year is the 30th anniversary for the ALIEN franchise and April 26th was dubbed ALIEN day after the name of the clandestine planet that the team of the NOSTROMO land on, LV-426.
For this show I beefed Ripley up a bit and she now has her flamethrower. I’m just going to keep adding on things until she has the full yellow forklift mech suit. It’ll be so F’ing sweet.
This is the second show I’ve been in at Gallery 1988! I’m pretty stoked on it. The theme this time is “30 Years Later,” an art show based upon films from 1986. It was a hard call, as there were a lot of amazing films on that list, however in the end I went with ALIENS and created an Ellen Ripley puppet. She is an adorable little badass xenomorph expert.
Titled “Who’s Snow White?” a line uttered by another badass female character, Vasquez. Little Ripley has her asymmetrical watch, sweet red and white high top Reeboks from the future, and ammunition laden suspenders. Her t-shirt was stained with tea to give her the sweat-stained battle damage look. Her hair is made of a furry yarn that has great volume and texture to it.
The art show is at Gallery 1988 WEST is March 26, 2016 on Friday from 7-10. The show is on display though April 9th. If you are in Los Angeles, hit it up! Ripley will be for sale through Gallery 1988’s store.
Gallery 1988’s Flyer for the show.
If you’re into puppets, I got some more cute commissions that will be underway here soon. So keep your eyes peeled for more felty goodness.
You can check out more of my work at https://www.behance.net/tessamorrison
I’ve been fervently working on a piece for this show which opens Friday, February 26, 2016. More as things develop. I have to finish the piece by tomorrow. Tonight is going to be another all nighter…..
Well, here he is. My piece for “Fame That Toon!” is none other than the Shogun of Sorrow, AKUUUUU! Hopefully I won’t be tossed into a post-apocalyptic future where HIS EVIL IS LAW! 60+ hours of cutting, sewing, and hot gluing later I have a 4-foot tall fiber art replica of everyone’s favorite shape-shifting warlock.
Here’s more details on the show.
Pieces will eventually be for sale at the show and on their site here.
My Hyrulian puppet is back out on the art show circuit, this time Link is going to Los Angeles to be in Hero Complex Gallery’s “The Legend of Zelda 30th Anniversary Art Celebration!”
Link will be for sale on Hero Complex Gallery’s website and at the opening which is February 26, 2016, at 7:00. If you are in Los Angeles you should check out the show! I have another show the same night in Austin at Guzu Gallery. more on that to come. (Interested in commissioning me to do a custom puppet? Feel free to contact me to get a quote! Serious inquiries only please.)
tessa.yvonne.morrison. 