Meet Parker | Project Manager, Cosplayer & Digital Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Parker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Parker, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’m Parker, a Project Manager by day, Cosplayer and Digital Media Artist by night, magical girl always!

I think I, like most people, found no real balance between work and life in the days prior to the pandemic. There was only “hustle”. “Rest is for the weak.” As the world came to a grinding halt, I found myself confronted with all this time and nothing with which to distract myself. I began to ask myself how that hustle mentality had truly served me.
Had it gotten me the recognition that I wanted?
Did it leave me feeling fulfilled?
No. “There is only hustle” mindset made me feel relevant in the space. Able to speak to hundreds of other burned out dreamers, doing their best to put one foot in front of the other while simultaneously balancing an enviable or admirable social life. Every setback felt that much more personal. Victory felt short-lived as the next deadline I’d stacked on my shoulders lurked close behind.

Now, there were no deadlines. The clock had been virtually stopped for everyone.
I began to think to myself, “what would it feel like to just make something, with no pressure on my back to complete it?” I’m fortunate enough to be in my 30s, to remember a time before social media and the internet amplified the need to move ever faster. I’m also fortunate enough to be in a time where I can easily be connected to other inspiring beings doing what makes them happy. So I turned to creation AND my social feed!

I built a loose schedule for myself, creating structure between my professional career, my artistic practice and my life. Every morning I spend at least an hour reading the news and looking for a piece of art that inspires me. Once I find and share that piece, I’m clear to work.
Having that inspiration at the top of the day usually permeated my morning. Ideas would come to mind in my down time or I’d find myself wanting to finish faster so I could get to the creative portion of my day sooner. After work, I give myself about an hour to do the absolute least. Whether that be watching something fun or scrolling through socials, it’s important to reset your intention if you are balancing career and an artistic practice.

By taking the time to truly stop in these moments we set aside for ourselves, we establish the boundaries we need and deserve. Boundaries not just with those around us, but with ourselves. It becomes easier to tell others “no” when I realize I’m about to overcommit.
It’s understandable that we want to be so many things to so many people all at once, but it’s impossible to do if we’re burned out. If you truly want to do more for others or in your work, you have to set a balance that also protects YOU.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve had a camera in my hands from the moment I could comprehend taking a photo. I’d always been fascinated with still life and old Polaroids. Through middle school and high school I experimented with my style, trying to figure out what really spoke to me. Conceptual work always seemed to stick most. The ability to convey meaning beyond the obvious, in a photo, seemed like pure magic to me.

At this time, MySpace was just beginning its stranglehold on my generation. A new culture of viewing each other’s pages and critiquing them the next day at school was just starting to form. I had previous exposure to web critiquing and living a digital art life via pages like Greatest Journal and DevianArt, but MySpace was personal. The work I was shooting was conceptual, and rather dark. How could I be relevant in the space?
I noticed the selfie hallmarks (extended arm, duck lips etc.) in real time and immediately vowed to never post selfies that looked like everyone else’s. Slowly, I started to take conceptual self portraits. I’d spend all day waiting for school to be over so I could run home, wait for my mom to head to her night shift so I could set up and spend the rest of the night shooting concepts. As my ideas grew and morphed, I began dressing up sets a little more and teaching myself to use Photoshop. I’d use my school time to learn what I could using the school’s software before I’d go home and try to replicate the tricks using my cheap knock off software.

Fast forward several years to a 27 year old professional, too depressed to admit her drinking is out of control and she misses the art practice she put down to become “a serious adult”. Some friends invited us to Heroescon in North Carolina and I was just fool hardy enough to seize on a childhood dream, and finally cosplay! I built Riju, from Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the joy I felt on that singular convention day shook off all the dust. It breathed new life back into me!

I continued making builds, half committing, but still with some reservation, but with every completed costume I felt more myself. Fall of 2019 I decided it was time to go big or go home and I built Te Fiti from Moana. The design was completely made by me, with no references other than the character. I spent a month researching Polynesian culture and climate while drafting the design. The build is referred to as a “showgirl build” because it borrows from showgirl costume elements and is meant for versatility and maximum impact. I have always wanted to be a showgirl, but I was too afraid to commit. I only got to wear Te Fiti to one convention, Katsucon 2020, but the experience I had that day confirmed what I felt. This was joy worth chasing. This was passion worth pursuing.

Despite the pandemic, I found myself creating costume after costume. I was finally able to create the elaborate conceptual ideas I was only ever capable of dreaming about. I was finally able to make real the things I saw in my head!

If I’d like anything to be taken from my artistic practice it’s this: Joy is worth pursuing, even if it doesn’t make you rich or famous; It is never too late to create a life filled with the things that bring you joy. But you have to start!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom and my husband. Aside from the obvious, they bring the most “possibility” to my life and give me reason to keep going. My mother has never been restrictive or critical of who I am. She lets me lead my own way and do things in a manner that make the most sense to me. Everything good and kind about me came from her.
My husband has always been encouraging and willing to assist. I truly cannot thank him enough for all of his patience and support. No one believes in me like he does.
I realize every day just how lucky I am to have these two wonderful beings in my corner.

Website: https://linktr.ee/parker.projects

Instagram: @Parker.Projects

Other: https://ko-fi.com/parkerprojects/shop

Image Credits
All images were shot and edited by me.