Art in Mind

by Melanie Blackwell

Here is a photo of my cosplay costume from Wizard World Comic Con in New Orleans 2015. I am dressed as Link from Legends of Zelda.

This acrylic self-portrait depicts me during my high school senior year. This was an especially significant year in my life, since that was the year hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans and my normal life forever.

This is a literal selfie I took specifically to have more pictures of myself; I am usually the one taking pictures, and not the one in them.

This photo was taken my Michelle Weeks Photography. She is a good friend of mine and an excellent photographer!

My husband and I were filmed extras on the New Orleans edition of America's Got Talent in 2013. This picture was taken just outside the UNO Lakefront Arena before filming began.

My husband and me dressed as Khaleesi and Khal Drogo from the HBO series Game of Thrones. I designed and created both costumes based on pictures from the show. I cut fabric to mimic the leather bracers and belt of the Khal Drogo costume. The silver belt, I cut and painted styrofoam to appear metallic. For the cape for the Khaleesi costume, I used hand sewn drapes strung with tinsel to allude to Khaleesi's royalty; the belt I used a metallic fabric to create the same effect.