The real Ophelia and Greg take the train. Nico acts extra predictably
G: Hello Ms Ophelia! My frenemy extraordinaire! How’s life been since I crushed you in the competition?
O: Uhmm sorry. New phone, who dis?
G: Please be my friend Ophelia. I’m sorry. I don’t deserve you.
O: You don't. Nobody does. I don't even deserve myself. But hey, all jokes aside even though it sucks i didn’t make top 3...I'm happy your fat ass won. It was about time a big elderly girl won. Hehehe I do feel like you are the winner we need right now though. You brought such a new and refreshing perspective to the competition and the fact that you won the whole thing is a testament to how much this competition can evolve.
G: It was a complete pity vote but thank you. So seriously how has life been since you escaped the pressure cooker?
O: When I got eliminated I was surprisingly at peace with it all. The critiques and the eventual results were fair in my eyes so I was like "yeah ok my time is done." Which was immediately followed by "well someone has to win All Stars, right ;)". So that’s what I've been focusing on since getting off. Practicing and developing myself further as an artist (and a member of the community) as preparation for AS and the future. Apart from that irl I’m stressed bc school started monday and I am NOT ready.
G: Well All Stars is gonna come up at the end so we’ll save it for then but clearly I and everyone else am expecting to see you slay there. That said, do you think you’ll have space mentally to participate in the sub despite a challenging science-based course of study? That’s right, the globe: Ophelia is actually a scientist who happens to be a killer designer in her free time.
O: Oh noo you've revealed my true identity!! I'm actually a mad scientist trying to take over the world one recycling bin at a time. But yeah, it's usually a bit difficult to balance my study and doing art actively but I have a pretty chill semester with only half days so planning in some time to do MPAR shouldn't be a problem. And once I'm in the rhythm again I can manage my time much better than when I have nothing. So I can manage time wise. Mentally...we'll see how long until the madness kicks in fully
G: Gotcha. Well speaking of madness, you’ve spoken about this before but
Question 1: Can you describe what you were feeling like as you got accepted for the season?
O: I have talked about this before but I didn't think I was going to get on the season at all to be honest. After I saw how much Talent™ had been on S2 and S1 and then looking at my art and the literal fetus Ophelia was I thought I would never make it. But at least it would have been a great way to put myself out there and play along to try to get on S4. So once I got the confirmation I was extremely excited and scared because I had no idea how it would go. "Will I get along with the other queens?", "Will they shut me out because I'm new?", "I'm going on vacation how THE FUCK am I going to do this???" I tried to go in with an open mind and it was all for the better in the end.
G: Interesting. So these questions come a little fast at first but ok sounds like you’re having some butterflies in your stomach both about your vision and about the level of competition.
Question 2: You receive the huge list. How does that feel and did you have a strategy for tackling all the prompts or did you take it week by week? What did you want to accomplish in this competition from that early standpoint?
O: OOHH OK so I got REALLY excited when I saw the list of challenges and lip synchs. I was mostly excited for Architecture week onwards so I wanted to make it as far as that at least. It might sound a bit weird but before I even heard I was going to be on the season, I already had, I guess you could call them "fashion goals" I wanted to achieve. What I needed to do now was look for ways to incorporate those into challenges where they would fit. And I ended up doing just that! On my list of things were, just to name a few: A cage dress (candy), a high fashion pantsuit (bauheaux) a sexy androgynous look (Die 4 You) and the stilts (originally for Robots but ended up using them for Beards). So in that respect, I accomplished my mission. On the other hand, I wanted to plan ahead and try to push out the lipsynchs as early as I could and try to start designing the main looks ahead of time..but I ended up working week by week. Which worked out fine....for the most part.
G: Cool ok. Let’s talk about responding to judging. You got roasted weeks one and two but you’ve said you shifted gears after that and then it was all highs until your elim.
Question 3: can you talk about how you received the judging in those first few weeks (including of other people) and explain this shift you’ve alluded to in greater depth?
O: Waiting for the first week’s critiques was terrifying and I already knew the judges we’re going to go IN on me because it was more of a costume instead of couture. So there was no surprise there. One of the things I didn’t understand at the time was that they were calling the colours obnoxious and loud. The critique on the shading was fair, I did use black, it did look muddy. But the colours to me are still very representative of the island; the bright blue sea and the sunny sky. And most of the Seú outfits are very brightly coloured (which is something very Caribbean in my opinion) but in the end I guess it’s a matter of taste. And that’s something I had to get used to as the competition went on. I agreed with most of the other contestants’ critiques that week except for yours and Sartana’s. I still think your Queens look was bomb af and the judges just didn’t completely understand where you were coming from (should have been safe at least). And Sartana’s, while beautiful, was a very standard princess dress silhouette (which of course did fit into the narrative and cultural backstory but just wasn’t really couture in my opinion). Also I got the critique that my outfit and colours looked too flat and two-dimensional, while hers..was very that..and she still won. That’s when I started imagining this whole conspiracy theory in my head where the judges would be giving favoritism to previous winners/famous contestants and would maybe try to get rid of the “fillers” early on by giving inconsistent critiques (but I quickly debunked that myself lol)
The second week was an absolute GAGG. I wasn’t fully confident in my look but I also was not expecting a bottom two placement (conspiracy theory intensifies). I was infuriated (and irl quite drunk at a festival) that the judges saw electrical wires and plugs..because…ok I guess that’s an association you could have but..this is a candy challenge..what’s the only candy that’s shiny black? Someone also mentioned that I should have added the swirly texture that Bettie had in her liquorice but I specifically included in my description that my inspiration was liquorice LACES. Which if you Google them (Google is free yall) you would see that they do kind of look like electrical cables but should the fact that that’s an association be punishable? There’s also the whole question about them wanting fashion INSPIRED BY candy.or a dress MADE OUT OF candy. I decided to go with INSPIRED BY and kind of REFERENCE liquorice without actually making a dress out of the candy itself (Bettie). But I accepted my faith and I was very confident in my lipsync so I kinda had the feeling I would survive another week. I pass this question on to the viewers: Is panela a candy? Lol this all feels like so long ago, can we just cancel the first two weeks, thanks.
G: Sure. Ok and the second part about that shift that you’ve alluded to?
O: I've mentioned this before but the second bttm2 placement literally lit a fire under my ass. I thought "OK I really need to impress these judges if I want to stay in the competition". I started changing the way I drew Ophelia a bit and making the colouring a bit simpler. I also started getting more comfortable with sketching the clothes out fully first and making different versions before choosing what direction to go in. That definitely changed a lot. I used to just go with the first thing my gut told me but after week 2 I was much more meticulous with the choices I made.
G: Gotcha so you got more serious basically.
O:Yeah but at the same time just kind of having a bit more fun and letting my creativity run loose it's a weird mix of both. Fun fact the only challenge where Ophelia won she was pale: IS MPAR RACIST???? SHOULD WE CANCEL IT?? YOU DECIDE. JK tho but...
G: Lol. it was finally time for a white cis male to win. Sorry.
O: We been knew.
G: Ok so Question 4: talk to me about a high point for you creatively in the competition. I don’t know how i can stress this enough but I don’t care about a time a look was well received. I want to hear about creative surprise and growth.
O: Well after week 2 all my looks were well-received so choose one sweetie.
G: Wow. I don’t know what that feels like. Just like you don’t know what a solo win feels like. My three were nice for the record.
O: Ok first of all you need to shut your whole ass mouth. Safe ass bitch.
G: HA.
O: No but really a big stand-out moment creatively was definitely Architecture. That would have to be one of the more conceptual challenges this season and that look was maybe the one I did the most research and made the most sketches of during my entire run. I went through a complete cycle of researching the architecture, what aspect interested me, how do I make this a runway worthy moment (not only Drag Race runway but actual New York Fashion Week runway). I mean you all saw it in Concept Corner (REST IN RIP). That was also the week where I felt like Ophelia became Ophelia. That was the week where I actually started thinking that I could make it all the way. How was that week for you?
G: It was trash in every possible way. Thanks for reminding me. Anyway, I remember how much thought and research you put into that piece. How do you mean “when Ophelia became Ophelia?”
O: Well because Ophelia was created specifically for this competition, in the early stages of the season I was still trying to figure out who exactly Ophelia was supposed to be. How was she supposed to present herself to the world. And that week I finally figured out her face shape and eyes and hair and that was the first look that felt true to who Ophelia is. (And i guess that hair is what I would call the classic Ophelia hair lol). I wanted Ophelia to be a queen with thought out concept and straightforward ideas but always with a raw edge or a twist. It's hard to explain but that's the moment I thought oh HERE she IS.
G: Got it. Let’s talk about the converse. Question 5: What was a low point emotionally and how did you strive to overcome it?
O: Makeover week was especially devastating because of bts stuff. And knowing that you might get disqualified because of something that's entirely beyond what you can control yourself is literally the worst feeling. I had spend so many sleepless nights working on MPAR on vacation and it would all come to an end because of something I couldn't control it's just overall a very frustrating feeling. What definitely helped was talking to my MPAR bffs and just venting about it. That's one of the best ways to deal with a bad situation. Just talk to people you trust and know will be there for you. And in the end..just make fun of yourself. Laughter is the best medicine.
G: Cool so can we discuss your ball? I know you were most excited to do that but didn’t end up totally happy with the results. Talk about coming up with the ideas, challenges while executing and how you felt about judgement.
O: I was extremely excited for the ball. But long story short I got too much into my own head and ended up being my own sabboteur. I had pretty fleshed out ideas but then decided to scrap them. Only to decide to go back to them in the last minute. Which left me no time to expand on them properly. Which is what we saw happen in the end. I'm proud of my ringleader and clown but the lion tamer could have been so much more. I should have stuck with my first design and fleshed that out fully. If i have any advice to future queens it would be to NEVER give into last minute changes because that usually is the fear and doubt kicking in. Unless your 90000000% sure the changes will pay off in the end AND you have enough time to pull them off properly.
G: Yeah that’s great advice. I think you need to allow for the mess and the research for a little while but you really need to pull the trigger and refine refine refine. That deadline is not gonna push itself back a day just cause you’re terrified of failure! I kind of think you have to step in and be your own momfather and be like “sunday 9 p.m. the design is set and you have to move onto rendering no matter how I feel.
O: YES exactly. Setting personal deadlines is the best you can do. You have some time before the first challenge after you get the challenge list so making a planning is the best advice I can give in that regard.
G: Ok so Question 6: after coming so close to top 3, how did you approach the finale? Was there a final statement you wanted to make?
O: As I mentioned already, I was at peace (mostly) with my elimination. So I wanted to make something red carpet worthy. Another thing on my fashion goals list that I didn't have a chance to do during the season was a 20s flapper moment so that’s what i did for the finale. If I hadn't been booted off that still would have been my finale look. For the performance I wanted to do Itty Bitty Piggy by Ms Nicki Minaj in a full pig costume and add a few verses where I roast the judges and the other contestants. Then I would delete my reddit account and leave the community never to come back.
G: You slut. Why are you my revealing my one day to actually be completed performance?
O: Lol no jk thats dumb. I was planning a performance to Jawbreaker by The Dead Weather with a hesvily bedazzled biker jacket and a high fashion mullet. I guess it wouldnt really be a final statement but it would be my way of showing off Ophelias punk side one last time.
G: Awesome. Ok so let’s talk about the road to All Stars. I wanna hear what you plan to do to get ready to make it in and then to win. Of course, I prepared a little illustration to suggest some directions you might keep working.
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So honestly I would’ve kept playing with this silhouette a lot more if I was working for the contest but basically this is sort of a sea hag look with mussels all over it. The things i was hoping to emphasize were the weird in a good sense fixations you have around physicality. This construction of mussels on the dress is intentionally very physical. I think you’re interested in clothing as an outgrowth of the body rather than decoration which is really cool. I’d challenge you on the other hand to incorporate more messiness into your process and your final presentations. It’s obvious that you’re still very sensitive to the way your work is received and I think you tend to edit out the ugliness, the messiness... i don’t know. It seems like a very personal emotional thing you’re navigating. In any case, i think in hiding that, you’re holding something back and we can feel it. So try to embrace the mess because your skills at refinement and simplicity are very much there.
O: First of all how fucking dare you tell me what to do…
G: I expected you’d say “i already won all stars. I’m actually too good for this competition.” So you can skip that answer I guess.
O: But I love this actually. It is very sea hag which is what I'll be when I graduate probably. I think you hit the nail on the head when you say that the body and physicality are things that drive me because that's very true to what I create in my non mpar art. I definitely accept your challenge. I really have been trying to let go more but it’s hard at times because there’s always that voice telling me IT HASS TO BE PERRFEXTCTHDHD. And something you'll definitely get to see more on AS (if I get on..who knows) is that messier rougher side of Ophelia which is something very Nico too..so I'm excited to show that. What I'm also trying to get better at is rendering different materials. I can do a lot now..but I know that with practice I can create garments that actually make sense in their materials and construction as well as in concept.
G: Ohhh I think that’ll really amplify your style. I’m not a master of it at all either so I can’t advise but my gut says you could play with line weight more and see if that feels good. In any case, I can’t even say I’m excited to see you on All Stars cause I’m already so biased and ready to see you rock it! Ok gurl, take the floor. What do you want to say to the people reading this?
O: Thank you so much! I have been testing out a few things to try and add more dynamics into my linework. That's why I think the current Offseason is such a great opportunity for me but also for all other people that are trying to further develop their art. I especially love that, for example, you're testing out a 2d version of your art. I think that's really cool. I'm also enjoying all the new faces sooo much! And that's something I've been thinking about quite a lot lately. I feel like this community has so much potential to grow and became so much more than what it already is now. That's why I want to encourage everybody to interact as much as you can on the sub. Ask questions! Make memes! Do fanart! And for the new peeps: don't be scared to ask any of the alumni for help if you have questions or if you have something you're struggling with. In any case, I'm always down to help someone in need.
Which kind of brings me to the next thing I wanted to say. If you have any critiques or feedback on my any of my pieces don't hesitate to let me know. We're all here to share our talents but more importantly we're here to learn from and with each other. So if you think one of my looks is shit please let me know, I'm shitblind. BUT (there's always a but) try to elaborate as much as you can when you're giving someone feedback. "This looks awful" is probably not the best way to go about a look you didn't like. Mention what it is the artist did that you think doesn't work and also try to explain why you think it doesn't and finally you can try to give suggestions on what could have been done instead. This way the artist can take something away from what you said and you're feedback is not just a negative remark. I'm not saying all the comments should be peer-reviewed academic essays but I just want to encourage you to train the way you give feedback because it challenges you to take a closer look at an art piece and this can help you in your own art as well.
Submitted September 05, 2018 at 05:02AM by IforaNye https://ift.tt/2M3L5B6
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