THINGS LISA LIKES: Hikari Shimoda and LISXXOR cosplay's Super Hero Bear & Bunny

"さよなら宇宙" Good-bye The cosmos2013 Hikari Shimoda

CREEPY CUTE // KAWAII
(・㉨・) ♡ ／(･ × ･)＼

In 2010 I discovered Japanese pop-artist, Hikari Shimoda　下田ひかり's creepy cute/kawaii magical girls and super hero saviors in their neon pastel surrealistic worlds and blank stares. I was mesmerized by her artwork and her message.
Artist Statement from her Sweet Streets LA artist page:

"HIKARI SHIMODA:

Based in Nagano, Japan, Hikari Shimoda first studied illustration at the prestigious Kyoto Saga University of Art and Aoyama Juku School before beginning her career as a contemporary artist in 2008. Soon afterward, Shimoda was selected for her first solo exhibition at Motto Gallery in Tokyo, and since then has held exhibitions annually in galleries worldwide, spanning Japan, the United States, Canada, and Milano, Italy.  Shimoda’s artwork paints a world where cuteness and horror coexist, and fantasy meets reality.  She credits the Japanese pop culture she grew up with as the main source of inspiration of her Lowbrow “Irasuto” style, which means artwork made by people inspired by anime and manga.  There are often children putting on heroic costumes such as Superman and “shojo” or magical girls, an anime sub-genre of young girls who use magic.  Through depicting children especially, Shimoda reveals the problems people in today’s society struggle with from within.  Children possess a simple existence because their identity is ambiguous which provides her with an original point of view.  In her “Whereabouts of God” portrait series of other-worldly horned children, she also comments on Christianity’s anointment of Jesus Christ as savior of humanity and mirror of our fantasy heroes.  These characters not only represent heroism but an adult desire to watch our children grow and defend the world we have constructed.  With each new piece, Shimoda advances her search for salvation and her deeper understanding of this chaotic world."

HIKARI SHIMODA OFFICIAL SITE: http://hikarishimoda.com/
SWEET STREETS LA GALLERY: http://sweetstreetsla.com/artist/hikari-shimoda
MY FACEBOOK COSPLAY PAGE!:  LISXXOR cosplay

Super Hero Bear Boy selfie via Instagram - LISXXOR cosplay

Super Hero Bear Boy selfie via Instagram - LISXXOR cosplay

I've been wanting to cosplay characters from her paintings for a while now (the Super Hero), but didn't know when would be the best time.  I decided to make these costumes when Ohaycon announced they were having a special "magical girl" themed category in their 2014 masquerade. I was even happier to discover there was a "magical boy" category, which would fit Hikari's Super Heroes perfectly.

My cosplay versions of the Super Heroes was my way of celebrating her art through my fashion skills. Like I love these lil guys so much I want to make them real!
Originally I was only going to make the original blue Bear Boy Super Hero, but fell equally in love with the mischievous Bunny Boy Super Hero from her more recent series, "Before Worlds Were Born".
Always the ambitions one, I decided to make both Bear and Bunny Super Hero outfits, since they are essentially color swaps of each other. But really I ended up making 4 different interchangeable costumes.
I'm glad I did, because I ENDED UP WINNING "BEST MAGICAL BOY" CRAFTSMASHIP in the Ohaycon 2014 Cosplay Masquerade!!!

I won "BEST MAGICAL BOY" CRAFTSMASHIP in the Ohaycon 2014 Cosplay Masquerade!!!

So cute! So happy! (●´□`)♡

v(｡-_-｡)v

♡ CREEPY KAWAII ♡

Hi! Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ

Click image for the hi-rez.gif/gfycat from Miss.Heartless girl's Ohaycon video!

MAKEUP: Hikari Shimoda Cosplay Makeup

Hello!

Want to recreate my custom eye makeup look from my Hikari Shimoda Super Hero cosplays? Look no further!
Because Hikari's characters are childlike and colorful, I wanted my eye makeup for this cosplay to keep that anime/manga look and really pop! Just like her lovely paintings.  Her children paintings have the most magical starry eyes. I want them! ♡

I chose to go with multi-colored eyes to match her children's mismatched eyes, neon yellow UV and white.  Unfortunately they don't sell magical star-filled neon multicolor contacts right now :[  I was able to find heart shaped contacts, but not stars.

Black sclera contact lenses were out of my price range. I'd love to purchase some to go as her more creepier kawaii characters. 
For any Hikari look, You could choose any neon or pastel colors contacts to mismatch - from pink, blue, white, light green, purple, even black!

I made a quick cartoon sketch below of my Hikari Shimoda Super Hero makeup in pink and blue using my makeup to show you the general simple shapes.
To get this look:

1. Eyeshadow Primer on eyelids, Face primer. Basic cover up, etc.
2. White eyeshadow stick or cream concentrate on inner corner of eyes and brow bone
3. Contrast color eyeshadow with rounded eyeshadow brush on outer eye/crease, and under outer eye waterline.
4. Liquid or contrast eyeliner on outer top lid, outer waterline.
5. Colored mascara on top and lower lashes.
6. Blend and touch up.  Blend and add extra color where needed.
7. Blush in small circle motions under outer eye corner.
8. Color brows in necessary (I skipped this step since my wig hid my brows). 
9. Exfoliate, lip primer, and/or gloss lipstick of your choice.
10. Light dusting of an HD finishing powder to set your look!

Quick colored illustration with makeup shapes of my look ^_~

Super Hero Pink variation, both eyes

"Whereabouts of God" #3, Oil on canvas, 2012, Hikari Shimoda

COSTUME/COSPLAY: Hikari Shimoda's ☆ Super Hero Bear & Bunny Photo Shoot! (・㉨・) ♡ ／(･ × ･)＼

(・㉨・) ♡ ／(･ × ･)＼

Super Hero Bear & Bunny Twins photo shoot!

Myself as Bear Boy Super Hero, LISXXOR cosplay
My adorable friend TENSHISAKURA Cosplay was my Bunny Girl Super Hero.
Location: Ohaycon 2014
Photographer: Tk8919 Photography

COSTUME/COSPLAY: Hikari Shimoda's ☆ Super Hero Bunny Photo Shoot! ♡ ／(･ × ･)＼

♡ ／(･ × ･)＼ ♡

Super Hero Bunny photo shoot!

Myself as Bunny Boy Super Hero, LISXXOR cosplay
Location: Ohaycon 2014
All photos and video clips by photographer: Miss.Heartlessgirl

All .gifs made by me from Miss.Heartlessgirl's Ohayocon Fan Video!

(I linked the video so you can watch at the bottom of this post!)

BLOG: LISA MALANIJ // D1G1T4L F4SH10N BL0G!

Hey guys!  I'm back!
My blog got a huge makeover!
Like the new blog layout?  It finally has the aesthetic feel that represents me, my persona, and my brand. Clean, minimal, edgy, bold, with a dash of digital. [CYBERPUNK].
Wonder where the quote on my header is from and why it's there?
It's the opening sentence to my favorite book, Neuromancer by William Gibson. Seriously, go read it if you haven't already and think of me. My next collection will be based off of it.

Basically I am so proud of myself that I created the graphics and the html code to design this blog the way I wanted from the basic "bleh" blog design it was before ALL ON MY OWN. WOOO!!! Such a learning process. Thank goodness for google and friendly programers with their easy to follow tutorials.

2013 had been a year of growth for me personally and as a designer and budding creative entrepreneur.

The past year I've been teaching myself basic HTML, and other creative entrepreneur necessities like personal finance, excel, social media in marketing, and graphic design (photo retouching, and batch automating tasks!) to compliment my fashion and marketing skill set.


Also since late 2012-2014 I've been focusing on promoting and selling my remixed line, 3xHearts by Lisa Malanij, in the upcycle movement that is growing in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Collective Upcycle Boutique and the ever popular growing Cleveland Flea have been my sales stalwarts for my remixed line.  I hope to open 3xHearts online store as well coming soon!
You can learn more about 3xHearts here.

In the mean time, I have tons of backlogged events, photos, outfits, adventures  I need to catch up share with you too! While I make progress on catching up and sharing my adventures 2012-2104, feel free to drop me a message!
Like me on Facebook the most up to date news news on my Facebook Fanpage.

Here are the links to all my social media pages if you want to connect!:
WEBSITE: http://www.lisamalanij.com/
FACEBOOK FANPAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Malanij-Fashion-Designer/10150157755880157?fref=ts
BLOG: http://lisamalanij.blogspot.com/
TUMBLR (PERSONAL): http://lisxxor.tumblr.com/
TUMBLR OFFICIAL: http://lisamalanij.tumblr.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/LisaMalanij
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/lisamalanij/#
LOOKBOOK.NU: http://lookbook.nu/lisamalanij
COSTUME/COSPLAY PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LISXXOR-cosplay/125200474309135