Meet Tarvel | Cosplayer, reenactor, and a lotr fan

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

Hi Tarvel, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I personally define success as being able to make a positive impact on individual lives while also making yourself happy. Now of course, not everyone will be impacted the same way nor will some people be positively impacted, and that is fine. The goal isn’t to please everyone. The goal is to do what you love and have a majority of people that you interact with come out feeling good!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I primarily focus on medieval/fantasy cosplay and chainmail armor & jewelry making. My pride and joy when it comes to both are the ring wraith cosplay I worked hard to pull together, as well as a chainmail shirt I made a while back that is comprised entirely of bronze links.

I personally believe I was able to get to where I am now when I was invited to be in my first ever LOTR cosplay photoshoot last year. Without that first initial push, I am fairly certain I would not have been able to truly get my foot in the door for several more years. It was a stroke of luck that it happened when it did, and I will always treasure the memories of that first photoshoot above all else.

One main lesson I’ve learned along the way is that people will try and dictate the content I produce, and that it is okay to set boundaries and make only the content that I personally want to make. My page is meant to be an escape from the world of reality, and be more of a realm of medieval fantasy. It is meant to provide comfort much like a good book can for its reader.

Another key lesson I’ve learned is to never push myself to my limits when it comes to crafting. There is no feasible way I can make what I make for a living and still enjoy it, so I have had to force myself to make my chainmail creations at a more leisurely pace. This has led to the unfortunate message to friends that the estimated time of completion for a project is now unknown/way later in the future, but they’ve all been incredibly supportive and understanding.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For the weekend, we would immediately go to the Colorado Renaissance Faire. It’s the perfect place to escape the stresses of regular life and just have a fun time. Whether that’s dancing to the music of Celtic Legacy, watching Cy the Sword Swallower, or cheering on your favorite knight during the joust, it’s always a grand ol’ time!

I’d find a day to take them down to Bishop’s Castle in Rye, Colorado. There’s a whole story behind that place but basically it’s a castle (still under construction) that is being built in this wonderful state.

Another day or two would be dedicated to visiting my favorite childhood mountain town of Breckenridge, and going on a bunch of hikes up there. Maybe take a drive through Hoosier’s Pass and see the GORGEOUS views up there of the mountain valleys.

For hanging out and shopping, the Heirloom’s Antique Mall is an amazing store with a treasure trove of amazing old items. Food would have to include a trip to Beaujo’s to treat them to some mountain style pizza. Some people don’t care for it that much, but I have a lot of childhood nostalgia surrounding it and will always enjoy a slice of that cheesy goodness!

There’s honestly so much that cannot be done within a weeks time, but those are the main places i would try to take them to in order to give them a ‘true Colorado experience.’

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my family for being supportive of my hobbies and passions, and especially all of my mutuals that I’ve been able to interact with on social media. In particular, I’d like to thank several people who go by StormSorceress, Feuwling, Shersten The Golden, Savana Ray, Lauren Does Cosplay, Harland3r, HynmayProductions and the photographer Chiseled Light. Without them, I never would have truly been able to dive into cosplay or learned some of the crafting skills I now have under my belt. Without their support, I wouldn’t be who I am today!

Website: https://wlo.link/@Tarvel_The_Ring_Wraith

Instagram: @Tarvel_The_Ring_Wraith

Twitter: @TarvelsT

Other: Tiktok: @Tarvel_The_Ring_Wraith

Image Credits
Savana Ray Bryan Rasmussen