Baldwin High grad uses art, video games as creative outlets, wins award at Steel City Con costume contest
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Atlas Bayens needed to find a way out of a funk.
The Whitehall teen, like many youths, was experiencing stress, anxiety and other emotions fairly strongly a few years ago.
Things got even tougher during the pandemic.
It was through video games that Atlas found a way out, and a way up.
One, in particular, was “Bloodborne” for Sony’s PlayStation. It’s an action role-playing game that features a journey through a horror-filled gothic city.
“I wasn’t in the best place in my life whenever I found ‘Bloodborne’ as a game,” Bayens said. “It really showed me that all these characters have this tragic life and live in this world that’s just absolutely nuts, but they’re still doing it. They’re still going and making these amazing weapons.”
Bayens fell in love with one of the main characters, an old hunter, which would serve as an inspiration for another creative outlet.
“Gehrman is a mentor and helps your character that you play as through the entire game,” Bayens said. “I felt like he was a mentor to me, and he was the first character in a very long time that I felt a deep connection to.”
That connection led to action as Bayens would develop an outfit based on Gehrman.
Bayens started working on the outfit in December 2020. Baynes pulled from knowledge gained through Baldwin High School art classes, painting and exploring how different colors and textures work together.
Wood, metal casters, foam and an iWALK hands-free metal crutch, were among the materials used.
Bayens, who graduated from Baldwin High School last year, spent more than 300 hours putting it all together.
Baynes hard work paid off as the competitor would go on to win best craftsmanship-amateur in front of a huge crowd at Steel City Con in the Monroeville Convention Center on April 10.
Bayens, 19, took home a certificate, cash and a confidence boost.
“This is the first big cosplay that I’ve made in seven years,” Baynes said. “The last cosplay I did was mostly store-bought. This is the first time making the outfit, making the weapons, first prop, actually, and first pertaining to armor-making.
“I’m always looking to improve my craft. It’s always nice to come here and talk to other cosplayers because they always have great insight on how to make things better and improve what I can do so I can become a better cosplayer as well.
“The stage is oddly comforting and it was nice to be back on it. It felt like home.”
Bayens thanked parents, Dave and Jen, for all their support.
The mother recalled what it was like watching her daughter hard at work.
“Sometimes I sit there and am like, ‘What are you doing?” Jen Bayens said. “Or I’m cautiously like, ‘Please, don’t burn the house down.’ I think it’s the coolest thing because I like seeing people follow their dreams.”
The contest has grown over the years into three divisions — children, teens and adults.
It takes place in the conference room during the final day in the final hours of the three-day event and usually draws more than 200 total contestants.
Three judges select 10 to 12 finalists depending on quality and creativity of the participants’ work.
Bayens was among the dozen selected for this month’s convention.
Lower Burrell winner
Fellow finalist Ri Foschia, 22, of Lower Burrell, said she also uses cosplays as a creative outlet.
“I’m a practical effects artist, and this is a way for me to do something I love without having to travel the world and never be home in order to do it on movie sets and stuff,” Foschia said. “I do this as a hobby to get it out of my system without having to sacrifice people I love spending time with and never being home.”
The Greensburg native turned Alle-Kiski Valley resident won best concept for her take on Jinx from “League of Legends.”
“It’s justification for all the money and time that have been put into this,” Foschia said. “Her whole thing is blowing people up. So, she has a lot of big guns.”
Her costume was a combination of Jinx’s look in the video game and the animated series “Arcane,” which is based on its world and characters.