Celebrating Black Creators: Jarvis and Sun
For the final installment of our blog series celebrating remarkable creators this Black History Month, we are excited to introduce you to Jarvis, who’s making waves in the convention and cosplay scenes, and Sun, a crafter who loves making modern and cottagecore pieces on a budget.

In recent weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of connecting with Amber, Christine, Jonathan, and Jasmine, all of whom are incredibly talented creators passionate about their work. This week's artists share that same enthusiasm!


How has your background influenced your artistic style and approach?
Jarvis: Hello, My name is Jarvis Byrd Jr, also known as Exuberant Cosplay. I am an armor foamsmith cosplayer who recreate armor from different genres like Videos games, movies, anime, etc. I’ve been a cosplayer for 6 years and still going strong till this day. My background for being an artist has always been more of pushing the boundaries of your own work. Every work I do is inspired by other artists that I see in their passion and wanted to pass it down to other potential artists who has the time and energy to manifest. I love creating the work I do and therefore, pushing it forward to others

Which Plaid product would you say is your secret weapon and why?
Jarvis: The plaid product I secretly use is mostly paint related ones. Other paints I’ve used tend to not last much longer than what Plaid Products has. My favorite paint I’ve used (mostly because I make armor cosplay) is Plaidfx.


What’s a recent project where you pushed your creative boundaries or tried out new materials? How did it go?
Jarvis: My most recent project is making the Banished Halo Spartan. The materials I normally used are EVA foam. They’re not necessarily new to cosplay but might be new to newcomers. I would say for nice metallics scratch effects, I use silver PlaidFX to make those really nice effects.

How do you choose Plaid materials, colors, and techniques that align with the vision you have for a project?
Jarvis: I chose them for mostly visual effects. It’s all about trying to use the right material from a reference in a concept. I would have a chart full of different color schemes and experiments of how to make the artwork look nicer. Everything I’ve done is a practice towards Color Theory.


Can you tell us about the journey that led to you becoming an artist/creator?
Sun: I always been inclined/interested in repurposing items and to give a little makeover and make it functional into a home decor piece. That’s why I wanted to share these ideas!

Which Plaid product would you say is your secret weapon and why?
Sun: I love all of the Plaid Products, they are amazing! I think it’s Mod Podge because it’s very versatile.


What’s a recent project where you pushed your creative boundaries or tried out new materials? How did it go?
Sun: Recently, I drew designs and filled in with glass paints, something I tried for the first time and I must say it was fun.

What skill or technique are you excited to learn next?
Sun: I wanted to continue to develop free hand painting. And excited about it!

Be sure to check out more of Jarvis' and Sun's work and check out the other artists featured in this series.

A BIG “thank you” to these incredible creators for sharing a behind-the-scenes look at their artistry and stories with us. Their passion, creativity, and dedication inspire us all. It’s been a privilege to highlight their work. We’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate their contributions to the world of art and creativity during Black History Month and beyond!