Today we’d like to introduce you to Saul Portillo.
Hi Saul, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated University in 2009 with a bachelor’s of science in information technology, in the midst of the housing market collapse so I started making websites for cheap, to whoever I could find. But it wasn’t easy, the biggest hurdle with customers is that they do not know what they want, or how to communicate what they needed. It wasn’t until years later that I was able to get a job in tech and so my side business changed for the first time.
I was able to pursue the hobby of costume making, known as cosplay, and very soon learned how to monetize it. I created and sold costumes, props and templates. I began giving panels at conventions and a few classes on costume making. This lead me to make very interesting connections and allowed me to build and sell a prop to Disney; make appearances for Microsoft’s Xbox release events; make Lego costume pieces for a Lego Master, and make a costume for a Rooster Teeth Productions. I was also part of the filming process as one of the characters in the show.
In the process of making cosplay more efficiently , I came up with a product line of cosplay components. One of which, is a strip of dragon scales. Theses gained some traction online and has been requested by several theaters across the country. While I stopped selling costumes and props, I have been selling the components ever since.
When the 2020 pandemic hit, I was fortunate enough to keep my main job. I was also able to pick up another hobby, woodworking. Once again, I learned to monetize it, and began selling my artwork at several conventions, including the biggest one in DFW; Fan Expo Dallas. During this time, I came up with a design for a wood and resin handmade bookmark. I was able to get a provisional patent on the design, and have added them as another product line to sell.
Now in 2026 I have incorporated leather work, like everything else before hand my bigger projects are commission based and I will often work with people that reach out and ask for a specific design. I am still not sure if I will add a leather product to the WINRAVEN umbrella, but time will tell.
WINRAVEN has always been a side business for me. The services or products I have offered under the name may have changed over the years, but I keep a part of them going. I will still make websites for people who reach out to me, I still sell the cosplay components, and I will keep the bookmark product line going. While it started for me to supplement my income, now, almost 18 years later, I am fortunately more financially secured. It provides a way for me to extend my creativeness and to fund future creative endeavors.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As i mentioned before, customers not knowing what they want is always the biggest struggle, whether it was websites or custom costumes, people tend to have a hard time explaining in detail what they are looking for, to a surprise they always knew what they didn’t like when presented with a mock up. That was the main struggle.
Another struggle I faced was marketing. I use my time better creating things, and I enjoy it the most. I find it difficult to focus on my work if i have to stop midway to take a progress photos, or make sure i am filming correctly for a social media “catchy” post to drive traffic towards myself.
Fortunately most of my work comes from word of mouth or very lucky connections I have made along the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in costumes and props. I thoroughly enjoy working with my hands and in the social circles that I run in I have been known for the costumes that i have made.
For some time it was the armor costumes based on the HALO video game, In the early 2010’s a photo of one of my costumes went viral. In fact, that is how i got connected with Rooster Teeth in which I made an armor and played a character for a live action episode of their popular “Red Vs. Blue” web series.
Later I made costumes based on the characters from Dragon Ball, a show that was predominant in my childhood. It allowed me to be a guest to the some of the Dragon Ball movie premiers and meet some of the voice actors of the characters i watched as a kid.
Eventually the costumes led me to meet my wife, we met through a charity event for the visually impaired kids, we bonded over our favorite superhero being Superman and now we have been married for almost 6 years and together for nearly 10.
Even though by the time i finish a project I can often see many things that I could do better now, I will always be proud of my costumes and props, they have opened many doors and given me so many opportunities, and while i know how fortunate i was to be presented with such opportunities I also know that i very diligently pursued them, and led me to where I am now.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Its hard to give someone who is starting out advice, what worked for me, even if is just 10 to 15 years ago may not really apply today anymore. Specially with generative AI being quite predominant at this moment. Artist are now competing with AI images of products that do not even exist. Platforms like Etsy are filled with stores that have “Real Leather” or “Exotic Wood” in descriptions of their products, then you notice in the review photos of customers who have purchased their items are all made of plastic or faux leather, at best. However, try to master your craft, whatever it is that you are making, get better at it. A better product will stand out more and may give you an advantage against the rest. Hopefully in due time the AI trend will fade as we keep opposing it, and real artist can be competing with real artist again.
Pricing:
- $15 – $1000’s
- My work is eclectic, if you want a premade item like a bookmark, its $15, but if you want a custom full body leather armor for the renaissance it will be 1000’s of dollars depending on what you want
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.winravencreations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winraven/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CosplayComponents
Image Credits
Scott Fischer Photography
Firebird Images
Tony Jantz
