I'm still here and alive despite my inactivity. I really apologize for not replying to anyone and I haven't had a new project for 8 months.

I've had a lot of changes in my personal life and my mood has been bi-polar because of it so it's been very difficult to stay focused. I thought I completely gave up photography over the past year but I'm slowly trying to get back on my feet and get my life moving again.

I have plenty of ideas for upcoming shoots, but if there's anything you guys are dying to see me do let me know! I might try it

Here are a couple of things I wish I updated sooner...
As some of you have already noticed, I was featured in Advanced Photoshop Magazine. This was my first feature in a major publication so I was pretty excited about it.
Here is their website: [link]

click for bigger image



I also got this adorable white hamster that I named Gandalf. I really wanted to do a photoshoot with him like those cute hamster pictures you've seen, but he's really difficult :< It takes him about 10 seconds to realize he's out of his cage, and when he does he totally freaks out and runs all over the place. But he fainted when he saw me so I guess that makes up for it



Thanks for all your support and love

<sub>Unfortunately I didn't take many behind the scenes for death knight because I was so busy but I hope you enjoy what I have

This is the mess I had in my living room for a few weeks while I was working on the outfit.


The armor was made out of paper mache and model magic and the edging on her outfit is made out of craft foam.


These deserve their own picture.


Here's Mary having a snack. This picture is so adorable :3




--------ZOMBIE PHOTOSHOOT--------

Here's me putting patches and blood on the pants. I look like a grandma wat.


Some delicious ribs


Beginning to set up the studio


Here are some of the organs I put in jars. I made them out of sculpey and painted over it to make it look more realistic.


Cashoo doing the stitches and makeup. While I was splattering blood on his arms it got all over my bathtub and curtains...it looked like someone was murdered</sub>

<sub>I updated my website to have retouching/manipulation before and after if you're interested. I'm willing to edit any of your photographs. Message for rates.

</a>

michellemonique.artworkfolio.com

Also, please check out this interview I did for Jitzul.com
I get asked these questions frequently, so it might be of some use to you.

</a>

Interview


Behind the scenes Mucha

Here's my cat playing on the fabric while I was trying to cut the dress. It was cute for about 30 seconds.


The swing in my living room


Erin and the swing</sub>

PLEASE NO MORE BIRTHDAY COMMENTS ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

<sub>This blog is extremely late D:
Here are some pictures of my awesome birthday cake I made with
The progression goes from fail to epic fail. It was made out of two layers of ultra rich brownie mix, layered with fudge, and covered in periwinkle frosting . It looks disgusting, but it was toxically sweet and rich. We couldn’t wait to eat it because it smelled so good, and we were laughing so hard the entire time that it just fell apart D:. The blob that looks like a cat on acid, is supposed to be a Scottish fold. It shows Cashoo’s mad drawing skills.









She also drew this freaking amazing picture for me that I put on my wall FFFFFFFFFFFF
Go to her page and fav and watch her




Yes my entire room is covered with prisoners, serial killers, and homicidal maniacs.

Does anyone else watch Prison Break? I’ve only watched the first two seasons, but it’s so addictive and is giving me chronic hypertension D: Apparently it goes into the dumper after the second season though :<

T-bag is a delicious serial killer rapist pedophile necrophiliac


Some behind the scenes from the Werewolf shoot

The furry coat thing I got from Goodwill


Heather painting her claws and drinking Pepsi...as always.
We made them out of model magic and molded them to her fingers.


On the drive up there (3 hours) we had to tape the softbox (homemade, non compact-able) to the roof of the car and sit next to it. That was really comfortable o.O





Unedited picture:


Final Images:</sub>

<sub>BIRTHDAY STUFF
To all of you who couldn't believe I'm 17 be doubtful no longer.
I'M FINALLY 18.
& I'm spending 3 days with
We're going to make this awesome periwinkle albino Scottish fold brownie cake and then go to Alcatraz in San Francisco on Saturday and frolic around parks scaring children.
I might post pictures later this week...
Also, my subscription runs out in 3 weeks so if anyone could donate you would own my heart forever

LINKS
Here is my chance to whore my accounts on other websites.

Official Website- Provides contact info if you wish to collaborate or commission
</a>


Model Mayhem - If you're a model with an account and are interested in a trade or commission contact me here. (and add me as a friend!)
</a>


Twitter - Stalk me!
</a>


Flickr- I upload additional pictures from shoots here, and you can see some of my older work.
</a>


Myspace - Nothing too interesting here. Someday I might design my page.
</a>


BEHIND THE SCENES (click the pictures!)
Voodoo Photoshoot
</a>

Banshee Photoshoot
</a>

Cotton Candy Photoshoot
I wasn't planning on doing a behind the scenes, so I only have a few pictures to show you. I didn't take a picture of the contraption holding the swing in my living room either and I regret it ;_;

The original concept sketch


Cashoo's drawings for hair ideas


The cotton candy hat...I first made a cone hat out of paper, then tore strips of cotton and wrapped it around, then sprayed it pink and blue with hair dye.


Unedited picture


Finished pictures
More will be uploaded!</sub>

<sub>Here is the behind the scenes for my “Voodoo Photoshoot” which will be part of my mythological series. I’ve been getting quite a few questions about my workflow from the development of my idea to last minute preparation.
First I began with a bit of research on my chosen subject. I read about the rituals, beliefs, and lifestyles of the people who practice Voodoo. Then I looked through references of real voodoo practice (as shown in programs such as National Geographic) and the way various artists portray this belief. I also looked to movies to help develop my idea. As you probably noticed, the character Tia Dalma from Pirates of the Caribbean was a huge influence for this shoot.

After I get my references together I draw a thumbnail of what I visualize the final image to look like. Here is an example of a thumbnail compared to the final result:

I’m somewhat embarrassed to post my drawings here because it shows I’m not a “well rounded” artist and it’s obvious I can’t draw for my life. (:
So after that's finished, I gathered the materials needed to make my vision come to life. I began with putting up a plain backdrop and a piece of fabric to make it more interesting (and balance out the subject.)I get all the fabric for backgrounds and outfits from Hancock Fabrics.

The next step was filling jars with beads, stones, feathers, noodles, sticks, hay, mud, and whatever random stuff I could find to make them look nasty and decrepit.

Then I got some candles and melt them to make them appear used.

The set is starting to come together!

Next, I went to Goodwill and bought some skirts just to rip them up and make them look muddy. (It dried lighter) I also bought a fashion top from Wet Seal.

Then I turned my extensions into dreads and painted them black to match the model’s hair. What I won’t do for photoshoots…

Here is my awesome dad cutting a stick for the skull-on-a-stick-with-feathers-and-beads-thing.

Now that I have almost everything together I start practicing the lighting so I don’t have to waste the model’s time.

Here’s a nifty tip I use to make the lights colored. I just put colored tissue paper over the lights. No need for expensive color gels.

Here are some shots of the final set up. This entire shoot was done in my living room. (:





Now for the day of the actual shoot all I have to do is get the model ready and take the completely planned out photo.
Here is Ariel before the “make over”

Here I am doing her make up




I hope this was somewhat informative and answered some of your questions. Obviously, there are a ton of details I didn't include in this behind the scenes because it would take too long and bore you to death. Setting up for this shoot took about a week from start to finish, and that's without school (:
Here are the final images from the day! I will be posting more so keep checking back!</sub>