Another pair of jeans...ruined....

I'm getting closer to my deadline for the illustrations for my first book. I've been painting since 9:00 this morning, taking only one break to walk the dog and eat lunch. When I looked down, my jeans were covered in paint (I've been wiping my brushes clean on them). I thought it would be a good idea to post my progress so far. I am a tease, I know, but I hope that teasing will help sell a few more copies of the book when it is available for sale.

The hope is, people actually look at this blog and are interested in what I've been doing. I'm sure at least my dad cares...Dad, would you please buy this book when it comes out? PLEASE????





Here's













Me












Painting












And this is a snapshot of a couple of illustrations. I'm still plugging away, but they're coming together. Soon, there will be people painted in....OH JOY!!

Yes, I am a tease, but my intentions are good, and I think the book will be good too. When the book is finished, I'll be sure to make an "official" announcement, both via blog and email, maybe even a press release and postcards....Who knows?

Shameless plugs:

Tee shirts, coffee mugs, and other fun stuff:
www.cafepress.com/nancymichaud

I've got more work online:
www.portfolios.com/nancymichaud

Technology: one of many things that keep me from having a social life.

"Technology Rules!"

It's about darn time I posted something new!

I've been busy plugging away at the illustrations for my first book, but I still have managed to find the time to print new postcards and send out yet another mailing. I've also spent a lot of time creating new work for my cafe press page.

When I set up my new computer and scanner earlier this month, I was so excited, I got about 4 hours of sleep over the course of three days. I'd work all day, come home and eat, then stay up into the wee hours drawing and coming up with new ideas. Oh what fun!

Below are some examples of my new Photoshop work. I am still getting used to the whole coloring process, but I am actually pretty happy with the way it's progressing. If I continue to obsess at the rate I've been, maybe I will be a "master" at Photoshop illustration in a year. Who knows?

By the way, to see more Photoshop work and other fun stuff, visit my cafe press page at: www.cafepress.com/nancymichaud

"I'm Loony for Loons"

"I Miss You"

Two Drawings of Audrey Hepburn's Character, Holly Golightly, from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.

"Sad Seal"

By the way. I am currently working on a painted version of "Sad Seal". Instead of saying "Arf" however, he'll be saying "Art". Yes, I seriously need to get a life.

Instructions for a Paper Quilt

List of Supplies:

-Good-quality drawing paper, such as Arches, Strathmore, or a nice quality watercolor paper. Must be 100% rag, and be thick enough to sustain being sewn. Cut one base piece to the desired size of the completed quilt.

-Quilting pattern pieces.

-Collage materials (I used pages from an old hymn book for this project), cut to desired sizes.

-embroidery floss and needle.

-A small awl.

-Gesso

-Acrylic paints, assorted colors.

-Paint brushes, ranging in sized from very large to small.

-Scissors, a rotary cutter, or utility knife.

-Mod Podge, or decopage glue.

-Pencil.

-Acid free glue stick.

-Rags.


Step one: Start off with a quilt pattern. You can make your own, or use a pre-made pattern. Just remember: quilt patterns have a 1/4" extra added to each edge for seam allowance. Be sure to remove that 1/4", or your pieces might not fit together correctly.
Trace and cut out pieces.










Step two: Prepare the base piece. You may skip this step if you'd rather paint the whole quilt. Using Mod Podge (a decopage glue), thinned out with a little water, coat the base piece, in small sections. Apply your collage materials, and brush another coat of Mod Podge over the top. You may need to apply another coat once the base piece is dry.








Step three: Once the base piece has dried thoroughly, trim the edges (you may use a rotary cutter, scissors, or a utility knife).










Step four: Draw guidelines (in pencil) to determine where to place you quilting pieces. For this quilt, I drew two perpendicular lines that intersected in the center of the base piece. Place your pieces, using an acid free glue stick.









Step five: Using an awl, punch all of your stitch holes.











Step six: Stitch on pieces. If preferred, you may use a sewing machine set on a zig-zag stitch. However, this may cause damage to your sewing machine. If you choose to use a sewing machine, skip step five.











Step seven: Gesso the sewn-on pieces. One to two coats should be enough. Don't worry about gessoing over the embroidery floss.










Step eight: Apply a ground to all of your gessoed pieces. I chose lemon yellow for this particular quilt.









Step nine: After the ground has completely dried, apply a flat coat of color over the ground. Apply the paint thinly enough so that the ground shows through a little.










Step ten: Add in highlights, blending in for a smooth transition.










Step eleven: Using a thinned down mixture of blue and brown, paint in shadows to emphasize the edges of the sewn pieces.









Step twelve: Once entire painting is completely dry, apply a very thinned out layer of the same blue and brown mixture all over the entire painting. Using a large, dry brush, lift up excess paint. Using a dry brush, and a rag, continue gently lifting up paint until desired effect is reached.










To see more examples of paper quilts, click on my previous blogs: "Waste Not Want Not", and "More Quilting Action".

If you have any questions or comments about this project, or my other work, please email me: nancymichaud@gmail.com , or post a comment on this page.

I've got more work online!
www.portfolios.com/nancymichaud

Tee shirts, postcards, and other fun stuff!
www.cafepress.com/nancymichaud