I have ripped off the proverbial bandaid, and just like that (after a year of {over} planning) two shoots for my series are done. 

I could have kept planning. I would have! In my mind, the whole series needed to be planned down to the details so that it would be cohesive and coherent. I was so worried that I would get started, then realize something wasn't working, or perhaps worse, get four shoots in, stumble upon something awesome and wish I'd had the idea from the beginning. 

It turns out, yeah, some of that stuff may happen, but some other pretty awesome stuff is happening, too. Stuff like, both of my models for the first shoots were totally into the idea, understood what I am trying to do, and brought their collaborative spirit along to play. And, as I begin to immerse myself in this process, I am finding my way in ways that would have been impossible before I began shooting. I was writing about characters and now they are coming to life.

Sometimes I think I will shoot all of the series before I select and do final edits on any of the images. I can't decide if that's a clever artistic choice or good old fashion fear.

Either way, I'm only going to share with you a few behind the scenes, a few outtakes and maybe some partial sneak peeks along the way. I do know that much.

A few shots from the first two shoots...

a few of the props from the first shoot

the model, my gracious friend, at the end of shoot #1

{Blue paint will be a constant throughout the series.}

To prepare for shoot #2, I stained lots of paper with tea or coffee or both, then baked them, even broiled a few, in the oven to dry. 

I needed lots of crumpled up pieces of paper, but I didn't want a sea of white.

I think this one looks like a desert scene!

MANY pieces of paper from different sources were used: printing paper, pages of books, sheets of music and pages from my own sketch books and journals.

It took the better part of two days to select, stain and crumple all of this paper, but I wasn't going to settle for less than an absurdly-sized 

pile of paper in the corner of my room. When I packed it away, it took seven tall trash bags. I've taped them all shut to keep out the bugs. 

They will reside in our shed until I need them again.

Another sweet friend willing to make her body part of the canvas for my vision. We covered all of her legs and arms with

writing--mostly quotes about madness from some of classic literature's most insane authors and characters.