What
you need to begin:
-
Black & White Photograph, 5 X 7 or 8 X 10, Matte finish
-
Marshalls Oil Paints and/or Marshalls Colored pencils
-
Marshalls
P.M. Solution
-
Wax Paper, styrofoam plate, white plate or other flat
palette
-
Cotton Swabs
-
Round
Wooden Toothpicks
-
100% Cotton Balls
-
Drafting Tape or Artist's Tape
-
Kneaded Eraser
Coloring
Your Photographs
If
your photo is printed on RC paper, then you may need to pre-treat
the print with Marshalls PM Solution or Marshalls Pre-Color
Spray. If you are working with an unmounted fiber-based paper,
it will have the tendency to curl. Use some drafting tape
to flatten it while you work.
Rub a thin layer of PM Solution over the surface of the print
& let dry for a few minutes.
Squeeze
a small amount of paint onto a palette.
Begin
applying paint either top to bottom or inside to out. This
will prevent smearing the paint.
Dip
a cotton swab or cotton ball (depending on surface area) into
the paints. Careful not to pick up too much paint. A little
paint goes a long way
Use
small circular motions to apply the paint. Work paint out
almost to the edges. Blend down to desired shade. Do not let
paint build up or puddle.
Carefully
blend the edges where one colors borders another color.
Add
Neutral Tint mixed with a little bit of the color you are
working with & apply in the shadows of backgrounds, foliage,
folds of clothing, etc. Blend lightly.
After
this, you may see an area that needs a boost of color or highlights
that need to be rubbed down.
Use
a kneaded eraser to clean any paint from the eyes, teeth,
jewelry, & white portions.
For
coloring eyes, lips, cheeks, details to hair & clothing, use
a tiny hand wrapped cotton swab or a Marshalls colored pencil.
When
using pencils, be sure to use a very light touch or you will
destroy the surface of the photo.
Portraits
Backgrounds:
Apply a coat of paint to cover most of the background. Come
close to the hairline but be careful not to smear too much
paint into the hair. Ultra Blue, Viridian, Violet & Neutral
Tint in any combination are nice background colors.
Hair
Apply an even coat of paint into the hair. Careful not to
runover into the face. Blondes: Raw Sienna & Yellow with Verona
Brown in shadows
Brunettes:
Verona Brown with Sepia in shadows, Try a little Vermilion
red in the highlights.
Redheads:
Burnt Sienna and Verona Brown. Try a little Orange in the
highlights. Face Apply an even coat of paint to the face,
arms and legs. Add a touch of Cheek or Burnt Sienna to the
shadows in the arms and legs.
Women:
Blondes:
Flesh # 2 or Regular Flesh with a little cheek
Brunettes:
Flesh with a touch of orange in highlights and Verona Brown
and Carmine in the shadows.
Olive
Skin: Flesh mixed with a little Raw Sienna and Burnt Sienna
in the shadows. Use Cheek color on cheeks and Lipstick Red
for lips.
Children:
Same but blend colors down more and use less color in cheeks
and lips.
Men:
Same
as above, except use Burnt Sienna mixed with a Cheek or Carmine
on cheeks and lips and a touch of Verona Brown in the shadows
Eyes are easily done with the pencils. Ultra Blue, Sky Blue,
Viridian, and Verona Brown are the best colors. Try using
the tiny point of a wooden toothpick to add a touch of white
to highlights of the eyes and a tiny dot of red to the inside
corner of eyes and nostrils
Blend
background, hair, and face carefully to the edges using cotton
swabs.
Add
Neutral Tint to the shadows.
Blend down highlights or add a tiny touch of Yellow.
Let
Dry
Landscapes
The
Marshall palette offers a beautiful selection of natural colors.
You do not need an art background to get lovely results. Work
from the top down or inside to the outside edges in order
to avoid smearing the paints. You can easily do one section
at a time, then return to work the other sections at a later
date.
Drying
Your Photograph
Let
the photo dry in a covered box (to avoid dust) for about a
week. Humid areas require more drying time. If you find the
drying time unacceptable then try Marshalls Drying Medium
to quicken the drying time.
Framing
Always
matt your photos before framing them. The photo should never
touch the glass directly. If left unframed, store in a glassine
envelope.
Tips for Taking Great Pictures
Getting Started - Basic Tips on Hand Coloring Photography
Hand Wrapping a Cotton Skewer
Marshall Oil's Guide to Hand Coloring Black & White Photography (PDF)
FAQ
