I know!!!
I do colorized photos with SU! reinkers frequently!!!! I *LOVE* to do this!!!!
Okay...first gather up your supplies:
1) Black / White *GLOSSY* photo of choice - preferably not one with too many "elements"
2) Reinkers of Choice**
3) Blender Pens - SU! Brand *ONLY*
4) Blending Palette (can be an old plate, a styrofoam tray from cookies {{{ *NOT MEAT* }}}, a disposable plate....somewhere that colors can be mixed
5) Toothpicks to Blend Colors
6) Fine-Point Natural-Bristle Paint Brush
7) Acrylic Sealer (Matte, Preferably)
Okay...a few things requiring explanation here before we continue. Glossy photo is required because you'll be working with *wet* materials. If you were to work with a *matte* photo, it will take the finish right off. Not what you're going for! Next - *do not* use a styrofoam plate that has held meat products on it. This should go without saying, but just for the record: In spite of conscientious washing, it could still contain bacteria and acids detrimental to the archival properties you desire in your artwork for the future. Why SU! Blender pens only? Because they work and when I've tried others in a pinch, they haven't! Yeah, they may cost a few pennies more but you'll save yourself frustration in the long run. (I suspect SU blenders contain more glycerin and less water.....)
Now....for "Sepia Tones" I would be looking into the Earth Elements palette of SU! (or a comparable palette if you're looking at another vendor...I'll give you the SU! colors because those are what *I* work with.) I'm thinking Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, and More Mustard. I think that Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie are going to be your "wild card" colors - that is, you want them on stand by for shading and to use to highlight, but they should not dominate the color scheme because one is so bold and the other is so vibrant. The other four you should be able to mix to create various shades and hues that balance one another.
If you're working with a caucasian subject, I recommend Blush Blossom for a basic pale skin tone with "warmers" added in with Creamy Caramel. If you're working with another ethnicity, you'll want to play around until you're able to reach a tone you that works. If you like a dramatic look of blushed cheeks, Pretty in Pink works well over the Blush Blossom but you must use an *extremely* light hand because they are easy to overdo and hard to remove. Be very careful with lips - on boys and men, they can end up looking like drag queens and on girls and women, they can look like Parisian wh*res! Lips take an even steadier hand than the rest of the project - and I must admit that there is something mysterious about just leaving them alone entirely.
Remember when you are coloring that you'll need to follow the "grain" of whatever you're coloring. If you're coloring denim, you need to follow that pattern - don't color in circles, or they'll show. If you're coloring tree bark that is vertical, don't color horizontal or that will show. Use your fine-point paint brush when you need to get into a small space to define a line with a dark color.
I wish that I had one of my examples to show you, but I give these away as gifts every time I make them! I also don't tend to do an entire photograph - I only pull out the main subjects and colorize them and leave the backgrounds alone. I find that to be a more dramatic look. When I *have* done an entire photo, it's been more "Warhol-esque" with the colors completely askew from what should have been found in nature.
I hope this information helps. Next time I do a photo (maybe this weekend, before I go cropping...) I'll post it. ~ Kaylyn
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Hi...My Name is Kaylyn...I'm An Alphaholic.
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