The Art of Handpainting Photographs (Amphoto Crafts)

Transform ordinary black-and-white photos into beautifully painted display art. This step-by-step workbook guides you through the process, assists with material selection and provides different approaches to different originals and other useful handcoloring tips. These techniques can be useful not only to the photographer, but artists and creative hobbyists as well.

The tradition of coloring photographs is almost as old as the medium itself, arising from the desire to soften the starkness of early photos. Handcoloring is very popular again, and this lovely book makes it easy to see why. Art photographer Dorskind clearly explains how she achieves her evocative and atmospheric "photopaintings," from materials and color basics, to composing a photo, to presenting and storing your work. Though the finished product may look like something only a professional photographer could produce, the technique is actually quite straightforward. And though the supplies are specialized, they are found at many art- and photo-supply stores, or can be ordered from a supplier in the book's resource guide. --Amy Handy