VICTORIA BLEWER'S STEPS TO HAND-COLORING A PHOTOGRAPH

STEP #1
A black and white negative's image is printed on a porous black and white photographic paper in the darkroom.

 

 

 

 

 

STEP #2
The photograph is then toned for color and longevity. The print becomes archival and permanent.

 

 

 

STEP #3
After the print dries, it is painted with "photo oils". The brush is a cotton swab made by hand. (It takes easily a hundred of theses brushes to complete one picture.) Light layers of paint are applied gently to the photograph until the application is smooth and even. Each photograph is an original print, hand-colored individually by hand and prepared in a limited edition of 40. This technique of coloring photographs is the method used of obtaining colored photographs before the invention of color film. The technique is ideal for enhancing the surreal or nostalgic look of my photographs.