Before, after, and painted

It's fun to imagine color into a black and white photograph.  The technique I like to use for hand painting photographs was first made popular in Europe and Japan in the mid 1860's.  This method of painting is applied with brushes, and cotton strips.  Oil paint is painted onto a sepia toned silver photograph to create a permanent color picture.  My approach to hand painting images is very similar to that of these traditional techniques, but I also like to varnish my finished work to seal in the color and add a protective layer of topcoat. 

BEFORE

AFTER

PAINTED