Hand-Colored Photography: Exceptional and Unique

Ever since the creation of the photographic arts in the early 1800s, photographers have been creating hand colored photography. Daguerreo-types and tintypes had color added to the image for the intention of making them look more true. The large majority of clients for the new enterprising photographers sought out portraiture and the sole way to delight these sponsors was to add color by hand. Handcolored picturesque postal card* also became quite celebrated. This fad prevailed into the mid-20th century prior to the debut of colored film. Once color photography was more popular, hand-painted photographs became almost obsolete. Nowadays, some artists continue to embrace this technique in and of itself as an art form. Digital photography now allows both professionals and beginners alike to delight in the experience of colorising their images with ease, as well as furnishing a means to make a fine art photographic print. However there is still nothing like an original silver gelatin print that has been handcolored. There is an airy quality to handcolored fine art photography which is entirely unlike either the bold graphic colors in ektachrome or kodachrome colour photography.

Unique hand-painted photography is being done in a wide range of styles from thinly painted images to the contemporary heavily painted photos of the famed artist Holly Roberts. A classic image where only one focal point is handcolored can be extremely effective. A young girl clasping a lily where only the lily has a delicate, subtle shade added to it creates a captivating statement. Yet every bit as effective is an photo that has been transformed into a personal artistic statement. The creations of award winning artist, Padgett McFeely, is a perfect case in point. Her photos ranges from the classical hand painted photograph to the extreme heavily painted photograph. In her words, she “enriches her photographs with her hand painting techniques allowing her to amplify the mystic and intrigue of a particular scene, enhancing the emotional and spiritual content with the paint.”

A hand colored photograph is a form of the original fine arts as well as a permanent treasure. Oil paint is one of the most commonly used mediums. It is applied directly to the surface of the original black and white photograph. The oil paint coats the surface of the photograph, which results in protecting the hand colored image. The photographer is in no way confined to oil paint. A wide variety of mediums can be listed in the process of coloring photographs. Watercolor, acrylic paint, color pencil, oil pastel, crayon, felt-tipped makers - the sky’s the limit! The surface of the photograph must be taken into consideration, however. A paper stock with “tooth” is necessary for pencil application, for example.

McFeely discusses her images with a sense of reverence. “Capturing illusions of reality on film by utilizing the raw purity of black and white photography is intrinsic to my work. As my photography advances through a variety of stages, I am in essence seeking for that dream in the back of my mind”. Enter into her dream world and delve into the elegance of a hand painted photograph.

To see samples of McFeeleys Hand Colored Photographs visit www.GoodHandArts.com.
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