Musings of a Designer on Jewelry, Crochet, Crochet Patterns, Knitting, Running a Crafty Business, Movie Costumes, Books, Art, Design, Steampunk & the Geek Girl Life

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Hand Tinting an Engraving -- Further Explorations

Well, I am so glad you all liked the tutorial on hand tinting an engraving! What an overwhelming response! Thank you to everyone who left such lovely comments and to those who emailed me for more info!

I was so inspired by all your positive feedback that I'd thought I'd play around with the idea some more. Here is another pic from the Graphic Fairy -- which is fast becoming a daily addiction to check :) Pretty yellowed paper, but gorgeous mermaid! Love the tail on her and that wistful pose.
OK... so here is it cleaned up and tinted. You can see the tips for doing this on the prior post, "Hand Tinting an Engraving -- Marie Antoinette in Color". I used a lot of colored chalk on this one for a softer look. Chalk works really well to introduce texture when you have large blank areas of paper to cover. She also has that trademark rouge I give all my engraved women.


Next, I thought it would be fun to scan this back into the computer and see what it would look like converted back into a black and white image. This is what it would have looked like had it been printed in a newspaper and then left to age 20 years. Now it's vintage :) For those who don't know, I adore hand tinting and since I don't have a color printer (just this 20 year old cranky doorstop that reluctantly spits out black ink invoices) I probably spend more time than most perfecting hand tinting since if I want it in color, I have to colorize it :) I do have access to a scanner though, so just had to try this.

Oh, it is just lovely!!! Really rich depth of tone. Tail could have some deeper shadows, but all in all quite worthy of being an illustration to a children's story.


Well, that looked pretty cool, but what if a used some of those fancy filters that come with your computer's graphic program. You know, the ones that are fun to play with but you never really use? This is what it would look like in thick, creamy oil pastels. Oo la la!!! That is just amazingly beautiful! Barely looks anything like the original. Scroll up to the top yellow original holding this image in your mind to see how much the image has evolved.

Well, thank you so much everybody for being my inspiration to continue playing with this!

Now, I have a question for you. This further exploration has turned out so well, do you think I should maybe try to make some notecards or postcards from these images? Do you think there would be any interest?

And if I did, since I don't really do any printing, how would you turn an image like this into a postcard? The only thing I can think of is printing the image out at a copyshop and then appliquéing it onto the front of a blank card so it would be an artcard, but lots of artists make postcards so there must be a better way out there. I would love any advice on this.

In other news, school starts for my two little ones in just a week, so I can now declare my blog break officially over :) Soon they will be off to school with their little backpacks and lunch boxes. My youngest is off to kindergarten this year and it will be strange not to have him at home, but this is going to be such an exciting year for him! My eldest loves school and can't wait to show his little brother the ropes. What good brothers they are!

14 comments:

Gracie said...

Ohh wow Heather they look fantastic! Three different looks with the one picture. I say definitely use these for art cards or note cards or the like. They are beautiful!

Though I can't give too much advise on how to do it as I don't print my note cards out. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who can give advice though.

(I love your vegies in the previous post by the way)

And how exciting that your youngest is going off to kindergarden! I'm sure he will be fine, especially with an older brother to look after him =)

Yay to you coming back from your blog break!!

Anonymous said...

ANY engraving I love but the way you colored these (and the prior post) is very fun!!
D.

Anonymous said...

It's amazing what you can do with just one engraving image !
I love the "transformation process".
The black and white version and the filter one are so beautiful !
This is really inspiring !

I think those would definitely make beautiful postcards. Quite original too.

Lori said...

Heather, i love how you colorize those engravings...they look so pretty...i really want to give this a try...i don't know anything about making postcards, sorry...i hope someone can leave you some advice on that...my kiddos are off to school this coming tuesday, my baby is entering middle school...i can't believe it!!!

SweetAnnee said...

They all look so great..
If you get blank postcards
you could run it through the
printer..if you have on the
sets for different paper sizes...

I know I've seen blank ones before..
deena

JillHannah said...

Ways of making postcards:

Easy, gorgeous, and expensive:
http://www.moo.com/products/postcards.php

Less easy, less nice, but cheap if you want 100 or more of the same design:
http://www.vistaprint.com/full-color-postcards.aspx?xnav=LeftItem&xnid=CardsNotesStationery&dng=1061560

At-home method:
Buy a color printer. Buy good paper. Print your designs on the paper. If you want the postcard-looking back, find a template online, or buy pre-made postcard paper (more expensive, not necessarily as good).


Good luck!

Betty said...

Wow! I love, love the last picture. That would be a gorgeous print. I wish I knew how to tell you to make it in to a postcard. You'll have to let us know what you find out!

roseroomnz.com said...

Oh how fantastic, I am going to have a go! I think yes to postcards, go to a print or copy shop who can print and cut them for you. Your little boys sound so good:) Rachaelxo

Sugar Bear said...

Magnificent! So beautiful.
Karla

Waterrose said...

I love the middle version that you made. Guess I love that vintage look! I think a color printer is in order for you! Then you can just get some card stock and print away!

Anonymous said...

Your children sound amazing!

I think a range of postcards/notecards in that style of artwork would be really wonderful. I think having at least 5 different ones on offer would be even better though, but maybe I'm just saying that so I can see some more of your artwork! There are many websites that will make your artwork into postcards for you... the main one I see being mentioned on the Etsy forums is overnightprints.com

Good luck if you go ahead with it!

Mary Timme said...

I love the work, but I have a note drawer that is full of cards right now and more in another bookcase, so I won't be buying more in the near future, but I think it is a great idea! I hope you get good feed back.

Kids in school. Ah another phase of life.

Lola Enchanted said...

*^* NICE *^*

NeereAnDear said...

Heather I love this medium you are experimenting with.... and the coloring you use is fabulous... you have an eye for it...

You could purchase blank note cards and post cards and since you dont have a color printer simply take the image to the printer.... even a kinkos and they will do it for you.... you must make sure they realize its your art or they wont print it due to copyright infringement... that is the only problem.... If you can borrow a colored printer from someone you can scan into your computer and print them that way... there are also some websites that do it for you.... I believe A D Regan is one.... I will try to find you the link...

I will be out of touch for a while... I am having surgery on my foot finally... so letting my friends know ...dont want them to think I forgot about them....information is on my blog

HUGS AND GOOD LUCK WITH THIS NEW ADVENTURE

JO