I found an old black and white photo of my parents and sister that was taken in 1949. My father was a graduate student at BYU. Mom stayed home to take care of their young child, Susan. Daddy has been dead now for twenty-two years. Mom lives alone in their house. Susie will be sixty-five in April. She spends a lot of time making sure Mom is okay.
I wanted to see if I could bring the picture alive. I had no idea what colors to use. The values were washed out in the photograph. I spent countless hours trying to figure it out. I worked over and over just experimenting with their skin color. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever attempted to do, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It got to the point that I felt like my father was there with me while I painted it.
Comments on Shadows From the Past
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this painting!!!! It takes me right to that moment in time. Love the colors and the feel. Good job!
This is one of your finest paintings.
The painting arrived yesterday and it’s just great, Tom. Wonderful. I love seeing your parents and my wife — she’s the little one 😉 — at that point in their lives. I told Susie this morning that it’s sort of like a 1949 movie that instead of being made in black and white was shot in Technicolor because you brought it to life so magically! (BTW, I think it’s the best painting you’ve ever done of your father.)
Thank you!
Imagine my surprise to find this on my doorstep when I returned home last night. When I opened it, I was overwhelmed to find that one of my favorite old black and white photographs had come alive in color. I don’t know how you ever did it, but the colors are perfect. It warms my heart to see my Daddy and Mommy back in those days. Thank you for the most wonderful gift you could give me, Tom and Norene!
This turned out beautifully.
Wonderful!
Thanks for sharing; it’s beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful!