Dianne Poinski
The work area consisted of two tables covered in white butcher paper, neatly set with art supplies like an élite dinner party for honored guests. This was serious stuff, and like Julie Roberts in the restaurant scene of Pretty Woman, I was nervous about the proper use of each utensil. After walking around the studio, though, I couldn’t help relax. Dianne’s photography combined with a unique talent for hand coloring drew me into a world of harmony and peace.
Our first assignment involved hand coloring a black-and-white country scene with mountains, grass, and sky. I sat at the table like a kindergartener on her first day of school, pleased with the familiarity in the photo, but unsure what to do first. Dianne gave a through demonstration, and afterwards the other three ladies at my table immediately began coloring. I hesitated. I wanted little paint-by-numbers to magically appear on my print. Realizing this wasn’t going to happen, I picked up a wooden-handled sponge, dipped the tip into a light-green tint, and gave my photo some color.
The moment my sponge touched the mountaintop, I fell in love with the process of colorizing black and white photos. The more shades I experimented with the more I felt connected to the country scene resembling home. I can do this, I thought. The benefit of creating something that didn’t require electricity, a mouse, a monitor, or a clicking keyboard was downright liberating.
By the end of the day I had colored four black and white prints, two of Dianne’s and two that I had emailed to her prior to the workshop. Here’s one of my finished photographs.
Dianne Poinski’s images are available worldwide as prints published by Portal Publishing and Bentley Publishing Group. For more information go to www.dpoinski.com or visit Dianne at her studio the second Saturday each month at 1021 R Street, 2nd floor, Sacramento. Dianne can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
In and Around the Garden 