Photosketch For Profit

Enlarge Image Image Gallery This plain old everyday black-and-white photo can, with a few hours' work and a total investment of 54? . . . be turned into this ""work of art"", which may be ... framed with recycled materials and sold for $16! PHOTO/ILLUSTRATION BY THE AUTHOR

David VanderZwaag turns his winter evenings into summer cash!

For about 544, 1 can turn an everyday black-and-white photo into a $16.00 work of art ... and, my easy, enjoyable home business doesn't require any special talent or equipment, either!

In fact, if you can gather together some matte—finish (not glossy!) black-and-white photographs, a lettering pen (and, as an option, a crow quill pen), a jar of waterproof India ink, three developing trays (old cake pans will do), two ounces of tincture of iodine, and a quart of photographic fixer, you'll be all set to go into business for yourself!

SKETCH IN THE PHOTO

To make a photosketch, just ink over all of the gray and black tones in the picture (leave the white areas alone) with India ink. Be neat and careful, and work down from the top of the print to avoid smears. It's best to just outline some objects, completely blacken in others, and experiment with different types of lines: vertical and horizontal, short and long, and thick and thin. (The lettering pen will make thick, heavy lines, while the crow quill point produces thin,. light marks.) Be sure to "fill in" the picture I because the photographic image will later be bleached away, and only your ink marks will appear in the final photosketch.

THEN "DEVELOP" YOUR ARTWORK

While the ink dries (usually in 30 minutes or so), set out three trays that are slightly larger than the photo's dimensions (I use 8" X 10" prints, which are easy to develop at home—or inexpensive when done by a photo lab—and are a convenient size to ink and frame.)

Then, in the first tray (No. 1), mix two ounces of iodine tincture with three cups of room—temperature water. (If this solution won't quite cover your prints, add a bit more water.)

With this done, fill the second tray (No. 2) with room—temperature water, and then pour a quart of photographic fixer (available at most any photo shop), mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions, into tray No. 3.

When the chemicals are ready and the inked photo is dry, immerse your sketch--image side up—in the iodine solution for one or two minutes . . . or until the picture turns a uniform olive-green color. (Handle the photo with rubber gloves, forceps, or photographic tweezers to prevent stained fingers!)

Once the color change is complete, remove the photo from the iodine and submerge it in tray No. 2 (the water) for 30 seconds ... being careful not to touch the ink. This "bath" will rinse off any excess iodine.

After that, dip the print (again, image side up) in tray No. 3 and watch a miracle take place. The olive-green background will dissolve in the photo fixer and leave nothing but your India ink "artwork"!

When all of the color has disappeared (you may have to rock the tray to speed up the process), remove the sketch and rinse it for five minutes in running water . . . but don't wipe it, or you'll smear the ink. For best results, dry your picture between sheets of blotting paper—or the pages of a book—for one or two days before you frame it.