Amaginig skin tone for sepia photo portrait

Persia

I'm looking for some input of what direction to go when "making up skin tone " to  a sepia photo that doesn't have any?Here is the photo.Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

shobhasartspeakz

May be this - 

Persia

Thank you -shobhasartspeakz - What program did you use to achieve this?I have others that are  close up that would give me more detail.Could you make it so I can copy it ? For some reason it won't let me copy.

I do know the cloth is water satin black taffeta.

shobhasartspeakz

Welcome. I used GIMP. Upload the close-ups and I will try. To copy this one, on pc, right-click > Open Image In New Tab > (Go to the newly opened tab) > right-click > Save image as...

tassieguy

GIMP is great. Does everything I need. And it's free. 

Persia

shobhasartspeakz -

Thank you .I'm researching GIMP.I wonder what size canvas should I use for this portrait?

Forgiveness

I suggest a 14"x 20" canvas. This will allow for a life size head with plenty of room below for everything else, and it's a comfortable size and porportion to work with.

Persia

Forgiveness - I have available to me now a triple primed 18x24. Do you feel it is too big?Or should I go bigger 24x30.what would be the advantages and disadvantages in your opinion?

shobhasartspeakz

@Persia, you are welcome. Canvas as in GIMP or Physical?
If you are asking physical, @Forgiveness is on point. Mark always recommends, and I try to follow, to have enough space to paint life-size head, as far as portrait is concerned. For an adult man life-size is ~7.5 inches, hairline to chin, 9" from top of the head to chin. Give and take 20%. If you look at your reference, this is roughly 2.5 heads length, i.e. 9" X 2.5" i.e. 22.5". So you will need a canvas at least 22.5" in length. Also the size of the portrait depends on the distance from which painting will be viewed in it's habitat (if it's known before hand). Go life-size if viewing distance is ~8 feet. For every 3' increment increase the size by ~15-20%, if you want to give the viewer the feel of viewing a life-size portrait from a distance. 

Forgiveness

I suggest 18"x 24" and I like what @ shobhasartspeakz mentioned.

Persia

shobhasartspeakz - Thank you.

Well that's a start! hahah Now I'm going to back to GIMP and start working out those skins tones.

If only I had a picture of her at that age  but they were all black and white .

tassieguy - Did the trial picture for me but I want to tweak it.

I do know the clothing is a black Moire taffeta.Was told it had a  hint a silver thread in the veining. (My Mum was very admit about the description of it to me). Personally I don't think there was .I believe she just thought it was silver due to the process of manufacturing this type effect in silk.

shobhasartspeakz

@Persia, may be something like this - 

Richard_P

That looks good!

tassieguy

Great job. @shobhasartspeakz. That black silk now looks so real.

Forgiveness

Beautiful work on the silk, it also makes her pendant show nicer and a little more obvious, that's wonderful!

Richard_P

It's a pity the photo seems to have a foggy, lower contrast effect in the top left. I'd boost the contrast in that part to bring back the darks.

shobhasartspeakz

@Richard_P you are right. tried to do something, though certain things demand more time which I do not have, so, may be, this should be ok for now... CC always welcome.

shobhasartspeakz

@tassieguy @Forgiveness  Thank you. 

Persia

shobhasartspeakz - HollyCow! Thanks so Much!If I ever get this done I will be in her good books forever!

Richard_P

Brillitant job! @shobhasartspeakz

shobhasartspeakz

@Persia Welcome.
@Richard_P Thanks