Question Regarding Black & White?

[Julianne Lowman]

Here's a new one for me. I was recently commissioned to paint two children from a black and white reference photo. I am assuming I will use the photo as a reference, but will need to take color photos or work from life to get the most accurate skin tones possible. Since black and white can only translate values, I have no idea if the values are warm or cool, red or green, purple or yellow, etc. Has anyone out there ever done a color portrait from only using a black and white reference. If so, can you post your results and the original reference? Funny how non-artists think you can just make this stuff up. Perhaps I SHOULD be able to make it up, but I'm just not good enough for that.