The art of paper cut silhouettes

Family Silhouettes 

The art of paper cut silhouettes originated in Europe in the early 1700’s. Skilled artists would capture their subjects in profile by cutting their portraits in black paper by hand. Through the years they’ve become cherished collectibles and highly personal works of art. Even though they contain no colors or shading, they can beautifully show off the unique and intimate details of a person’s face.

Many people no longer cut silhouettes freehand as digital cameras make this timeless art much easier. You can use this modern technique to create your own special family portraits by following the instructions below.

MATERIALS
Acid-free craft paper, mix of solid colors and decorative patterns
Very sharp craft knife
Digital camera
Pencil, light color if tracing onto a solid color
Glue stick or double stick tape
Frames

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start by using your digital camera to take profile pictures of your family members against a blank wall. Take care to avoid shadows under noses and chins as much as possible. Using natural sunlight is best. This will make it easier to cut out accurate templates for your silhouettes. Maintain the same distance and height for each subject so they all have similar proportions.
2. Print out your digital photos at home or at a photo-processing center. If you need to do any resizing use your computer’s photo editing tools if you have them, if not many photo processing kiosks give you the ability to edit your photos.
3. Using your sharp craft knife carefully cut out just the profile image of your subject making sure to capture small details like curls, glasses, lips and other delicate features. This is your template. Add a name and date the back (white part) of each template so you have a personal record of who it is and when it was created.
4. Begin your silhouette creation by choosing paper for both the silhouette itself and for the background. Choose patterns and colors that will fit your décor. For the silhouette choose a classic solid black or another dark solid shade. Feel free to experiment and try out different combinations.
5. Using a sharp pencil, trace the template onto the solid craft paper. A sharp pencil will give you the finest possible lines. Make sure to trace the profile in the opposite direction you want it to appear in the frame.
6. Carefully cut out your traced image just inside the line using a very sharp craft knife. Pay special attention to the small details and don’t pull or tug to separate the silhouette from the rest of the paper.
7. Once you have finished cutting out your silhouette the bottom will likely be flat. Give it a more elegant shape by drawing a curve on the backside of the silhouette of the contour near the shoulder. Then, cut along your traced line with your craft knife.
8. Finally, you will be mounting your silhouette image onto your backing paper. You can center it exactly or leave more space at the bottom. Use a glue stick or double stick tape to adhere. Avoid using wet glue as it can cause crinkling or warping. Try leaving the very top and very bottom unglued to give the silhouette the illusion of floating.
9. For framing, experiment with ornate, antique-style frames or try a cleaner, more modern look.

Tip: If you already have silhouettes of parents or grandparents, try mixing them in with your new family portraits. Create a modern family tree by arranging framed silhouettes on a wall with grandparents at the top and successive generations below them. Try a free-form arrangement or make a geometric shape with your framed family artwork.

Tip: Update your silhouettes as your family grows and gets older. Create a scrapbook to collect old portraits for each family member or keep them hanging up on your wall to show the progression.