Silhouette's are a traditional form of portraiture.
Creating silhouettes is a centuries old art. What our ancestors could do by candlelight, we can now do by the power of electricity. It is simply a matter of casting a shadow, which is then captured by the artist and cut out to create an outline portrait of the subject. Silhouettes are commonly made of people's heads, but other items solid enough to cast a clear shadow can also make interesting silhouettes. While black paper is the easiest to get a clear image onto, the silhouette, once cut out can be used as a template to create a silhouette in any shade, on virtually any flat material.
Instructions
1. Tape a large sheet of black construction paper to a wall, at about head high for the subject. Turn off all lights and cover the windows in your room to create the darkest space possible. Cover mirrors and other reflective surfaces with a bed sheet or other fabric. A single source of illumination is best for a clear shadow with only one outline.
2. Remove the shade from a lamp with a single bulb, or use a large flashlight to aim at the black paper. Stand your subject between the light and the paper so that the shadow is cast onto the paper. Most silhouettes are done of the profile, or side view, which is typically the most distinctive outline of a person's head. Turn the model until the silhouette is exactly as you want it. Move them closer to the paper to shrink the silhouette, or further away to enlarge it. Move the light source as needed for a clear, single shadow.
3. Instruct your model to stand perfectly still for an accurate image. Trace the outline of the shadow onto the paper with a piece of white chalk. Turn the lights on and examine the silhouette, make adjustments as needed. Remove the paper from the wall and use scissors to cut the silhouette from the black paper.
