How to Make Silhouettes as a Classroom Project
A silhouette is like a shadow. It is dark and without details or features but retains the shape of the image. Silhouettes can be created using a light background for contrast. You can teach students about the elements and principles of art by creating silhouettes in the classroom.
Instructions
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Ask students to lightly paint a background on the paper. They should include a low-lying light source in their painting, such as a rising or setting sun, by using light or bright colored paint. Remind them that the background should be light to provide contrast with the silhouette. Watercolors are a good paint choice here because it is difficult to make them dark.
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Instruct students to sketch the outline of an image on the paper after the paint has dried. The image should be centered over the light source they included but should not cover the outer edges of the light emanating from the source.
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Cut pictures from the old magazines with students. Remind them that darker pictures will create a more realistic silhouette and provide higher contrast with the lightly colored background. Have them piece together the cut pictures to completely cover the surface of the image and glue them to the paper. Sketching the image before gluing the magazine pieces on it gives students the opportunity to explore multiple elements and principles of design, including line, form and texture.
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Display silhouettes in the classroom.
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Tips & Warnings
To introduce the idea of silhouette, use a flashlight to backlight objects in the classroom. Turn off the classroom lights and shine a flashlight behind an object. Talk with students about the way the object looks dark and without detail, since no light illuminates its features.
References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
