How to Paint a Silhouette

Do you have a lot of wall space but rent and can't paint them? Try making a unique art piece. Paint a silhouette of yourself and your roommate (if you have one). The unique piece brings something that is personal to your place.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Canvas (22x18 works best)
• Paint (3+ colors)
• Paint brushes
• Water
• Cup
• Flashlight
• Pencil
• 2 friends

1. Gather all your supplies, including two friends. Take the flashlight, canvas, pencil and friends to a dark room (if it's daytime, close all the blinds; a bathroom doesn't work, you need a further distance between the flashlight and canvas.)

2. Have a friend hold the flashlight from across the room and shine it in your direction. If you are making your own silhouette, hold the canvas to the wall while you stand directly in front of it casting your shadow onto the canvas. Stand still and have a friend trace your shadow onto the canvas as best as possible. If you are doing multiple silhouettes, take turns holding the canvas and tracing.

3. Try to clean up the tracing if needed. Set up a work station with paints lined up and a cup of water.

4. Start painting with the lightest color first. Any mistakes made with this color will be easier to cover with the darker color. Allow the paint to dry before you move onto a second and third coat. Don't move on to the dark color until you have done at least three coats of the light color.

5. Once the light color is dry, move onto the dark color. Paint closest to the light color first, covering whatever mistakes you may have made. Repeat the process for three coats.

6. Once dry, give your painting a once over to determine if you like the results. Fix anything that maybe unfinished. Otherwise, hang your masterpiece.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are doing multiple silhouettes that will all hang together, determine if you want them to look in the same direction or if you want it to seem like they are looking at each other.