How to Cut Portrait Silhouettes

Make a silhouette portrait using craft supplies.

Portrait silhouettes are an old-fashioned type of artwork that captures the exact profile of a person. Instead of cameras, which were not invented yet, people long ago would use portrait silhouettes as a way to preserve the memory of a special loved one. You can also make portrait silhouettes of your loves ones using the same techniques that were used hundreds of years ago. Everything you need in order to make a portrait silhouette can be purchased at any art store.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock paper, white on one side, black on the other side
• Scissors
• Art tape
• Chair
• Lamp
• Pencil
• Card stock paper, white
• Tacky glue

Instructions

1. Cut a sheet of black-and-white card stock paper with scissors to measure 24 inches square. Tape the square of card stocks against a wall using art tape that will not tear the paper when removed. Position the card stock so that the black side is facing the wall.

2. Position a chair 3 feet away from the card stock, and instruct your subject to sit in the chair.

3. Take the shade off a lamp, and direct the lamp so that it shines directly onto the person in the chair and onto the card stock paper. Reposition the card stock paper as needed to achieve a crisp profile shadow of the person seated.

4. Draw onto the card stock with a pencil to trace around the shadow of the subject's head.

5. Cut out the traced section of card stock using scissors.

6. Cut out a piece of white card stock using scissors to measure 12 inches wide and 15 inches long.

7. Apply tacky glue onto the white side of the cut-out portrait silhouette, and press the glued side of the silhouette onto the white card stock. This will display the black portrait vividly against the white background. Allow the glue to dry for 30 minutes.

References

• Kaboose: Silhouette