Elvis Presley Silhouette

Kind of addicted to these crumpled banknote silhouettes.  This one, created recently, is a silhouette profile of Elvis created from a crumpled 50€ banknote.

I have always been a big fan of Elvis from as far back as I can remember.  I have lost count of the number of drawings and paintings I have done of the King of Rock n Roll.
This depiction is unique.  I could never have foreseen me doing this years ago.  Silhouette images have been a passion of mine for some time now.  I enjoy the silhouette cutting jobs that come my way, but this new angle is also exciting.

I am sure that other ideas for recording silhouette profiles will come along soon.  Handshadowgraphy is another interesting representation of projecting silhouettes using hands and a single light source.   It is an amazing form of art which brings movement into the art form too.

I can thoroughly recommend New York artist, Kumi Yamashita.  She does amazing work with light and shadow, as well as other art forms.  You can see her work by clicking HERE

The Queen escapes!

Following on from my crumpled paper silhouette, I have been searching around the house for paper that lends itself to folds and creases that stay permanent.
I found that paper money suits best, so I thought I would have a little fun with a £5 note.
This fiver has been long since spent, so don't go looking for it in any art galleries.   :-)

This was a my first challenge to try and achieve an actual likeness from crumpled paper.  So the challenge was too inviting to resist.  I just HAD to do a silhouette of the Queen tying to escape through the back door of a bank note.  I hope I have succeeded in this little project.

No offence Lizzie!  If this ever reaches you . . . enjoy.

Crumpled paper silhouette

Just tried this technique out for a bit of fun.  Just some scrap paper, some creases and a suitably placed light source.  It works best with sunlight, but as today's weather is a little overcast, I have had to make do with a table lamp.

Already my mind is conjuring up all sorts of possibilities!

Watch this space for more pictures . . . when the sun comes back.  Could be a while!  :-)

How I cut Silhouettes

This is a publicity shot that I took some time ago to demonstrate how a Silhouette Artist creates a silhouette profile.

The whole process takes around 90 seconds to 2 minutes to complete.  The photograph is a little misleading because, at events, I turn the paper over and cut from the white side.  The photo above was 'staged' to show the effect of the black silhouette appearing.  The golden rule with Silhouette artists is that there is no pre-drawing whatsoever.  All the work is done via hand-eye coordination.

As I am right handed, the profile is always a 'facing to the right' view.  The cutting process starts at the bottom right and goes upwards, over the head and down the other side.

Because the paper is folded over, I am left with two silhouettes; one right facing, one left facing.  The client can choose which one they prefer, although they are mirror images of each other.

When I am working at weddings or corporate events my pockets are loaded with many things.  Jacket left inside pocket is where I keep the silhouette paper; the opposite inside pocket is where I store my wallet cards.  These are the little folding cards that the silhouette is presented in.  Any other pocket on my person quickly fills up with paper cuttings.

The pocket loading means that I can be as mobile as possible.  I mix and mingle and place myself at the best angle to get the cut.  In many ways, I use the same procedure as I do with drawing caricatures.  When I first talk to someone I immediately begin to draw the caricature in my head or cut the silhouette in my head.  It only takes a second.  No one realises that when I make the initial introduction that I am already working out how the finished product is going to look.
People get nervous when being stared at, so I work a lot from short term memory.  It works for me I am glad to say.

Well that is all my secrets out.  Maybe I should do a step by step with illustrations.  That may be useful.  Watch this space.