Patterned Silhouettes

Ever since my kindergarten teacher made a paper silhouette of me that I gave to my mom as a Mother's Day gift, I have always the simple, graphic nature of black paper on white matte board.  Here are a few takes on the silhouette using a patterned background and a black matte.

I Love Silhouettes

Silhouettes made from cut paper are so beautiful and delicate, but can be very time-consuming to cut by hand.  I made these vintage-style silhouettes with Adobe Illustrator from photos provided by my clients.  On Illustrator, I can try out different hair styles, like the Gibson Girl updo shown above, and customize clothing details.  Switching out the backgrounds to test out the final look is also a cinch.

The final versions of these will be printed on pages from books, vintage street maps, and tonic labels.

Silhouette Project: Part Two

The school year is coming to a close, and I can't believe how quickly it flew by. In the course of ten months, the children cover so many areas, both academically and socially, and by the end of the year, they are different children from the ones that entered last September.

This piece will help me remember my daughter's handwriting, her love for her pet mice (all fourteen of them), her favorite school subjects, and her growing passion for crochet.

More on the Silhouette Project

Last night, my son "graduated" from Kindergarten. The auditorium was decorated with artwork that the children had done throughout the year, and all the parents were there armed with cameras and big giant smiles for their little ones.

What made the evening truly memorable was that the teachers said something special about each and every one of the students. One teacher even wrote a poem about each child in his class. My son's teacher explained what she would miss about each child and what she would remember most.

I realized how fleeting each moment is, and that all the things that made him special this year are different from what was special about him last year. I'd love to keep him small, and never forget how his eyelashes frame his big brown puppydog eyes, and how he says "me come in?" before he squirms into bed with me for one last snuggle before going to school.

I had a silhouette of my profile when I was kindergarten, and I think he should have one too.