Tastes of Culture

Pictures to be hung on the wall made from quite simple silhouettes can be effective and also fascinating into the bargain. Like many craft ideas, it does not entail buying lots of items. These pictures are attractive and will brighten up your walls, or anybody’s you care to give them to.

Of course, first you have to make the decision on the size of frame you require, as to where you want to hang it, and the area of the space. At the present time you can buy frames that will hold up to five pictures, but you may only want a double or a single frame for your first attempt.

First of all, you will need a very clear profile to work from. So, to begin with, you need a good snapshot. Get your subject to face sideways to take the photo and take several, so you have a choice.

What will I actually need then? Firstly, some tracing paper, masking tape, some fairly small sharp scissors, a pencil, a spray glue, several photos of your subject, some soft black paper, a soft black pencil, or pen even, some white paper with a texture to it and, of course, your frame.

Let us begin! Sort out which photo or photos you want to use. You then need to place your tracing paper over this, preferably on a board. Tape the four sides down with the masking tape. Now the fun starts. Make sure that your pencil is sharp, then trace round the outline of your photo.

To make this appear like a silhouette in a cameo, for example, finish, say a persons head and neckline, with a curve shape. This done, you can remove the masking tape and free the tracing paper. Remember, you can always change the size of your silhouette to fit into your desired frame.

Now take your purple paper, and you need to put your tracing paper on this, with your actual tread side face down to your paper. Tape it down. With your pencil, apply plenty of pressure and draw over your traced lines, to transfer your image on to the paper.

Now we have reached a delicate operation which needs some patience! Take your craft knife and you now need to cut your shape, keeping to your outline. Not easy, I might add!

Take out your textured paper next. You will need enough to cover the frame, with 1cm spare on all sides of it. Your silhouette then will need to be sprayed with glue and put firmly in place in the centre of your paper.

To give a nice finish, you could add a border to go round your shape. Another little trick you could always try, is to add some fine, wispy bits, of hair or eyelashes from little cuttings of your black paper.

So, now let’s frame it. Everyone can then see what you have been spending your time on! What is more, they can all enjoy it!