Silhouettes

This lesson I found in a book I have titled Paste, Pencils, Scissors and Crayons. 

You need:

• two pieces of paper of contrasting colors (one or both of which could be black and/or white, but needn't be.)
• Scrap pieces in the same contrasting colors
• pencil
• scissors
• glue

A silhouette lesson is fun and highly decorative BUT it is not an easy lesson to present without a few sample silhouettes to use as examples.  So before you try to introduce the silhouette concept, I would highly recommend that you take the time to locate some samples or better yet, make a few yourself.

When teaching how to do a silhouette, rememer these basic ideas....

1. Silhouettes need a low groundline.

2. Some views make better silhouettes than others-with people and animals, sideviews are generally better.   Some complicated things like houses are best translated into simple views. You can't really put much detail into a silhouette.

3. Also point out to your class that silhouettes can be just as easily done with white on black as with black on white. 

4. When you have finished paving the way, turn your class loose on a silhouette of their own invention.  The results will delight you.

Halloween time is a very popular time to do silhouettes.  Just think of all the cats, bats, ghosts, haunted houses, witch profile in the moon, & jack-o-lanterns.  I think it would even be cool to do a few leaves at the end of a small branch for fall, or a side view of a turkey for thanksgiving.

Good luck!