2. sil·hou·ette
/ˌ oˌet
silo͞ /
Noun
The dark shape and outline of someone or something visible against a
lighter background, esp. in dim light.
Verb
Cast or show (someone or something) as a dark shape and outline against a
lighter background.
Synonyms
profile - outline
3. Two hundred years ago, long before the camera was invented, someone
wishing to have an inexpensive portrait created of their loved ones would
have visited a silhouette artist. Within minutes and using only a pair of
scissors and a skillful eye, he would have produced a wonderful little image
with a remarkable resemblance to his subject.
4. The name Silhouette traces back to the
mid-18th century French finance minister,
Etienne de Silhouette. Because his name
was synonymous with doing things
cheaply and because he was fond of
making these images himself, this art form
was named after him.
In America, Silhouettes were highly
popular from about 1790 to 1840. The
invention of the camera signaled the end of
the Silhouette as a widespread form of
portraiture. However, their popularity is
being reborn in a new generation of people
who appreciate the Silhouette as a
nostalgic and unique way of capturing a
loved one's image.
They will always make charming
keepsakes that will be treasured for
generations.
5. Miniature portraits had been the rage
of aristocracy whom had worn
portraits as jewelry since at least the
15th century. But for 300 years, the
expense required for a full color
likeness to be commissioned had
restricted the availability to the
wealthy and kept the ordinary person
from acquiring a portable likeness of
their loved ones. In the late 18th
century, shade portraits became
popular with the masses because it
represented a cheaper alternative to
full color portraits.
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12. Considered America's premier
silhouette artist, Karl Johnson has
been practicing this extremely rare
art form for most of his life. Karl
learned this unique skill as a young
boy from his father who had been
taught many years earlier by a long
time friend of the family.
Karl took to this unusual art form
extremely well. Something he
attributes, in part, to having vision in
only one eye. Karl was born being
able to see only from his right
eye. Not having binocular vision
forces Karl to judge the distance and
shape of an object by examining its
shadow. This allows Karl to
capture an image in shadow in an
uncanny way.
http://cutarts.blogspot.com/
13. Starting when he was only ten
years old and now forty five,
Karl estimates that he has
freehand cut hundreds of
thousands of silhouette
images so far in his career.
Karl operates his studio and
resides, with his wife Lauren and
son Cooper, in Southern
California.
Sources: http://cutarts.com/
