Silhouette motifs just have that ability to stir the imagination. What's the appeal? We think it's as much about what's not seen in a silhouette: the chance to fill in a story for ourselves. These are three silhouettes that inspire us to do just that...
The papercut up top is by artist Elsa Mora. We love this silhouette because it's filled with patterns that hint at a story.
These life size silhouettes jump right up onto the wall in this room designed by Sheila Bridges.
This print of children and birds is from Art and Ghosts' Etsy shop. Check them out for lots of fantastical prints, not just silhouettes.
Each time we're inspired by silhouette projects like these, we're left wondering, "Could I do it myself?". With a good guide or stencil and a lot of time, silhouettes are the perfect look to achieve by DIY.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Aren't those Kara Walker silohuettes int he second picture?
view dominiquealis's profile
Thanks for the link to Art & Ghosts! Beautiful work!
view TrueTex's profile
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the artist is Kara Walker.
view visualingual's profile
maybe it's a walker knockoff :0)
i thought walker when i saw it too. we have a beautiful piece at the MFA in Boston by her
view elinka189's profile
i have that first silhouette cutout in black! i love it :)
and yeah, i instantly thought of walker with those big silhouettes. her work is phenomenal!
view kdkaboom's profile
There's also Silhouette Masterpiece Theater (http://silhouettemasterpiecetheatre.com/) for a whimsical approach to silhouette art.
view moptop's profile
I love Kara Walker, in my freshman art class in college we had to do a papercut sillhouette. It made me really appreciate the talent and the thought process. I also love the tid bits of controversy she adds to her images.
view nickel525's profile
They also make me thing of stencil graffiti which I'm really intriqued by as well
view nickel525's profile
Years ago in Seattle I came across a Master Paper Cutter from China at the International Festival. He did the most delicate, intricate work with these MASSIVE scissors. It's considered a true art form, just not an ancient one. He knocked out a yellow lion for me in less than 3 minutes, sans pattern. I purchased a 14"x10" dragon of exquisite delicacy and asymmetry, cut from tissue paper and painted, no less!
Just to say there are some other forms of paper-cutting out there and not to limit the mind to just silhouettes.
view ldevere's profile