Silhouettes excite the crowds at the Smithsonian

A recent appearance at the Smithsonian Institution’s American Art Museum / National Portrait Gallery saw long lines for silhouette portraits, an exciting interactive (and participatory) activity for  the visitors.

The occasion:
Celebrating Black History Month in connection with the Smithsonian’s regular “Family Days” events. Family Days are held in the Kogod Courtyard between the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.

The theme:
Since the Smithsonian is also connecting to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello with an exhibit, the museum wanted an 18th century connection with its Family Days: iconic silhouette portraits, as seen in Monticello.

The joy:
Visitors enjoyed the other activities, and even beared the line for their silhouette portrait – sponsored by the Smithsonian’s Public Programs.

While in line:
While standing in line, visitors also learned about a new fad in the 18th century: judging peoples’ character  by the facial features, also called “physiognomy”. The materials by Silhouettes By Hand allowed visitors to learn about how facial features can differ from person to person, and how some physiognomy philosophers “translated” those facial features into character judgment.

Why was this important:
This museum activity was important for the event for several reasons:

• The portrait was free for the visitors; so anyone, regardless of currently spending ability, could receive a portrait
• Each sitter received personal attention
• The freehand-scissored portrait was part of the American heritage, so each sitter participated in his or her own heritage
• Anyone could watch the quick (2-minute) portrait process
• Both children and adults participated
• All visitors could view the interpretation materials
• The silhouette portrait-activity tied several Smithsonian programs together

Below are a few images from the Smithsonian Black History Month “Family Days” silhouette portraiture. Don’t be fooled by the straight faces: each person was asked not to smile, so that beautiful lips would not be pulled by a big smile.

For more public appearances (or to create your own), please visit the Schedule page. Events listed are for the public; but private, social, and corporate events are also arranged.

This little one was a prankster, while having his silhouette profile portrait freehand-scissored at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

This girl loved her traditional freehand-scissored portrait experience at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

All ages enjoyed their silhouette portraits being cut freehand, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

A little boy excitedly sits for his first silhouette profile portrait, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Silhouettes at the Smithsonian

Silhouettes By Hand will be cutting profile portraits freehand with only scissors, for visitors at the Smithsonian Institution’s American Art Museum, Portrait Gallery, on February 4, 2012, 11:30am-3pm.

The occasion is the celebration of Smithsonian Institution’s Black History Month Family Day. Enjoy many hands-on activities, music, dance, and celebrations, as several Smithsonian museums combine to create the most fun and interesting celebration of art and history. The joy will be centered in the Kogod Courtyard.

Come have your own portrait by hand, in this historical style!

Profile portraits will remind you of Colonial-era profile portraits seen at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. This is a purposeful connection: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and Monticello will present “Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty,”  an exhibition of artifacts from the Smithsonian’s collections and from excavations at Jefferson’s Virginia plantation. The exhibition will be on view in the NMAAHC Gallery in the National Museum of American History from Jan. 27 through Oct. 14, 2012.

Another Profile Portrait connection with Black History Month:

Moses Williams, Cutter of Profiles (early 1800s)

Moses Williams was an African-American profile cutter in the household of world-renown portrait artist and first museum entrepreneur Charles Willson Peale, in the early 19th century. Moses was initially a slave, the child of slaves who were given to Peale possibly as payment for a portrait. Moses was treated as one of the family, and then manumitted (freed) by Peale in 1802. Moses showed extraordinary skill at creating profile portraits with the newly invented physiognotrace (“face-tracing”) machine. (At this time period, the word “silhouettes” to represent profile portraits had not entered into the common language, and would not enter the language for 20 to 30 years, depending on the region).

Read more about Moses Williams in this simple but informative teacher’s guide at the Philadelphia Museum. Enjoy the images of Moses’ cut profiles, and view the early profile machine in the style that Moses would have used in the early years of the 1800s. Read carefully this description of cutting profiles in the article:

“Notice the intricate details in the profiles such as the tufts of hair, neckties, bows, and subtle differences in the shapes of noses, chins, and lips. Unlike drawing or painting where an artist can erase lines or paint over unwanted details, there is little room for error when cutting profiles.”

The article was describing Moses Williams’ profile-cutting using the machine that traced the face… but think of the skill used by Silhouettes By Hand for creating these details freehand with scissors!

For deeper interest, there is an academic paper viewable online that features Moses Williams and his relationship to profiles, art, profession, and the Peale Family. Thank you to the American Philosophical Society for allowing the public into such wide thoughts, and to Dr. Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw for the deep research into Moses Williams, profiles, and the physionotrace machine as used in the early 19th century.

Silhouettes Interactivity at Museum

A snapshot of a museum visit.

A museum sponsored Silhouettes By Hand to create silhouette portraits for guests during one day of its holiday celebration.

This little girl had her own silhouette portrait made. She “helped” other children prepare for their silhouette.

Then she asked for her doll’s silhouette portrait.

The  guest line for silhouettes was far too long at that time to accommodate a doll’s portrait, so the little girl was asked to return after visiting the museum’s other festivities.

She returned… and had been thinking about silhouettes during the entirety of the time she was visiting the rest of the museum.

The little girl dutifully stood in line with her doll, for the doll’s portrait.

When the doll’s silhouette portrait time came, the little girl enthusiastically held the dolly on her lap, to create a side profile view for the portrait.

The scissors deftly creates the doll’s portrait freehand, without drawing first. The little girl was fascinated with the whole silhouette process.

After the silhouette was cut, the little girl talked about how she wanted to frame the dolly’s portrait next to her own portrait in her room.

The happy family joyfully shows the dolly’s profile portrait.

Other guests left a stack of thank-yous for the museum, for having Silhouettes By Hand at the event. A few are shown here.

Pet portraits in silhouette: dog, cat, horse: artist-made, inexpensive, and delightfully unique

Pet owners can be an enthusiastic bunch. They love spending time with their 4-legged best friends.

Sometimes they prefer to have constant reminders of their friends, to visit with the family for all of history: portraits of their animals.

We aren’t the only generation to enjoy pet portraits – animals have been beloved and celebrated for hundreds and thousands of years. Cave paintings in France depict horses, over 17,000 years old. The ancient Egyptians especially revered animals so much that they created gods from their images.

Closer to our own  eras, middle class families portrayed their pets as family members, whether canine, feline, or even squirrel-line (?). (At left: Joseph Badger: “Rebecca Orne” 1757), and (William Thompson Bartoll: “Girl in Orange Dress with Cat”, 1840)

Profile images, too, create wonderful, inexpensive memories of your pet – always elegant.

Pet profiles by Silhouettes By Hand have been joyfully appreciated by pet owners – whether done live in person or by photo. The photos at right show a well-trained dog sitting for his own portrait at a live event. Silhouettes By Hand has portraited many dogs (and a horse!) live in-person, but only at events that have accepted live animals.

But why have a silhouette created, instead of just taking a photo?
Silhouettes are hand-crafted portraits, made by an artist in the unusual and personality-filled profile style of freehand scissoring. The cost is small (due to the relatively rapid portraiture), the elegance is immense. These portraits are perfect for gifts, or for displaying in a quirky, chic, or classic decor.

For those times that live portraits aren’t possible, photo-profiles have been turned into silhouette portraits – even from cell-phone pictures! Yes, customers have pulled out their cell phones to dial up a beloved photo of their pet – and within 2-3 minutes, they received a freehand-scissored silhouette portrait to add to the family pictures. One customer had me create several portraits, one a husband, one a pet, from printed photos – even while I was at a live event.

Are you ready for an artisan-created, tasteful, and unique gift for the holidays, whether for yourself, your loved one, or a treasured friend? This year, think “graceful”, artistic, traditional, and aesthetic: your beloved friend, classically represented in silhouette. The possibilities are endless: dogs, cats, horses, mules, giraffes – what’s your pet?

• Is there anyone who would appreciate a framed portrait, adding respect and honor to the thoughts of that dear animal?
• Do you have a whole herd (or pack) of favored animals? You can create a portrait of every one, frame them, and display them in a home, barn, stable, or other place of honor.
• Are you a horse owner or horse club, proud of your steed(s) -and wanting to promote the golden age of horsemanship?

Each animal has its own personality that, with the right photo, can portray that spirit even in silhouette.

The leftmost horse images [below] belong to KWalters, owner of KWalters at the Sign of the Grey Horse – a specialty jewelry business featuring  designs of the 18th century. Proceeds from the jewelry sales go to rehabilitating older, ill horses who still have life and hope in them. Her oval frames, also purchased here, were hand-lettered by Silhouettes By Hand with each horse’s name.

To discuss your needs, first visit the Mail Order page for information, and write to Lauren to talk about your special animal requests. (Frames available too). Bring gift-giving back to the family – your human and animal family, those for whom you care deeply.

Personal appointments for silhouettes, at museums

This holiday season, combine several elegant, traditional activities:

1. Visit an intimate, historic museum, decorated for the holidays
2. Have a personal appointment, the time scheduled just for you
3. Sit in-person for an exquisite silhouette portrait

These special experiences can be fulfilled with just one special activity: having your silhouette created at a museum. This 2011 holiday season, your personal appointment can be filled at the historic Homewood Museum – in equally historic Baltimore, Maryland, a city dating back to its roots in 1706.

YOUR SCHEDULED SILHOUETTE PORTRAIT:

Your silhouette portrait appointment is available on December 3, 2011, between the hours of 12pm-4pm. (See below on scheduling: these hours have been updated from a previous posting). The silhouette will be created on the spot – without drawing, tracing, throwing shadows, or any machine. This silhouette will be cut with only scissors in the traditional method: created freehand. This portrait experience is wonderful for children or adults, even babies and toddlers can be portraited. Imagine this spectacular elegant setting for your Colonial-, Regency-, or Victorian-style portrait – you too will feel like you have stepped into the sands of a timepiece.

Your profile will be artist-created, full of personality. You get to meet the artist, chat, and even learn about the amazing history of this fascinating portrait form that lived in the homes and hearts of our American ancestors. these silhouette profiles will add an element of chic beauty to your holiday gifts – to your loved ones or even to yourself.  These profiles can become heirlooms in the blink of your well-planning eye.

The silhouette fee for this event is $26 for 2 copies of each sitter’s silhouette portrait. Additional copies are available for $10 more. Silhouettes were traditionally inexpensive portraits, so these prices are perfectly historical – and can fit any budget, perfect if you are gifting for yourself or bringing family for their own portraits. Your appointment will even have enough time to consider your interest in one of the rare frames and mats offered (for additional cost), or to dream about frames that you already might have.

YOUR HISTORIC SURROUNDINGS:

Your silhouette portrait will be created amongst authentic-era or authentic family furnishings of the Charles Carroll family – that is, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of Maryland’s most well-known signers of the Declaration of Independence. This grand old family traces its roots back to Ireland, and was one of the prominent families to settle the state of Maryland. As a grand family, it eventually grew to become one of the most wealthiest  and influential families in the entire Colonies. Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the third-generation, enjoyed great popularity and power in the Continental Congress and in the fight for independence from Great Britain.

The Homewood estate was a gift from Charles Carroll to his son, also named Charles, in 1800. This “country home”, while currently located in the city of Baltimore, was at the time in the distance of the port town. The new federal styling created a trim, delicate home that was completed in 1809. The cost for building was said to be 4 times the original budgeted cost: $40,000, a whopping sum at that time. Alas, the story follows that Charles the son enjoyed his drink (and possibly a bad attitude) far too greatly – it is said that the angry father Charles encouraged his daughter-in-law to leave the younger Charles as to save herself pain and grief. This juicy gossip story is a fascinating tale told by the docents at the museum, and brings to mind that even our founding fathers had real, sometimes unsavory, lives to endure. Homewood was eventually given to the Johns Hopkins University to help create the grounds of its world-renown university.

HOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR SILHOUETTE APPOINTMENT:

Homewood mansion museum is taking silhouette appointments for December 3 at 410-516-5589, or via email to Homewood Museum.
Please visit the calendar in this link to learn more about the  museum, its location at Johns Hopkins University, and its many other exciting holiday festivities. Your museum visit is free with your silhouette portrait, and you can also shop in the charming gift shop for books and gifts centered around history and Baltimore.

Can’t commit to a scheduled time?
Visit the museum during the same day to wait for an available opening in the schedule. Enjoy the museum visit and indulge in the same tasteful, festive environment.

Can’t get to Homewood for this special appointment day?
You have another opportunity for a historic museum visit, at Hampton Mansion (National Historic Site) in Towson MD, for its Yuletide celebration on December 9, 6;30-8:30pm. The event (and the silhouette portraiture) is open-house style, without specific appointments. See the silhouette schedule for the link to the event.

Real personality in profile and shadow: silhouette portraits for gifts, fun, and history

Have you wanted to capture personality in a shadow? You can, now: with silhouette portraits with real personality.

In a world full of Photoshop and manipulation, it’s amazing to have a hand-created art. Each piece is created by hand. No printing. No mass-production.

You too can bring hand-created art home, for your own family or for the upcoming holidays, Christmas, festivities, Hanukah, or other festive celebration.

Amazing, isn’t it? No wonder our Colonial forefathers or Victorian ancestors found silhouettes perfect for capturing the personalities of their family members. An exceptional silhouette artist will look at your loved one to produce his or her personality — as well as charming features. The fascinating part is that these details are not captured by a camera or by tracing a shadow – instead, these minutia are created freehand with only scissors.

“Freehand” means that the artist looks at your loved one and cuts the portrait only with the scissors.

No shadows thrown. No cameras.
Most people don’t believe it before the snipping begins.

After the snips end, the sitter realizes that there were no shadows cast on the wall, no cameras came out, and the portrait was delightfully fast. The portrait was made entirely by hand – even in this 21st-century age of technology. “By hand” brings a literal human touch to portraits. It’s not a photo, it’s a work of art.

You too can have a portrait made. Your portrait can be made live at an event, by mail-order, or even by creating your own event.

Your portrait made by Silhouettes By Hand will show the real person. In this age when silhouette artists are rare, distinctive silhouettes are even more notable. Nothing stylized; each Silhouettes By Hand portrait is different, unique, peerless.

What will look best as a silhouette?

• Children’s portraits
• Parents portraits
• Grandparent portraits
• Pet portraits – dogs, cats, horses, giraffes, any pet you might have whom you want to remember

Enjoy these examples that show the individuality of each person.
You (and your loved ones) deserve a personality-filled portrait.

New Oval and Square frames for special silhouette keepsakes

This quick posting is to announce the addition of optional frames for your special silhouettes (starting November 2011). Due to customer queries, Silhouettes By Hand will carry limited choices of rarely-found frames.

Framing your silhouettes is always a matter of choice and decor. These oval and square frames are rarely (if ever) seen on store shelves, so they aren’t a repeat of common frames that you can find in your neighborhood.

• RARE OVAL FRAMES:
  All wood and hand-painted with a gold inner circle. These frames come in two sizes: 5″x7″ and 8″x10″. These frames look absolutely gorgeous, whether you choose to place your portraits on a tabletop, on your wall, or on your mantle. These oval frames will offset your own silhouette to create an heirloom or to bring focus to this special freehand-cut portrait.
• CUSTOM-MADE SQUARE FRAMES:
  Charming square frames have garnered attention on the silhouette table at live events, but without access to mass-purchasing. Now Silhouettes By Hand has arranged for a favored framer to create these 5×5″ square. Choices are mostly black, but occasionally other options may be available, such as the example dark brown shown in the photo below.

• OVAL-OPENING MATS: Custom-made oval-opening mats are always available for $5.00. These mats create a perfect historical look for your silhouettes from any 8×10 rectangular frame of your own. Choose your favorite frame design while feeling satisfied that the oval mat will bring admiration to your portraits.

Prices for these custom and rare frames are $25.00 and up, depending on size, styling, and availability.
See the booth in person at one of the bigger events, or inquire during mail-order for current stock or special order. If you are interested in making a custom primitive/distressed styling, please inquire so your desires can be created just for you.

Mail Order Silhouettes: perfect for gifts and holidays

Silhouette artists are rare, and getting to a silhouette-artist event might be difficult. That’s the challenge of working an uncommon, handmade trade — and also living through our busy times. It’s very common that customers have stacked their weeks and weekends with exciting events and activities, but cannot reach me at my appearances.

THE SOLUTION TO YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE:
Mail order silhouettes – you send a photo by email or mail; the silhouette is cut freehand with scissors – and returned to you by mail.

THE BENEFIT TO MAIL-ORDER SILHOUETTE  PORTRAITS:
You get your silhouette portraits easily, without leaving the comfort of your home, whether you have a busy schedule or are distant from the events. This is also a  perfect solution for parents seeking silhouettes of their children, without trying to coerce active children to sit still for even a 2-minute portrait. Even pets can have their own portrait!

THE DRAWBACK:
The drawback to mail-order portraits is missing the fascinating experience of watching the silhouette being created, freehand, with only scissors. Since live portraiture is so rare in our bustling 21st-century lifestyle, one special aspect of “Silhouettes By Hand” is the chance to see this now-uncommon artform demonstrated for you personally, or experiencing the unique experience of having a live portrait made. However, your photograph will still be represented by a silhouette cut in the highly difficult, fascinating, artisan representation – no Photoshop, no drawing, no tracing, no throwing of shadows.

THE SILHOUETTE STYLE IS FLATTERING AND FUN:
“Silhouettes by Hand” silhouette style captures the likeness of your loved one (even if the loved one is yourself), while retaining the traditional sensibility.  The unique style eliminates clients fears of double chins – while faithfully representing a sitter’s real features, this personal style naturally creates a flattering look. Silhouettes are “ageless” – they cannot show wrinkles, so everyone looks wonderful at any age.

ABOUT SILHOUETTE PORTRAITS IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME:
Enjoy the other pages of this blog to learn about the history of silhouettes… with an added amount of information: silhouette artists in the late 1700s and early 1800s would sometimes visit families in their own home to create family portraits. During these early decades of North America, roads were difficult if there were even roads – sometimes there were just ruts in the dirt, or minor trails through the woods. These hearty artists had a commitment to their art as well as to seek income in the fledgeling colonies and nation(s). The families might give room and board to an artist before he moved on. More successful or popular artists would travel from town to town taking a room at a local inn, posting announcements around town about his limited appearance time. Silhouette artists brought an inexpensive portrait option to the populations without another cheap portrait form – remember, photography was not invented until 1829, and not widely (and inexpensively) available until 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s. This portrait form called “shades”, “profiles”, “skiagraphs”, (all early names for silhouettes) are truly a piece of our history.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Lauren Muney is a trained, experienced artist and special-events specialist with a deep love of history. At historical events and facilities, she gives educational interpretation about silhouettes, portraiture, and Early American society while creating these brief portraits. At corporate events, she welcomes and entertains guests with her 30 years of experience. In every event format, she presents herself, her clothing, and her display with taste. During these difficult economic times, Lauren understands the challenges of facilities and clients alike, and works to create solutions –that can bring this interactive portrait form to people everywhere.

WHY BUY SILHOUETTES BY MAIL?
Silhouette portraits are an excellent gift for the holidays – for your own family (husband, wife, mother, father), for extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles), or for other loved ones. Ordering a silhouette by email and mail allow you to choose your schedule while knowing that you get a quality, artisan-created personal portrait. Silhouettes fulfill many desires:

• Silhouettes are an inexpensive, elegant portrait form
• Silhouette portraits allow you to add elegant, handmade artwork to your collection
• Silhouettes make excellent holiday gifts, especially for people looking to create a Victorian- or Colonial-style christmas
• Silhouette portraits highlight any traditional decor: Colonial, Primitive, Victorian, Provincial, Country
• Silhouette portraits show the distinct growing-up of children – especially when created every year ( …or every few years)
• Silhouette portraits are a fun way to see yourself ‘in history’
• Silhouette portraits make a great gift for history buffs
• Silhouettes by mail allow you to take a photograph of your loved one (even in secret…) and “send away” for their silhouette portrait, thus saving you time, trouble, and travel.

CUSTOM OVAL MATS AVAILABLE.
“Silhouettes By Hand” has custom-cut oval mats for a traditional, historical look.

COST:

For the costs –and to make an order– of custom silhouette portraits and/or mats, please visit the Purchase Silhouettes and Mats page.

IN-PERSON EVENTS:
Decided to find an in-person appearance? Visit the Schedule page. Many of the events may be centered in the Mid-Atlantic [United States] region, although Lauren is willing to travel as events and facilities can arrange. Have scissors will travel.

Off to the Fair: Teetering between the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Although Silhouettes by Hand works at corporate, modern, and history-related events, the history-related events emerge as favorites.

This past weekend the silhouettes-”studio” debuted at the decades-popular “Fair at New Boston” in Springfield, Ohio, this past Labor Day weekend. An amazing educational and festive event, the fair emerged from over-100-degree heat and torrential storms. The time period is 1790-1810, the focus year was 1811.
Any visitor could:

• chat with a Native American in front of woodland homes
• pet an ox pulling a wagon down the “streets”
• quaff an ale in the festive tavern
• shop for handcrafted items
• watch artisans create their craft, under traditional canvas tents of our authentic past
• help an arrogant Frenchman create handmade lace
• watch a continental army drill down the “street”
• discuss with a long-hunter about the pros and cons of hunting in the wilderness for 2 years at a time
• watch pretty women in their delicate bonnets
• and get a silhouette portrait as a memory and souvenir of his/her time-traveling

View a few interesting images here before visiting the fair pages on its own site, The Fair at New Boston.

Curious how silhouettes fit into this event? In the late 1700s and early 1800s, silhouettes were at its zenith of popularity. 18th and 19th century people were feeling their own personalities appearing after the struggle of colonization – since photography had not been invented, the people were enthusiastic to have portraits created to give to loved ones. As the late-1700s turned the calendar to the early-1800s, the upper classes became engaged in curiosity about physiognomy, or the “science” of telling personality from a person’s profile.
(See the history of physiognomy mentioned on a previous entry)….

The Silhouettes By Hand booth is a historic-style canvas tent, with curtains for shade and guest comfort and privacy. Portraits are made with guests feeling as comfortable as possible.

Off to the Fair: so much to see, so much to do. You never know what is next – so get your portrait made so you remember you were there.

Lauren of "Silhouettes By Hand" in front of her booth at Fair at New Boston, 2011

The Four Kings (the infamous oxen named after four kings of England) passing by the Silhouettes booth at the Fair at New Boston

Little John's Tavern at the Fair at New Boston.... having its moment of rest before the crowds.

The brown horse visits the black Horse Tavern, at the Fair at New Boston

He said he was called "Blue Eyes"; a Native at the Fair at New Boston.

The traveling (or pocket) violin maker was fascinating; the Fair at New Boston.

The public didn't see that 30% of the Fair at New Boston (2011) was blown down overnight from savage storms. But it was picked back up and started anew.

A highlight of the Fair at New Boston, for all... the Arrogant Frenchman.

Silhouettes fit into historical fair – guests “picture themselves in history”

Silhouettes By Hand recently enjoyed its first appearance at one of Canada’s premier historical open air museums: Upper Canada Village, located in Morrisburg, Ontario.

Great applause ensued.

Upper Canada Village hosts a joyful, activity-filled, entertainment-filled Heritage Carnival. Filled with 19th-century diversions and history, the festivities included a historical-style Circus equestrian show from Quebec, a magnificently appointed Dime Museum from Canada’s  own sideshow son, Carnival Diabolo, an amusing (and certifiably creepy) medicine show, Professor Lambert’s Magic Lantern show, which was the historical forerunner of moving pictures, powerpoints, and slideshows, hand-on cricket instruction for all guests, hand-on archery for all guests, an excitement-stirring boat regatta race, staged and walkaround illusionist, a phrenologist, and more.

Upper Canada Village itself is a wonderland of history – a whole rural village recreating the sights, sounds, smells, amusements, daily necessities of Upper Canada during the 1860s. Upper Canada is the south-easternmost region of Ontario; “upper” means higher in elevation than the larger “Lower Canada”. Upper Canada has a long history that showcases the social, political, and cultural adventures of the North American continent.

Silhouettes By Hand was invited to cut silhouettes of visitors – to fit into the 1860s era. Silhouette portraiture during the 1860s could have been swallowed by the newfangled invention called “photography” – which was creating a new view of the world. In the 1860s, silhouettes had not disappeared due to the new intention – in truth, photographic studios had not arrived in every city nor perhaps had reached rural towns like Upper Canada’s villages. Silhouette artists may have still traveled towns and individuals, creating portraits for residents — to keep and share these elegant images as sometimes the only portrait images of themselves. It wasn’t for several decades until silhouettes faded from being a necessity of family life, to a less-important novelty or nostalgia.

Silhouettes By Hand specializes in creating an atmosphere of excellence for event facilities and event themes. In this example of Upper Canada Villages’s Heritage Carnival, Lauren’s set of 1860s period clothing fit perfectly with the UCV’s exacting standards. Lauren’s closet of clothes and supplies ranges from the 16th century, through 18th century, 19th century, and into modern-day festivities. More event images and costumes can be seen on the Silhouettes by Hand Facebook page.

Enjoy these few pictures of Upper Canada Village, the Heritage Carnival, and Silhouettes By Hand. If anyone reading this post has any access to Ontario, Canada, Upper Canada Village is worth the journey – worthwhile of a visit taking one, two, or more days.

Do you represent an event, fair, festival, or company seeking excellence in rapid portraiture for guests? Contact Lauren for more information and to check for your event’s availability.

Any time period encouraged, even the 21st century.