When you think of portraits, you probably think of a painting or a sculpture — but what if the portrait is carved from an image on paper? Follow this guide to learn how to make a silhouette portrait.
This method for silhouette art uses a photograph of your subject, preferably their profile. Make sure their features are clearly defined, so you can make gallery-quality silhouette art prints!
1. Use a Pencil to Draw the Hair Shapes First
Start by drawing your subject’s hair with a pencil. Mind the small details and refer to their photo!
2. Shade the Nostrils and Lips
Doing this lets you place the nostrils and lips in the right position with reference to the face.
3. Now Draw the Eye Sockets, Eyebrows, and the Little Shadows Under the Eyes
Small details like these give initial perspective to your artwork!
4. Draw the Shape of the Head and Start Shading Accordingly
Once you’ve placed all the details, draw the shape of your subject’s head and start shading to fill in the rest of the shapes that make up the face.
5. Erase the Unwanted Lines
Clean your outline and remove lines that don’t contribute to the subject’s profile.
6. Don’t Forget to Shade the Inside as Well
Shade the inside of the subject’s profile that hasn’t already been shaded. Don’t forget to do this for the hair as well!
7. Continue Shading in the Surrounding Areas
If your subject has accessories like a bow, shade that in, too. You can even shade in a collar, a necklace, or other details like clothes.
8. Now You Can Shade the Pupils of the Eyes
Last but not least, shade the pupils of your subject’s eyes. By this time, you should have a fully shaded silhouette of your subject.
Most silhouette art is done on cardstock, but you can also do this on a canvas if you’re using paint. Cap off your project by putting the finished silhouette print in a nice frame!