Make your own silhouette

Silhouettes have been singled out as a hot decor trend lately, but Chicago parents have hung these simple statement pieces for decades, thanks to area artists like Sally Newcomb. Inspired by the age-old tradition of silhouette art, Newcomb captured kids’ profiles in short sittings for about $30 a pop for years. Now you can embrace your inner DIY diva and try your own hand at creating one. Find a four-by-six-inch profile snapshot of your child, outline his or her figure on tracing paper and cut out the shape with an X-Acto knife. Holding the paper in place (use tape for extra ease), lightly pencil an outline of the silhouette on a mini four-by-four-inch canvas. Using acrylic paint, fill in the outline of the face with black, and once it dries, paint the negative space in white. Voilà! If you’d prefer to steer clear of brushes and paint, select two contrasting fabrics; secure the tracing paper silhouette on one fabric, cut out the shape, and use the second fabric as a backdrop. Glue to a hard surface such as card stock, and frame.

Supplies from Blick Art Materials (42 S State St, 312-920-0300; 1574 N Kingsbury St, 312-573-0110):

Two tubes of acrylic Blick Artist’s paint, $4 each
+ Winsor & Newton paintbrush, $2
+ X-Acto, $3
+ 1 canvas, $3
+ tracing paper, 25 cents per 8.5" x 11" sheet

TOTAL COST: $16.25

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