Can you guess?
Got it? How many did it take?
I’ll post the final effect when I get dressed…I make a terrible blonde!
Me as Tippi Hedron playing Melanie Daniels in Alfred Hitcock’s The Birds.
Me with my crow.
Still being attacked by the bird on my head…
Fall brings fog.
Well at least until the sun burns it off, and that’s barely enough time to change out of pajamas and grab the camera. But the hustle is worth it because the fog cloaks everything in a different light and seeing things differently is what it’s all about.
Minutes later the fog is gone – like a ghost.
Cutting out silhouettes gives you time to think. Maybe I thought about it too much. I must say, I did have lot of fun sitting in a rocking chair in front of this back-lit frame handing out candy corn to unsuspecting trick or treaters! I was often asked if I was the Woman in Black but the movie reference was so lost on me. “I’m a Victorian silhouette come to life!” At least I was a little creepy.
That’s my hand, not my belly – from the artist as silhouette series, Marie Cameron, Halloween 2012
Strike a pose. From the artist as silhouette series, Marie Cameron, Halloween 2012
Oh, the drama! – from the artist as silhouette series, Marie Cameron, Halloween 2012
Hark! – from the artist as silhouette series, Marie Cameron, Halloween 2012
Victorians were over the moon about silhouettes! In fact, the term for this technique of cutting portraits from black paper, which was becoming popular by the mid 18th century, was originally coined as a slur against Etienne de Silhouette the comptroller under Louis XV. He had encouraged the melting down of silver and gold to address the deficit from a long running war and his name became synonymous with cheapness.
Since I live in a Victorian home, I thought I’d whip up some of these simple period silhouettes to hang in the windows for Halloween. I had all my vintage floral frames laying about just waiting for their paintings, so with a little tissue paper, bristol board, tape and scissors I was able to transform the front of my house into an illuminated portrait gallery.
This is the original photo that inspired the silhouette theme. I loved the shadow the sun was casting on the wall!
Feminine silhouettes adorning the bay window.
Silhouettes by day.
Baby silhouette on the front door.
Can you guess?
Somebody call pest control!
My ode to Edward Scissorhands.
Halloween Night!