How to cut Silhouettes for Decorations

by Silhouette Artist Cindi Rose

                There are many ways to cut a silhouette.  One is to buy a book from Dover, and see templates of trains, cars, animals, birds, Valentine’s, and people.  Make copies of these pages, and then practice. When you think you are good you can buy paper from HyGloss on-line. It is black on one side and white on the other.  You cut on the white side, so that the black side is protected.

Another is to use Rice Paper and to put it in a large stack.  Get an Oriental template from your favorite craft shop, and an exactor knife.  Cut out the tiny shapes. Silhouette profiles  can be carved large as school teachers do.  This is the most amateur style. Normally, it is done with black construction paper which is taped on a wall where you think the subject’s face will be.  Have the person in front of the paper with the side profile shinning on the paper.  Try to follow the shadow, which will be off-since a shadow is never exactly how someone looks.  Next get any scissors, to cut art in the shape of the profile.  After this use school paste—deleted some and paste it to a white background.  It won’t be beautiful like the miniature silhouettes that are prized by historians, as those were done by portrait artists who could also draw with scissors.  However, if you make this yourself, it can be a nice way to remember a wonderful moment, and a good way to make a home project, and art décor as a novice.

                Silhouettes can be pasted with dry bond, spray mount, glue stick, sticky tabs, Elmer’s acid-free glue, or wheat paper paste.  Each glue requires clean up, but you can watch artists such as Cindi H Rose, glue on-line.  I use spray mount, and put the white side of the silhouette on a piece of paper, and lightly spray the back of the silhouette.  Then, I place it on the cardstock. Normally I like the card stock to be 5 x 7, when I splurge it is Crane’s.  At Disneyland, I use wheat paste, putting it in a bucket, taking a paintbrush to brush it on the paper, then mounting the white side of the silhouette so the black side is up. Then I take blank newsprint (or the type of paper that covers toilet seats) to wipe up the excess glue.  I must note to you, this often has the added feature, of giving the paper an antique color, that makes it appear older than it may be, a vintage or antique look, from the paste reacting with the paper.  I do recommend you use acid free paper and glue, as well as artist’s prepositional glue.

                Today you can take a photo and blacken in the face with a Sharpie marker or on the computer in Photoshop to make a silhouette.  Very few people can do the actual art of looking at someone and merely cutting the profile, which is the highest level of silhouette art portraits.  As an artist who has hand-cut silhouettes 40 years, I always feel there are only around 38 real silhouette artists in the world, and maybe only 8 great ones. There are many wonderful silhouette artists in America and London, and the premier ones appear to be on the front page of the net, when you type in the words, “Silhouette artists”.  Some have made books to buy and you can check Amazon.com for Kathryn Flocken’s book, it is the best ever written. You can also put your cut silhouettes in miniature, from reducing them on your printer, and glue them on the outside of glass candle holders from a dramatic look.

                You can also copy a profile photo with tracing paper, and cut that out, or trace someone’s profile from your computer and place that on the top of black paper, then cut it out.  Most of these methods make great craft ideas, but are not real silhouettes.  To find a real silhouette artist, google, bing, or yahoo the words, authentic silhouette artist, you want one that actually does this lost art by looking.  The price can be $20 to $100. Many such as Paperportraits.com take e-mail orders and have a great Etsy shop run by silhouette artist, Kathryn Flocken.  You can check out Silhouette sisters, Kathryn and Cindi to get the best examples of detailed, unique, silhouettes. Paper- cutting.  View  The Guild of American Papercutters and Peggy McClard antique silhouette gallery, to purchase wonderful books and silhouettes.  To hire a silhouette artist, go to Gigmasters, some may give lessons, although I found it impossible to teach, unless the person was a master of portrait art.

                I fell upon silhouette cutting, after being hired as a portrait artist.  The smoothness of etching a profile with scissors amazes me.  I have seen people use good barber scissors, craft scissors, and surgical scissors.  The most important part is to cut with the interior of the scissors, not the tip or outer blade.  Wrapping paper is a great medium to start your cutting crafts, until you want to invest in expensive Hygloss real silhouette paper.  You should use oval mats or oval frames to showcase your cut arts!

                If you want to watch me in action on a tutorial go to YouTube to “How to Cut a silhouette 101” and also to my video “Wedding Wonderful Silhouettes”.  I also have a website, silhouettesbycindi.com that you can view, and if you join silhouettesbyCindiHarwoodRoseFacebook, you can ask me any questions, you may have.  Make sure to give most people the eyelash, they usually love that.  Happy cutting to you from silhouette artist Cindi Rose.

Décor alert: Silhouette artwork makes bold statements

Décor alert: Silhouette artwork makes bold statements

                A single use of color creates drama, and when master silhouette artist, Cindi Harwood Rose, designed a black, cream, and white space, she immediately thought that classic silhouettes would be a  sylish element.

“I chose the idea that black and white combines all colors and none of the colors, at the same time, depending if you were using the theory of light or opaqueness.  It is the yin/yang of life—opposites that cry neither

good or evil, just existing side by side.   A great room, creates thought, and with a shock of color, here and there, one awakens extraordinary feelings of awe, “ the scissors artist states.   The playful silhouettes by Cindi span over 30 years-- there is a cowboy created from her former Disneyland silhouette art days, a reverse white on black denying steriotypes, and  silhouettes of animals, children, and family groupings. C. H. Rose, even empowered some of the silhouettes with her penmenship and humor.   McKenzie-Childs funky black and white serving patterns tease Rose’s whimsical detailed artwork. The room boldly states the French/American chic-style, recalling the fact that life should be lived to the fullest!   To add a lively professional silhouette wall, just contact silhouettesbycindi.com or CindiSilhouettes@gmail.com

Silhouette Art by Master Silhouette Artist Cindi Harwood Rose

Silhouette Art by Master Silhouette Artist Cindi Harwood Rose

                Classically, the solid form of an object, or the contour of a recognizable form, filled in with opaque color is often called a silhouette.  We normally think of this shape as a shadow- like form.  However, when one looks up what a shadow is, it is a distortion from blocked light.  When an individual looks at his own shadow, or one of another person, it rarely really looks like them.  Jung said the shadow was the ego, however, he was not referring

to the visual shadow, but to the debris of the mind.

                As a natural artist, who discovered the fine art of hand-cutting silhouettes from sight, by accident, I have contemplated why silhouette artistry, once called shades of the past, is as popular hundreds of years ago as it is today. I also know why this art can’t be taught, it is very difficult to master, and the artist really needs to be born with this talent.   I have discussed this topic with international renown silhouette art historian and collector, Peggy McClard, who has the best history of silhouette art on-line.   She is fascinated with the lives silhouette artists have led, and what compels them to do this unique art, when all of them are accomplished fine artists, who can paint and sculpt on a professional level.  When an accomplished silhouette artist is asked this question, they can’t explain the magic they feel when performing the art. It is quick, and it connects them with others. One of the great silhouette artists explained that water coloring was calming, and oil painting was sensual, but silhouette art in the authentic manner of viewing a person or object, and merely directly cutting or carving a likeness from thin black paper, was empowering. This rings true for my soul as well. The work of silhouette cutting, still amazes me, and delights others at many events that I do my work, regardless if it is for royalty, or a peasant, life comes out from my hand-cut artworks.  This silhouette work is in demand at business events, gifting suites, premiers, weddings, gift and children’s stores, and for fund-raisers for schools and non-profits.

                Since I was almost 16, I stumbled upon this lost art at an amusement park, where I had been hired to do watercolor and pastel portraits.  I had always felt “different” and could not stop drawing or trying to model people and objects from clay since a child.  The quiet time, made me happy.  When I drew portraits it took quite a long time, and normally, no artist is 100 percent satisfied with their works, which was my case.  Other people would rave about my art, but I always felt it was not complete.

                I remember a school teacher at 8, took a projector, and traced my shadow on to crude construction paper, and then cut it out, and it was awful!  I also noticed that most of her children she cut out looked a bit crude, and had odd expressions, such as an open mouth, and a little double chin.  My mother, a superb artist, threw it away, and I was glad. However, when I saw the sophisticated man in the amusement park that I was to do portraits in, look at someone and just cut out their exact likeness in a few minutes, I asked the art manager, to let me try.  He actually laughed, since he had 27 portrait artists employed, but had to fly this silhouette artist in from Paris, since good silhouette artists are scarce.  At my first attempt, the park manager, exclaimed it was extraordinary—for some reason, it was spot-on.  He immediately fired the other artist, and told me I was to be the silhouette artist.  Then on, the shy person I was, felt a passion in life.  Black and white became yin/yang, it was all about light, and happiness.

                Forty years later, I still adore doing silhouette paper profiles.  Cut art, Paper cutting, feature carving, psychic physiognomy profile snips, all are ways to describe what being a master silhouette artist means to me.  When I am next to a person, I go inside them for a minute, to decide where they are going in their lives, how to interpret them as more than their features, and then incorporate this into my silhouette of them.  Some of my works are simple, some complex. I was also told that the word, master silhouette artist, refers to any real silhouette artist, who has worked at least one year, and has the ability to earn a living with the art.

It is also noted, that many of the few living silhouette artists (usually no more than 38 in the entire world at a given time) do old-fashioned work, or can’t do groupings, or can’t do interior details, some do trite work.  All, however, find great satisfaction, in preserving a lost art, and giving people heirlooms and keepsakes to last generations to come.  For more information contact Peggy McClard and purchase Mrs. E. Nevill Jackson’s book, Silhouettes, A History and Dictionary of Artists or British Silhouette Artists and their Work by Sue McKechnic. There is a world of information on the history of silhouettes and silhouette artists at SilhouettesbyCindi.com and SilhouettesbyCindiblogspot.

               

Say “I Love You” with Silhouette Art by Cindi H. Rose

Say “I Love You” with Silhouette Art by Cindi  H. Rose

                The world’s famous silhouette artist---Cindi Harwood Rose—will be at For Heaven’s Sake Beaumont, Tuesday, Feb. 12, from noon to 5:30 doing the lost art of hand-cutting paper profile portraits called silhouettes by the French.  Cindi (formerly Harwood) Rose began doing this art, after discovering at 8 years old that her portraits of animals and people were in high demand.  At nearly 16, she answered an ad in a local newspaper that a Disney owned art concession was looking for a cashier.  Taking her portraits to the interview, she immediately was hired to be a portrait artist, at the then, Astroworld.  While taking a park tour, she saw a “real silhouette artist” who did not use a light, projector, or pencil, who merely looked at a person, and in a few minutes, cut out their likeness from 4 x 5 thin, black paper.  “I can do that” she said out loud.  The art manager laughed at her, handed her the scissors and paper, and said for her to try her luck at it.  The then, teen, cut out his profile, and to the manager’s surprise, it was better than the silhouette artist they had working for them.  They immediately fired the other artist on the spot, and told Cindi, she was to be the new silhouette artist. 

                Cindi’s work was so exceptional that they flew her to renown Disneyland Anaheim Park to work some in the summers, throughout high school and college.   After graduating The University of Texas with honors in art and communications, Cindi worked at Disneyworld, as the silhouette artist.  She has silhouetted presidents of many countries, ambassadors, prime ministers, movie and rock stars, and has made the world record in speed, and accuracy.  Currently, Ripley’s Believe it or Not is talking to her about doing an art show for them.  In addition, the top historian on silhouette collecting, Peggy McClard, only recognizes Cindi Harwood Rose’s profile silhouettes as collectable.  Her ones done over 40 years ago, often go for many hundreds of dollars. There are only a few extraordinary silhouette artists in the world, and in the United States Cindi Harwood Rose and Kathryn Flocken are considered the top.  Kara Walker is also known for her museum silhouettes, as fine art.

                At “For Heaven’s Sake” they will be only $35 each person, with extra copies available for each person at $10. Lovely frames and mats will be on hand from $4 to $50.  Thus, you can get one for yourself, a loved one, and grandparents. Engaged couples can do one together, and people can have one done to use as a logo!  Paper is considered a great Valentine’s Gift, but a Cindi Rose silhouette shows much thought into your gift, that will be an heirloom, and family keepsake, to last generations to come.  C. Rose can also do from photos of pets from profiles e-mailed to the store ahead of time, or computer printed and brought in. Cindi does people in person, as the camera does “lie” and Cindi sees more than a camera does.  The art was popular before photography, and the greatest silhouette artist capture personality and profile, as C. H. Rose does. To assure a spot with the talented silhouettest Cindi, call FHS located at 4190 Calder at 1-409-898-3340 or e-mail them at fhsbeaumont@aol.com  Children do not have to sit still, and hair and clothing can be “fixed” in the silhouette.  Cindi will also graciously leave off a double chin when asked in her artwork.   Check out silhouettesbycindi.com to see her work, videos, and many articles about her. 

American professional silhouette artists proudly trade, and each holds one of the other’s works.

American professional  silhouette artists proudly trade, and each holds one of the other’s  works.

  In this photo see Silhouette Artist Cindi Rose in sunglasses holding up two silhouettes that Ruth Monsell and Kathryn did of her, in her hands.  The statuesque middle artist, Kathryn Flocken is holding the contemporary detailed, silhouette Cindi Rose hand-cut of her, and in her background, is a silhouette carved by Ruth Monsell, where you can see some flowing hair details.   Finally, paper profilist, Ruth, is holding her silhouette made by silhouettest, Cindi Harwood Rose, with the details of hair, earrings, ruffles.  You can see from this all silhouette artists are not the same.  Ruth’s work of Cindi (held by Cindi in blue) has detail to it, a handsome rendering of Rose’s profile.  Kathryn’s work, in Cindi’s arm, is accurate, bold and larger, suggesting, strength. While Cindi’s work held by the women, is insightful, yet delicate.  All three talented fine artists, worked an event in Boca, Florida, through Kathryn, and a Canadian public relations company.  Kathryn who is very skilled with details, left them off, to work quickly around the room at the largely packed business event at the luxurious Boca Hotel and Spa Resort and Golf Club.  At events, it is nice to have two or more silhouette artists, to be sure to have all the guest’s done. Silhouette artists interpret profile and personality, and all are skilled in many art mediums, with art degrees.   They do not pre-sketch the work, it is cut directly from thin, black paper, then mounted on card stock.  It can take the artist anywhere from 1 to 8 minutes to do this, depending on which artist you acquire. These silhouettes are ranked in the top 10 silhouette artists in the world. The fine art of silhouette cutting, can’t be taught, and it is rare to find three great silhouette artists in one room!

Houston Silhouette Artist Cindi Harwood Rose by Bernadette Verzosa

Houston Silhouette Artist Cindi Harwood Rose

by Bernadette Verzosa             Cindi Harwood Rose fondly remembers making homemade dolls with her sisters Holly and Bonny. The three little girls would use rocks and scrap materials to create their little playthings. It was just one of the simple and artistic family activities she enjoyed growing up in her Houston home.       "Our mom would sit with us for hours doing fabulous art projects. In one way, I was being trained to be skilled with pen, paintbrush, pastel and scissors," recalls Rose. "But I've always been fascinated with drawing by scissors, cutting out paper dolls and hearts when I was three years old, cracking paint off and sculpting on the walls to my parents' dismay with the rounded-edge of scissors"          Scissors are Rose's trademark tools. She is now known around the globe for her talent and skill in paper cutting elegant silhouettes, a disappearing art with roots in ancient China and France.       She has done in-person silhouettes of a range of public figures including Barbara Bush, Queen Elizabeth, singer Tony Bennett, violinist Itzhak Perlman and movie star Ashley Judd. "This art gives me great joy because it opens up a whole world," Rose says. "Facial features can reveal a lot about a person. When I'm doing someone's silhouette, I need to capture their personality so I have to connect with them."  SILHOUETTES & CHILDREN        Here in Houston, Rose's delicate silhouettes hang on the walls of hundreds of homes as heirloom keepsakes. They are especially popular as reasonably priced gifts for grandparents. For $35, she takes her scissors and vintage paper, and snips away a profile in a matter of minutes. Children are fascinated to watch her use her magic scissors to form their likeness out of black paper.        "I do well with children. I educate them while they watch me do their silhouettes. I tell them ‘Everybody has a magic wand.' For me, it's scissors and for them it's a sport or dance," she says. "The amazing part is children don't have to sit still, and can come dirty in a T-shirt! Parents can tell me how they want the hair and clothes to appear."        Rose is hired to create silhouettes for guests at weddings, business conventions, school fundraisers and birthday parties. She can be booked by playgroups and private homes with a minimum of 20 spots reserved.         She donates all proceeds to the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, an organization she established that provides free reconstructive surgery to uninsured breast cancer survivors. The foundation bears her sister's name – Holly Harwood Skolkin passed away earlier this year after a long battle with breast cancer.            Rose will be at Fundamentally Toys on Rice Boulevard on Sunday, December 2 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Reservations are required. Please call 713-524-4400 ahead of time since slots fill up fast. For Rose's schedule for the rest of the holiday season, see the bottom of this article.   SCHOOLS, DISNEY & FAMILY        Rose says she has been drawing "non-stop" since she was in kindergarten, earning quarters for her artwork of pets, kids and landscapes.         At Bellaire High School, she used her art to get high marks. "I would illustrate everything from clothing from other countries, to Texas pioneers, or the constellation," she says. "It was like a magic trick.  I would make an A, even in math or Spanish, by just drawing something about the subject."        She discovered her passion while working at Astroworld as a teenager.  She was only 15 years old when she started drawing portraits at Astroworld for a Walt Disney art company. While walking past various art concession stands, she witnessed the work of a silhouette artist from France and she knew she found her calling.         "Silhouette art is not just drawing a shadow. A shadow is just blocked light and can be distorted. Silhouette artists need to be life artists first. They need to be able to draw everything they see and capture a spirit," she says. "I taught myself how to cut ruffles, bows, shirts, ribbons, glasses, hats, couples together, pets, all from practice. I just can see things. I'm good at seeing shape, form and contour and cutting out interior details," she says.       Her work was so impressive, she was flown to Disneyland to do her silhouette artistry. It became her summer job through high school and college, helping pay for her tuition at the University of Texas in Austin.        Rose also awed audiences and art critics with her speed. At Disney, she was able to create 600 silhouettes per day. She set a record with the San Antonio Express News in the early 1980s cutting out 144 silhouettes in one hour – that's more than two silhouettes per minute!          After getting her degrees in art and journalism, she married noted plastic surgeon Dr. Franklin Rose. They have two children, 29-year-old Erica and 27-year-old Ben.   SILHOUETTE ART – HOUSTON HOLIDAY SCHEDULE November 30: Cypress Learning Express Toy Stores December 1: Cypress Learning Express Toy Stores December 2: Fundamentally Toys, Rice Boulevard December 6: Town and Country Learning Express December 20: Town and Country Learning Express December 21: Town and Country Learning Express December 22: Katy Educational Toys    For more information, check Cindi Harwood Rose's website and blog at SilhouettesbyCindi.com

http://www.parentspost.com/Party+planning/Silhouette+Artist+Cindi+Harwood+Rose/

YOU ARE INVITED to Karen and Roland Garcia's Annual Halloween Bash and Light Show - Sat. Oct. 27th, 2012

YOU ARE INVITED to Karen and Roland Garcia's Annual Halloween Bash and Light Show - Sat. Oct. 27th, 2012

Can you believe it’s Halloween again!  Ready for some scary fun?!

You and your guest are invited to Karen and Roland Garcia’s Annual Halloween Bash and Light Show on Saturday, October 27th from 7:00 p.m. to midnight at their home, 46 East Rivercrest, Houston, TX 77042.   Costumes are preferred.  The light show will start at 8:30 p.m., with different shows every hour.   You will not want to miss it!  There will be tricks, treats, food, drinks, a photo booth, silhouettes, astrology readings, complimentary valet for parking, and more.    Contributions in any amount are encouraged at the door, but are not required, to the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, a nonprofit organization which provides help for uninsured and underinsured cancer patients of all ages and genders including psychological support, alternative wellness treatments, free reconstructive surgery and free wigs in the US and globally. 

Please RSVP your attendance and the name of your guest to Patty Finch at finchp@gtlaw.com or call Patty at 713-374-3544.  We look forward to seeing you on October 27th!

Hope you can come!!

Roland Garcia
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig, LLP | 1000 Louisiana Street | Suite 1700 | Houston, TX 77002
Tel 713.374.3510 | Fax 713.754.7510 | Cell 713.598.6284

GarciaR@gtlaw.com | www.gtlaw.com

Your dining-out green turns pink for breast cancer fight

Dolce Delights by Candace Chang: This new Midtown bakery has teamed with Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, which provides gratis reconstructive surgery to post-cancer patients. Buy a Pomegranate Honey Creme Brulee Cake for $5.25, and $2 will go to the Houston foundation.
3201 Louisiana, 713-807-7575

Read the entire story here!

How to learn to cut silhouette profiles from sight

How to learn to cut silhouette profiles from sight

By silhouette artist Cindi Harwood Rose

                When I was a little child, I would sit with my talented mother, and cut-out Valentine’s, snow-flakes, paper dolls, flowers, and  butterflies. My mother, Doris Harwood, a paper-cutting artist and architectural designer would also draw portraits, front and side-view.  Little did she know that this practice in contour would prepare her to be a natural in the fine art of English and French profile hand-cutting, an art difficult to master, that only a few handfuls of fine artists, are prolific at.   You can look on-line at The Guild of Paper cutters and see a listing of the world’s best silhouette artists and paper cutters from the past 300 years, and samples of their works.

                As a natural artist, skilled in life drawing, I got a job in my early teens at an amusement park drawing portraits.  While taking a tour, I saw a silhouette artist—someone cutting out profiles from black paper freehand without sketching or using a light—and said “I can do that.”   Laughed at, I was handed scissors, and thin black paper.  Freehand, without a sketch, or light, I cut out the manager’s profile, in less than two minutes, and the prior silhouette artist was fired on the spot.  What I did most, was compare each feature, the same way I would when I draw.  I used my scissors as I would “a thumb” to eyeball the spaces between the features in the subject’s profile

                Silhouette cutting for the Disney art concessionaire became my summer job, throughout high school and The University of Texas where I graduated in fine art and journalism. Later, I worked for Disney World and Disneyland, where  I broke park production records doing 600 silhouettes in a day.  Soon, I found myself doing silhouettes all over the world, for many celebrities, families, formal affairs, television shows, galleries, department stores, and collections. I made a world speed record in 1982, 144 silhouettes of 144 individuals cut-out in one hour, timed by The San Antonio Express Newspaper.

After a busy career, I married Franklin Rose, and had two children, Erica and Ben.  I used my silhouette art, as a fund-raiser for their schools, and many philanthropic causes, including Texas Children’s hospital, The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, The American Heart Association, The Ronald McDonald House, The Houston Symphony, and The Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, a non-profit, I formed with my husband for uninsured cancer survivors.

                Paper-cutting was discovered in northwestern China around 386-586 AD with Chinese embroidery patterns, for the royal dynasties.  Silhouette-cutting  was associated with the royal courts.  It was not uncommon to have a silhouettist employed, capturing every movement of the entire court. Some paper-cutting artists, told stories, such as Hans Christian Anderson.

 The name silhouette, is from Etienne de Silhouette, a French minister of Finance, who was dismissed in 1759, after 9 months in office. He had cut out pensions and luxuries, thus, items “cut-out” or minimal in expense, reminded people of him.  Silhouettes were the way to have a profile made by an artist, without having to have a portrait drawn.  Oddly, a true silhouette, hand-cut by an artist, is more difficult than drawing a portrait, and all silhouette artists can draw portraits, but not all portrait artists can do silhouettes free-hand.  There are only around 25 to 50 real silhouette profilist artists in the world, and hand-cut silhouettes, not computer generated ones, only become more valuable in time.  It is not necessary to have little embellishments in your silhouettes. A good silhouette artist, will not give everyone the same hair-do and face, they will make you look like yourself, with the details that express your style. 

                 The beauty of a silhouette is passed down from generation to generation.  Rose has done silhouettes for over 35 years, and has done generations of families.  She prides herself on her likeness’s and embellishments—the white- cut-outs, when it adds to the profile and the style of the individual subject.   If you are a gifted portrait artist, especially keen with the profile, you have a good shot at being a real silhouette artist.  Not one who Photoshops, or traces a shadow off a wall, but a person, who can see features in comparison to other features, and in proportion.  You can start by drawing a profile, around 4 inches high, and cutting it out, or taking profile photos and cutting them out.  Once you figure out how to draw with scissors.  Practice with real people and pets.  Wrapping paper is a good medium to begin with, or computer paper.  If you want to make if official, spray paint one side black, but use the white side to cut from. You can also buy real French silhouette paper on the internet, or at your favorite art supply store.  Barber and surgical scissors make great tools to use, but are costly.  You want to make sure the scissors you use has a straight edge, so that you can control your cuts.  I like to start cutting from the bottom up, which is different than the way I draw. For fun, use colored backgrounds and junk mail.  It is wonderful what you can do with

the silhouette and your imagination.  Silhouettesbycindi.com 

George W. Bush’s silhouette created by Cindi Rose gets President’s A+ Approval

George W. Bush’s silhouette created by Cindi Rose gets President’s A+ Approval

Former United States President, George W. Bush, wrote the most beautiful thank-you to noted silhouette artist Cindi Harwood Rose. At a prestigious event for The W Source In Houston where President Bush was the honored speaker, his famous silhouette was hand-created full-length and bust style by historic profilist, C. H. Rose. The details and personality of the President was captured by the skilled artist. Cindi is considered the finest

silhouette artist of this and last century. C. Rose has done her artwork over 35 years, and has silhouetted many US and foreign Presidents and royalty. Her work is sought after for Hollywood-style events and weddings, but Rose likes capturing the candid and real genre of the individual she is hand-carving from sight. George W. was spellbound by the work. In minutes, with surgical scissors and thin black paper, she cut his likeness! Rose had done his mother, Barbara Bush’s silhouette several times, and many of his nephews and nieces, but this was the first time she had done his. The country’s leader stated that Cindi Rose did a “fine looking silhouette.” He further commented, in his truthful manner that “the care and craftsmanship that went into every detail are apparent.” The President of the greatest country iterated that C. Harwood Rose’s work showed thoughtfulness, and that he and Laura, sent blessing and best wishes to the artist.

The fine art of hand-cutting silhouettes was a way of record keeping by kings and queens, and American Presidents for several centuries. In the 1700’s and early 1800’s it was the only way that clothing and style were recorded, pre-camera. What separates Cindi Rose’s work from other amusement park-style real silhouette artists is that no two of her works look alike, and she captures the features and persona of a subject, making her work

an empowerment of who the person is feature and soul. More information on historic silhouettes can be read on the universe’s top authority on the history of silhouette art and artists, the renown, Peggy McClard. Peggy

has valuable silhouettes worth thousands for purchase and important books on the subject of Shade artists, later called silhouette artists. Some of the silhouette artists these days, are computer generating the work, and do not get the interior cuts that the master artists can get. The Guild of American Paper cutters list only a few handfuls of silhouette artists living in this century, and they call C. H. Rose, America’s premier silhouette artist.

Looking at her website, silhouettesbycindi.com you can see the Silhouette of Barbara Bush and on some of the articles, Queen Elizabeth, President Obama, Mickey Rooney, Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis Jr., Ashley Judd, and Golda Mier. Her videos on YouTube show that she has taken her skill into the field of masterful art, with gallery presentations and historic lectures. By interview, Rose explained that she used vintage, French, silhouette paper, that is no longer available, 50 years old, that she purchased the vintage paper in bulk from an English vendor in 1971. The paper alone has a ranking worth hundreds of dollars. Rose uses this paper for donations to the uninsured and underinsured with cancer through The Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, and her project, “Silhouettes for Survivors.” Once made a hero, by American Profile Magazine, Cindi Rose, can be reached for a personal high-quality silhouette, with her signature, framed in solid wood and real gold leaf. In interview Ms. C. Rose stated, “I do not use a shadow to do a silhouette, that is what a non-silhouette artist does, and the shadow is a reduction of who you are, it is the blockage of light. Thus, a silhouette made by viewing someone, and studying the total of their nature, adds a fourth dimension of their actuality, making a monument to who they are.” I think Cindi Rose is referring to the many trite silhouettes found on the internet that are made by computers or wall-tracings, or the copy-cat silhouettes that you often see that do not reflect contemporary fashion.

Paperosity expert silhouette artists

Paperosity expert silhouette artists

There is a paper renaissance in the art field, according to Rob Ryan, Cindi H. Rose, Nikki McClure, Laura Heyenga, and Matthew Sporzynski, where the imagination turns the sublime into fine art! Whether it be huge museum pieces such as Kara Walker executes, or the thin white A4 papers of Peter Callesen—bold statements are made. In this unique silhouette, artist Cindi Harwood Rose explains that paper and acrylic were used. Kako Ueda, explores paper material as a product of tree pulp and culture by the invention of paper and its production, whose line shifts and blurs, making simple man completed by nature’s almost holiday ornamentation. Helen Musselwhite takes her color schemes from nature, and Cindi Rose takes her art conversations from physiognomy and soul. “To delve into a person’s unabridged life path,” C. H. Rose explains, “the true silhouette artist can interpret and empower. Laura Heyenga compiled an in-depth book of the universe’s most sought after scalpel, scissors, and exactor knife fine artists in her book, Paper Cutting. For more books on the art, look at Kathryn K. Flocken’s Silhouettes Rediscovering the Lost Art, available on Amazon.com

Trista Sutter's silhouette by Dr. Franklin and Cindi Rose by E.D. Woods

Trista Sutter’s sculpting by Dr. Franklin and Cindi Rose

Lucky for the Bachelorette’s and Bachelor’s that Erica Rose’s father is famous plastic surgeon Dr. Franklin Rose, and her mom is noted silhouette artist, Cindi Rose. It makes the contestants and winners look and stay beautiful. Recently, the first reality Bachelorette, Trista Sutter, met up with Bachelor legal star, Erica Rose, and discussed her wanting an updated look. Although Erica thought Trista looked beautiful, she referred her to her father (who would never operate on his family). Trista had been admiring Emily Maynard’s plastic surgery, and did not want to be Bachelorette history. For her first meeting, in Franklin Rose’s hometown, Aspen, Colorado, Trista drove in from Vail. The petite beauty was met by Franklin and Cindi Rose.

As always, Cindi took out her surgical scissors and in a minute sculpted the world’s darling’s profile. Trista loved it, and signed it with her good-valued signature. Trista commented that her children would love Cindi Rose’s artwork. Her real concerns however was, a drop of fat, droopy eyes, and breasts that were not what they were pre-children.

Franklin Rose, a board-certified MD, who studied at Yale, Manhattan Eye and Ear, and Baylor College of Medicine, booked the soon to be 40 year-old at his doctor owned surgical center, First Street in Houston, Texas.

Trista got small breast implants, and the tired look erased from her lovely blue eyes with upper and lower eye lifts. In her pre and post-op photos it appears that she may have had liposuction. Word is that there is a room in The Rose Home devoted to patient care, and that after a luxurious stay at First Street Hospital (with culinary meals and wait staff), patients recover with Cindi Rose’s low-fat, organic nutritious meals and care. No wonder, the most beautiful men and women in the country get on Bachelor and Bachelor Pad, they have a connection—Erica Rose’s father. Unlike what people would think, Erica’s perfect size 4, 5’ 8” figure is natural. Her mother and grandmother where former beauty contest winners, and it is a natural for Erica. Read Life & Style Weekly to see Trista’s before and after plastic surgery photos and decide yourself, if she did or did not also have liposuction. I think somewhere there is also word that there could be a book coming out about parenting, and being in love, penned by no-other than America’s darling, Trista Sutter!

Silhouettes in New Orleans

Silhouette Artist Cindi Rose, is happy her son will get his Masters in law from Tulane University, former home of Valobra Jewelry. “The city is still beautiful, and I plan on trying to help it, with silhouette art bookings in New Orleans, and donating proceeds to keep cleaning up the city,” Rose states to Pippin Lane, an extraordinary children’s boutique, frequented by Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock.

Silhouette Artist Ties the Knot!

Silhouette Artist Ties the Knot!

Your wedding day is special, a talented silhouette artist, such as Cindi Harwood Rose or Kathryn Flocken can add elegance, and a lasting keepsake for you and the wedding guests.

Just view the rave 5 star review from a recent wedding that superb silhouette artist Cindi created with this personal, creative touch. At this Chicago wedding, Cindi Rose, placed a silhouette of each guest in a picture frame, and also placed one in a guest book. Silhouette cookie cutters of the bride and groom can be ordered for an added touch, as can fabric for the bride and groom’s table. Read this fabulous silhouette artist wedding idea, and the praises for the added entertaining fine art gift. For even more fun, hire two silhouette artists, and be sure that all your guests get a great heirloom gift.

Client Feedback Cindi was the hit of our wedding! She was incredibly friendly and professional and her talent is amazing! She stayed longer than we had originally planned and made a great effort to do as many silhouettes as she could. If you want something completely unique at your events to wow the guests this is it! Customer Ratings On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate Cindi Harwood Rose in terms of their professionalism? 5 On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate Cindi Harwood Rose in terms of their overall talent? 5 On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how accommodating was Cindi Harwood Rose in handling special requests for your event? 5 On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how strongly would you recommend Cindi Harwood Rose to a friend? 5 And finally, on a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate your overall satisfaction with Cindi Harwood Rose? 5

Cindi Rose Fashions Silhouettes at Baby Bugaloo

Cindi Rose Fashions Silhouettes at Baby Bugaloo

Famous Silhouette Artist Cindi Rose will be at Baby Bugaloo for fashion week, Monday

Aug. 13, from 11 to 3, to hand-cut original silhouettes of customer’s profiles. She does

the lost, French art of looking and cutting freehand. Silhouettes $35 a person,

Copies $10 a person. Wiggly children and adults accepted. Appointments

Requested by phoning 512 301-3800. Takes a minute, lasts forever!

www.silhouettesbycindi.com

Silhouettes by Cindi in the Jewish Herald

Silhouettes by Cindi in the Jewish Herald!
Read the full story here!

Tying the Knot with Silhouette Art!

Tying the Knot with Silhouette Art!

Silhouettes a cut above in beautiful Illinois-- 8 cities, 5 days!

Silhouettes a cut above in beautiful Illinois-- 8 cities, 5 days!

Click here to see story!

Loving Silhouettes by Cindi Rose

Whether you are surprising a loved one with a silhouette fine art gift, or having an art expanding experience, Cindi Harwood Rose’s silhouette artistry can capture cherished events, and individual’s profile features and expressions, as shared in this customer review by Alexander Moore.

Client Feedback

My fiance, my daughter, and I sat for silhouettes and I simply could not be more pleased with the experience. I thought I would feel a bit overwhelmed by her fame (she is the world's fastest, has done Queen Elizabeth, etc), but Cindi was entertaining and amiable, a joy to be around, and every bit as elegant and refined as I expected. My daughter learned a lot about art and poise from the experience. Her work is both classic and contemporary, like Cindi herself, actually. We'll cherish the gorgeous silhouettes for a long, long time, bargains at twice the price, and likely ask her to be a part of our wedding, too. Cindi was the perfect choice, hands down.

Customer Ratings

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate Cindi Harwood Rose in terms of their professionalism? 5

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate Cindi Harwood Rose in terms of their overall talent? 5

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how accommodating was Cindi Harwood Rose in handling special requests for your event? 5

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how strongly would you recommend Cindi Harwood Rose to a friend? 5

And finally, on a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate your overall satisfaction with Cindi Harwood Rose? 5

Client Feedback from a Wedding

Client Feedback

Cindi was truly an amazing woman to work with. She flew from Houston to Denver to cut silhouettes at my wedding reception and it was truly the event of the night. All the guests loved her and thought that the idea of getting your silhouette cut was such a unique idea. The guests also loved sitting and chatting with her and she made the wedding such a wonderful experience. She is a true professional in how she handles herself and we are so lucky to have had her at our wedding! Our wedding silhouettes turned out beautifully and we hope Cindi all the best in the future. We even got to meet her husband and he was also very sweet. I would recommend Cindi to anybody!

Customer Ratings

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate Cindi Harwood Rose in terms of their professionalism? 5

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how would you rate Cindi Harwood Rose in terms of their overall talent? 5

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how accommodating was Cindi Harwood Rose in handling special requests for your event? 5

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=lowest, 5=highest), how strongly would you recommend Cindi Harwood Rose to a friend? 5

Silhouette Wedding Wonderful Review by Sue Anne McKinney

Silhouette Wedding Wonderful Review by Sue Anne McKinney

"Amazing" was the comment we heard over and over from our guests at our daughter's wedding last night. Cindi's talent is remarkable and we had guests that would not leave (even after bride and groom were gone!) until they had their silhouette done by Cindi. The catering staff and the venue staff all commented on the uniqueness of her talent and how well it went with a wedding reception. The portraits were beautiful and likenesses so accurate. Our guests and our daughter and son in law left with a special gift that will last a very long time. Thank you, Cindi!

Contemporary Cindi Rose Silhouettes

Contemporary Cindi Rose Silhouettes

http://www.peggymcclard.com/aaa%20Cindi%20Rose%20Silhouettes.htm

Contemporary Silhouettes by Cindi Peggy McClard Antiques Americana & Folk Art Home • About Peggy • Antique Portraits • Antique Silhouettes • Folk Art • Americana & Pewter • Antique Jewelry • Greeting Cards • Books • Gifts For $300 & Under • Just for Fun • News • Contemporary Silhouettes by Cindi • Antiques Links

Silhouettes by Cindi. Offering the best of contemporary silhouette cutting. I'd like to introduce you to my friend and silhouette artist, Cindi Harwood Rose. Cindi began cutting silhouettes when she was 16 years old. She is a co-founder of the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation 501 (c ) (3) for which she creates custom "Silhouettes For Survivors," which are available for purchase. All Silhouette proceeds are dedicated to helping uninsured breast cancer survivors receive free reconstructive surgery. The Foundation was created in memory and honor of Holly Harwood Skolkin, Cindi's sister also a 20th and 21st century silhouette artist and humanitarian. Holly survived with Stage 4 breast cancer for 15 years. The Foundation was started during Holly's life and it continues in her honor. The Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation offers also offer wigs, support, permanent brows to those in chemo who lost their brows, and free reconstructive surgery to under and un-insured. Cindi Harwood Rose is acclaimed by the Guild of Papercutters as the premier silhouette artist of the last four decades. Cindi uses French silhouette paper that is more than 50 years old and no longer made. I first met Cindi in 1984, when she cut the silhouette of my son, Nathan, at Joske's Department store. I became friends with Cindi over the last few years as we have worked together to promote silhouette art, both antique and new. Cindi is talented, creative and responsive to requests for certain kinds of silhouettes. Her work is fresh and incorporates inspiration from historic silhouettists as well as contemporary work with an eye towards realism. When Cindi first visited my home gallery and shop, she was taken by the works of Everet Howard, the 19th century silhouettist who cut my logo silhouette at the very top of the page. Howard used very creative, varying bust-line terminations. At Cindi's next silhouette-cutting event, she incorporated creative, varying bust-line terminations in her work. She soon cut my silhouette with such a creative bust-line termination. Recently, I asked Cindi to cut a very elaborate silhouette that I could give to Nathan and his fiancé, Rachel, as a wedding shower gift. I forwarded my favorite of their engagement photos to Cindi and asked her to recreate it in silhouette with an elaborate background. She obliged, offering three wonderfully creative silhouettes from which I could choose. Cindi is available to cut silhouettes for your special occasion. She cuts designs for wedding invitations and even does some silhouette jewelry. Proceeds from her silhouette cutting goes to the Rose Ribbon Foundation. I am not receiving a commission nor any other type of compensation as a result of this or any other mention of Cindi and her work. I think she is the best of the current silhouettists. Please look at the silhouettes pictured here and also make sure to visit Cindi at Silhouettes by Cindi, where you will find more examples of her work as well as her email address.