A couple of months ago I posted some hollow-cut silhouettes by an eighteenth century artist called Sarah Harrington. A few people were kind enough to comment that they thought my work was better than hers, which I'm not sure is true, but was very gratifying to hear. Hollow-cutting is an unusual technique whereby the artist cuts the silhouette inside-out from a piece of white paper. This means that the paper one would normally consider the 'off-cut' is actually the finished artwork. This is mounted over black to create the finished artwork.
Since then I've been experimenting with the technique at a number of recent events, and am happy to report they've been very well received. So this time I'm sending you a couple of my own twenty-first century hollow-cuts.
To me, the interesting thing about the technique is that the portrait can be divided into several parts, as shown. This allows me to treat white collars and ties, etc, with a much freer and casual look. I've managed to work out a (top secret) method of presenting them using my standard backing cards, so I don't need to carry around a whole new set of kit. I'm finding it's quite OK to make a few hollow cuts at almost any event. So, for instance, I might approach a table of partygoers, introduce myself, cut a couple my usual silhouettes, then finish with a hollow-cut silhouette of a suitable 'somebody'. I'm finding this approach makes the silhouettes into an interesting talking point and, as I say, they've been very well received so far. As far as I know no other artist has used this technique on a regular basis for about 150 years.
An unmounted hollow-cut
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