A new pair of scissors

One of the things people often ask when they see me cutting is

"How many pairs of scissors do you get through?"

I get the impression they are expecting to hear I use at least six pairs a night, as they are usually quite surprised when I explain that I've been using the same pair of scissors for the last ten years!  The truth is that I get very attached to scissors; they seem to take on a personality of their own and almost feel like an extension of my own hand.  Although I do always carry a spare pair with me, I almost never use them.

Ten-year old scissors in action

Ten years ago I purchased two identical steel scissors from a surgical supply store in Birmingham.  Seven years later (as does occasionally happen) one of them went a.w.o.l., leaving me with one.  Contacting the suppliers I was told they no longer make that kind of scissor.  A few weeks ago the second pair also disappeared, which left me feeling really bereft.  Alas, the scissors which have twice cut portraits of the Queen, and created all the illustrations in my new book, are no more!  I found myself going through a quite genuine period of grief.

Still, at least I managed to finish the book.  "Mastering Silhouettes" is coming out in February (or January for those living in the US) and is available now for advance ordering on Amazon.

I currently have just a single advance copy, but I will be getting my own private stash, so if you would rather order a signed copy direct from me you will be able to do so in the new year.  After such an unbelievable amount of work I'm really pleased with the finished article and look forward to sharing it with you.

The Book cover

If you are one of those who took part in my "Free silhouettes and other silhie ideas" scheme earlier in the year, please rest assured I haven't forgotten you.  Look out for an envelope coming your way before xmas…

But back to the scissors.  After experimenting with a number of different blades I have plumbed for a pair of rather smart tungsten scissors with a serrated blade. Rather counter-intuitively the serrated blade grips the paper - acting a bit like a third hand - yet still produces a clean crisp line.  At present I still feel a bit like I'm learning all over again, but first impressions are good.

Scarily smart new scissors!

Without wishing to get too technical (there's more than enough of that in the book) I'm experiencing a slight increase in speed during the 'first cut' (the outline) and a slight decrease when performing 'point work' (the small holes I like to cut - for instance in the hair - which have become a kind of trademark style for me).  Right now I'm greatly looking forward to the busy Christmas season, which seems to start in earnest this week, so that I can get a chance to really see what these new scissors can do!

A Windemere Wedding

A couple of weeks ago I was cutting silhouettes at a wedding in Windermere.  It was cold, wet and windy, as you would expect from the Lake District in late summer, but the hotel in use for the reception had a couple of interesting early-Victorian full-length silhouettes on the wall.  One of the teenage guests asked me about them as I did her own silhouette, so I told her they were first cut from paper and then embellished with gold paint, and to judge by the look of them they probably dated from about the 1840's.  Without a moment's hesitation she replied:

"Oh, did you do them then?"

I've never felt so old!

My interest in historical silhouettes has been given a great boost this year while researching projects for my book 'Mastering Silhouettes'.  This book (which will be published early next year) features a series of D-I-Y silhouettes projects, each of which is based on the work of a historical silhouettist.  This is one reason I was able to sound so knowledgeable about the Windermere silhouettes. One of the historical techniques which has most attracted me is known as 'hollow cutting'.  In this technique the silhouette is defined by the 'negative' empty space inside a piece of white paper, rather than a 'positive' silhouette cut from black.

While playing around with this concept I realised it might help me solve the problem of the 'half silhouette'. Half silhouettes are a cutting of just the face, leaving out the back of the head. The attraction is that they can be made really fast, in well under a minute per person. I've made a number of experiments with them over the years, but they have always seemed rather problematic. Hollow cutting seems to negate the problems, and seems both a fun and intuitive way of working.  So I can now announce that these half silhouettes are available to book for events, alongside my more traditional silhouettes.  Here is a sequence to show how I make them, this couple took just over 60 seconds to cut out and present.

  

I envisage half silhouettes as being suitable for the kind of event where there might be 120-150 guests and everybody needs to get a souvenir.  I recently cut over 200 of these in one afternoon at an office party to celebrate the launch of the good ship 'Silhouette' (yes, it seems I've even had a ship named after me now!)

In a different vein altogether, I was reliantly invited to be an Associate of the Society of Graphic Fine Arts (which means I get to put 'ASGFA' after my name, should I feel the need).  I am exhibiting two 'hollow cut' life studies at their annual exhibition this year, so if you are in London at all during the first two weeks in October you might like to pop in and see it.  Information below.

Painted silhouettes and Mr Charles

I am feeling very pleased with myself having just sent the manuscript for my book to the publishers this morning.  I can sit back and relax for the first time in many weeks.

The e-mail I sent in January offering 'free silhouettes' was well received and I owe a huge thanks to all those who sent photographs of themselves and friends for inclusion.  Predictably I received rather more than needed so just under half have ended up as silhouettes in the book.  It will be published on 1st January next year, although I will be in touch again before then.  In the meantime I am looking for opportunities to exhibit all the silhouettes as a group, they are all made in a such a variety of styles I feel it would make a fascinating show.  If you know anybody who could help with this please do let me know.

The book has been a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the history of the art which I seem to have made my own.  I've uncovered a host of interesting facts.  Did you know, for instance, that in the eighteenth century most silhouettes were painted rather than cut?  

I was interested to find out about a Mr Charles, RA, who painted this example.  He worked from a shop in the Stand in the 1790's and claimed to be able to paint a silhouette "in 3 minutes, by the watch".  By all accounts he was something of a showman and was fond of painting his silhouettes in full public view in the window of his shop.  Naturally I took this as a challenge and had to have a go...

Here is a painted caricature in silhouette.  This was painted with indian ink and water, in a little under 5 minutes, after a portrait by Louise Fenne whose work I admire.  It's seems I still have my work cut out to catch up with Mr Charles...  I have no idea if there is a market for such work in the twenty-first century but I had a lot of fun painting it, enjoying the interplay between the dark ink and the splashy nature of the medium.

Overall, the book has been a lot of work.  I honestly believe the last time I worked so hard was while studying for 'A' levels!  The downside is I've been neglecting correspondence rather, so if you are one of those who've had a harder time than usual trying to get hold of me, many apologies; normal service will now be resumed.

Looking to the immediate future The Roving Artist has a stand at RSVP again next week, probably for the last time as I intend to explore new avenues for publicity this year.  I will be there on Tuesday and Mike Herbert on Wednesday. It would be great to see you if you are planning to visit the show, an invite is attached. Feel free to come and request any kind of silhouette as a sample, whether painted or cut!  And of course, if you are involved in any kind of event which might benefit from a silhouettist do get in touch.

Your profile needed for a book

I need to ask for a little help. It seems I've at last been commissioned to write a book (on silhouettes of course) which for me is very exciting.  This is due to come out sometime in 2012.  It will feature sections on a wide variety of silhouette portraits, both traditional and modern, interspersed with snippets of history about eccentric silhouettists from the eighteenth century onward.

Without giving too much away this is a book which is going to be illustrated with a lot of silhouettes, and in general they need to be silhouettes of modern day people who are happy to appear in such a book.  This is where you come in. I'm going to need all kinds of people to help me; adults, children, older people, beautiful people, 'characters', happy, sad, etc, &c..  Whatever category you consider yourself in, I need your profile!

So, for the next few weeks I'm making a one-time-only very special offer.  If you can send me a profile photo together with a brief note confirming that you are happy to be included to be in the project (or on behalf of children for those under 18) then at some point in the future I will send you a free silhouette as a thank-you.  I can't say what kind of silhouette it will be, perhaps cut or painted, perhaps embellished.  Maybe a caricature, hollow-cut, or a full-length portrait.  But you will get a silhouette.

As well as the book I hope to include all the silhouettes in an exhibition, perhaps later this year.  This does mean it may be some little while before your silhouette arrives, but I hope that won't deter you.  Finally, just to be clear, in the majority of cases it's only the silhouette which will appear in the book, not the photograph itself.  There will be no names printed and the only possible way you could be identified is by the accuracy (or otherwise) of your silhouette.

I do hope you'll want to be involved in this project.  Just get your mobile phone or digital camera and take a few shots of, perhaps colleagues or family members, anybody who likes the idea.  You need to show the whole head and shoulders (or if you like, full length) and be in profile.  Don't worry about background or lighting. I don't need great quality photos, anything of a small-medium size suitable for e-mailing will do.

Don't delay as the offer won't remain for long, for obvious reasons I am reserving the right to call 'time out' at any point...

Self-portrait with scissors (after August Edouart)