The word 'silhouette' is a French word that means the representation of something in outline. Silhouettes were popular from 1760 to 1860 as an inexpensive way to have a likeness done. When photography was invented, the art of the silhouette declined.

Over the years, Christopher Pratt has come across several moose on the roads in Newfoundland. He recalls them caught, silhouetted in the glare of oncoming headlights.


Moose and Transports (1993) shows a profile of a bewildered moose, seemingly paralyzed in the approaching noise and light.


Make a personality silhouette of yourself.

Materials:

·1 sheet black construction paper

· 1 sheet white construction paper

· scissors

· non-toxic glue

· pencils, markers

Directions:

1. Find a strong light and place it in such a way that it casts a shadow of your profile on the wall.

2. Tape white construction paper to the wall in the spot where your shadow appeared. Ask a friend to trace the shadow of your profile onto the paper.

3. Remove the white paper from the wall and place the black paper beneath it. Following your outline, cut through both sheets of paper. This will give you two identical profiles.

4. Use the white profile to show things about yourself - make simple images of the things you like to do, places you like to go, things that you think about. Paste these images inside the outline of your head. Your finished work will show people not just how you look in silhouette but also who you are.

5. When you are finished colouring your drawings, place this white profile on top of the black one, allowing the black one to protrude a bit in order to emphasize your white profile.

Sgraffito

Create an animal image that closely resembles you by doing a sgraffito (an Italian word meaning scratch) using oil pastels. Explain your choice of animal by describing what you have in common with it. Include in your explanation any mythological stories or symbolic attributes your chosen animal has.

Materials:

· oil crayons

· nail/knitting needle/pen

· sheet of paper

· lead pencil

· eraser

Directions:

1. Use at least two layers of different coloured pastels to cover the whole surface of your paper.

2. Scratch your lines into the top layer of colour, allowing the colour beneath to show through. Drawing utensils are not limited to those suggested in the materials list. Wire, fingernails, rocks and straws are also possible drawing tools.

3. Correct mistakes by colouring over the accidental scratch. Your animal image should cover the entire sheet of paper. Sketch the outline in pencil if you do not feel like working freehand with your drawing utensil.

Monoprinting

Unlike other forms of printing that Christopher Pratt practices (etching and lithography) monoprinting is a means of producing a single print of an image. It is not a complicated process and little equipment is required.





Materials:

· Tempera paint any colours

· Paintbrushes of varying widths

· Plexi-glass plates cut to any size

· Drawing objects (sticks, q-tips, rags, sponges)

· Paper

· Rags and a cup for water for cleaning brushes

Directions:

1. Cover plexi-glass plate with an even layer of tempera paint.

2. Use your finger, brush, etc. or wipe away paint with rag or sponge to produce an image.

3. Carefully press a sheet of paper on to the plate and rub gently with the back of your fingers. Do not press too hard and squash the image!

4. Lift the paper when you have rubbed the whole image area. The print will be a reverse of the original image. If you do not spell your name or a word backwards on the plexi-glass plate, it will be backwards on your print.

Crayon Masking

Materials:

· Crayons

· Paper

· Masking tape (painter's tape is recommended - it isn't as adhesive as regular masking tape)

· Scissors

Directions:

1. Cut shapes of masking tape and use them to construct a complete picture. Use two or more strips together to make wide broad lines. Be sure the tape lies flat.

2. Cover the entire surface with crayon.

3. Carefully remove the tape from the picture.

Transport Pictures

Invent a fantasy form of transport.

Materials:

· Large piece of white paper for background

· Pieces of tissue paper in bright colours

· Black paper - cut into strips

· Scissors

· Glue

Directions:

1. Cut the tissue paper into irregular shapes and glue to the white paper background.

2. Arrange the black paper strips to make a vehicle. Make wheels by cutting rings from black paper and adding strips for spokes.

3. Glue the vehicle on to the tissue-covered background to dry.

Write about what your fantasy transport can do. Does it operate under water or produce hot chocolate from the exhaust pipe instead of noxious fumes? Maybe its source of power is used vegetable grease instead of gas.

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