Above: Lauren Muney of Silhouettes By Hand freehand-cuts the silhouette portrait of an enthusiastic little boy - while attired in Early American-era clothing. At the Smithsonian Institution National Portrait Gallery / American Art Museum, Washington, DC

Silhouettes Galleries: Photos and Video

Silhouette-portraiture is a historical skill and trade which has been beloved in many western societies for centuries. Countries like Great Britain, Germany, France, and its former colonies such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and others have had silhouette portraiture as an inexpensive portrait style before photography was invented. For many countries in Europe, North America, and Australia, silhouettes represented our fore-families. Our heritage is seen in these faces.

Many offerings in just one rare skill

Silhouettes By Hand silhouettes are still made the historical, heritage method. Silhouettes By Hand silhouette portraiture is all of these:

a visual art,
a ‘performance art’,
a public program,
a public art opportunity
a private event offering,
a pop-up interactivity
even a portrait for that you can order for yourself from your own home.

The galleries below include Silhouette images, Instagram feed, Museum Programs, and Other Events, Silhouette-Event example, and a live-broadcast video from a museum event.

How are Silhouettes created?

Silhouettes are created "freehand" with only scissors. The only tools are the scissors and the paper. There is no shadow cast, nor drawing with pencil or pen in advance. In this video you can see no lines on this white side of the paper.

Creating silhouettes in this way - especially with astounding resemblance to the sitter - is a rare skill. There are few people in the world who work this way. Watch this video (50 seconds):

This silhouette was cut by "Silhouettes By Hand" in less than two minutes during "A 19th Century Christmas" at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Tacoma, WA. (The video is sped up just a little for people who cannot wait). Silhouettes are a great way to experience the past - first hand!

On PreserveCast podcast : the history and future of hand cut silhouettes with master artist Lauren Muney. Watch in realtime as she cuts PreserveCast host Nick Redding's silhouette.

Sample Silhouettes

The photos below span 7 years of Lauren’s 14 years of cutting silhouettes. Each of these portraits is hand-cut with only scissors and paper, without drawing, tracing a shadow or using any type of machine.

Not Clipart

These are not clipart - these are actual portraits made from people sitting live for their silhouettes, or from a photo for their Silhouette Order. Even the horse portrait was created live! (We think he liked it!)

NOTE : The portraits in these galleries are not for sale.

You too can order your own silhouette and frame or mat, or book Lauren into your event.

Freehand-scissored silhouette portraits are some of the most difficult- and fascinating - portrait forms, done by only a handful or people in the entire world. To learn more about your artist, visit the About page.

Recent Instagram images: @SilhouettesByHand

Some events beg their imagery to be shared: immediate, timely, striking. To follow Silhouettes By Hand, to see more images and read the captions, go to the Instagram Profile Page

Silhouettes cut at corporate or private events are ready to frame by the guest!
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Portraits are cut freehand with only ✂️
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#bizbash #bizbashny #liveevents #eventexperiences #eventexperience #boothstopper #tradeshowbooth #tradeshowlife #speciale

A favorite face. His name is David. He is 14 years old. He lives in Germany. He works hard at @lauresham and @yearonthefield
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I think animals need portraits too 😉 ✂️
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#lauresham #lorsch #oxenofinstagram #ox #oxen #draftanimalpower #yearonthef

A stunning guest at a corporate celebration stood for her silhouette portrait for less than 2 minutes (other guests were timing me!) and created this classic memory of her experience and her beauty.
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Cut freehand by me, with only ✂️ at @njimedia 's

Every single human looks fantastic as a silhouette. Any age, any gender.
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Cut freehand with only ✂️ without drawing, tracing, shadows, or machine.
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Created live at a corporate celebration in Washington DC for @njimedia - in less than 120 seconds.

Elf ears.
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Cut freehand with only scissors ✂️ live at @mdrenfest /@mdrennfest , 2022
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#renaissance #renaissancefestival #mdrennfest #mdrenfest #mdrenaissancefestival #marylandrenaissancefestival #elf #elfears #elfearsonfleek #elfcosplay #costu

The more detail in the person's presentation, the more detail in the silhouette.
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Hair up, curls, flowers, and more: create a textured and gaze-worthy portrait. Cut freehand with only ✂️, the traditional and historical manner.
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Perfect for online o

Woman with cicada-insect earrings.
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Cut freehand with ✂️
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@mdrenfest @mdrennfest #mdrennfest #mdrenfest #renaissance #renaissancefestival #mdrennaissancefestival #marylandrenaissancefestival #cicada #broodx #broodxcicada #portrait #freehand

Fabulous couple, different backgrounds... they loved my custom backgrounds, hearkening back to eras past... both in silhouette-portraiture history or just history.
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I love making people happy, cutting their silhouettes with only ✂️, (the traditiona

I cut this silhouette last weekend at @mdrenfest /@mdrennfest . This girl's mother called this her "dead-face". Apparently it's a cool and hip thing now 🤣
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Enjoy the silhouette... I'll just be over here, laughing when things are funny, in

#nofilter at Backyard Basecamp (@backyard_basecamp) urban farm and education center in Baltimore, MD USA. I'm just a humble volunteer... the real stars are @naturalistnurse, @sajthefarmer , @godswerepoetsonce , @annahopecoaching , and all the others

Last day at the Maryland Renaissance Festival (@mdrenfest /@mdrennfest) , Oct 23, 2022. I cut this yesterday freehand with only ✂️ in my Guest Artist area.

Heading off now to set up, in the early morning dark.
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#mdrf #mdrennfest #mdrenfest #md

Mail-order pet silhouette cut and framed, heading out 💨
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Cut freehand with only ✂️. Yes, even the whiskers.
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#petlovers #pet #petportrait #petportraits #petsofinstagram #kittylove #furbaby #familyportraits

Nothing is as stunning as this stunning soul, but I tried... with her silhouette-- cut freehand with only ✂️, at the Maryland Renaissance Festival (@mdrenfest / @mdrennfest )
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#mdrennfest #mdrenfest #mdrenaissancefestival #mdrenfaire #mdrennf

Another Renaissance Festival sneak peek: this fun couple wanted their portraits made with one of my custom-created backgrounds.
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I love how their wild-sides still connect with the delicate background
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Cut freehand with only ✂️ in about 90 seconds

This gorgeous, sweet young lady had never visited a Renaissance festival before, yet she made her own fresh flower head garland, her clothing, and delightful basket with fake moss... hiding her personal belongings under a false cover.
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She is why w

"Likenesses taken" (the original term for cutting a silhouette) at Maryland Renaissance Festival, (@mdrenfest) (@mdrennfest) where I am a Guest Artist . Cut freehand with only ✂️
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The last weekend of the 2022 season is Oct 22-23.
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Let's hear it for the gentlemen... who look stunning in classic hand-✂️silhouettes from the smashing @njimedia event 🧨 in DC last night at @kreegermuseum !
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(I have the ladies' portraits too, but these were so stunning, with such great souls as th

They're coming. Interesting stuff.
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Printing: @canvastry
Design: me
Inspiration: @agriculturalmuseums @lauresham @alhfam

Silhouettes By Hand on Facebook

Are you on Facebook? So is Silhouettes By Hand - Follow all the news, photos, event reminders, media mentions, and fun

Museum Programs with Silhouettes

Lauren's favorite events to participate are museum events, bringing history to life with engaging, immersive experiences. These artist residencies connect the public to the silhouettes directly. Read more about her interest on the About page, or go to the Museums Page for more information on booking.

At Claude Moore Colonial Farm museum

At Riversdale Museum

Cutting silhouettes at the Star Spangled Spectacular (2014), Baltimore MD's celebration of the US anthem and history

At George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Museum

At Jamestown Settlement museum

At Homewood Museum, ca. 1806

At Homewood Museum, ca.1806

At George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Museum, at the Colonial Market & Fair

Presentation of "Heads in History"

Other Events: Corporate and Social, Weddings, Non-Profit, Galas

Thank you to Bravo! Events and photographer Eli Turner for the beautiful photos in purple.

Corporate, Non-profit, Social, and Festivals all benefit from the rare skill of silhouette portraiture. Not only do guests take away their memory, but it's a fascinating activity for others just watching. People love Silhouette By Hand's hospitality, experience, and rare craftsmanship at their Wedding, Corporate event, Non-profit special event, or private party.

Photo By Eli Turner for Bravo! Events

Silhouette-Event Experience

As an illustration of an event, the photos below show Lauren Muney's appearance at an event at Brookside Nature Center, Montgomery Parks (Maryland), Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in December, 2017. Photos in this gallery provided by Montgomery Parks; Tony Ventouris Photography.

If you want to book Silhouettes By Hand into your own event, read more on the Booking page.

A more relaxed encounter with a Silhouette artist...

In this special evening, Lauren Muney visited with Springfield, OH's Mother Stewart's Brewing Company, to talk about tradition (and beer) ... Mother Stewart's was was made from an old coffin factory, and is named after a local temperance worker - ie: a woman who tried to get beer banned...