When my first two children were five and three, I took them to a woman artist who sat them down in front of her and within about 15 minutes had, with a tiny pair of scissors, cut out their profiles (from their shoulders up) from black construction paper, fastened them on white paper, installed this in a frame (about 4" x 6"), and sent us on our way. The profiles were rendered perfectly and they keep seeming even more gorgeous over the years. I’m sure that lady’s talent was heaven-sent, but does anyone know what it is called?
The piece of art itself is called a silhouette. I don’t know if the act of making one has its own name.
ETA: Darn you, Thudlow! shakes tiny fist
Here’s a video of a woman cutting one out in about 2 minutes. It’s impressive.
You need good hand-eye coordination to produce a frameable silhouette.
Many thanks to all of you. I learned some pretty good stuff here!
In Montmartre in Paris, there are dozens of these, making a silhouette in about two minutes and selling them to tourists.
You mean they just do it by looking and cutting? I feel like I’ve seen it being done with a light where they trace the person’s profile, but just freehand? Wow, that is impressive.
Since a silhouette artist is a “profilist,” I’d assume it’s “profilism.” The same would go for the art or skill itself.