Hand-Cut Heirloom Portraits

Every year families across New England reserve time with beloved silhouette artist Carol Lebeaux who chronicles their children's growth by cutting out profile portraits while they pose. Wenham Museum is hosting a rare opportunity to have a hand-cut heirloom portrait created by silhouette artist Carol Lebeaux from a sitting or photograph.

Silhouette artist Carol Lebeaux has a well established reputation throughout New England. For many years she has been cutting portrait silhouettes at Arts and Craft Fairs and fund-raising events working directly from the sitting model. According to Lebeaux, there are only four silhouette artists in New England and only 15 or 20 in the United States. The other three silhouette artists in New England are well over 60 years old and they're very busy, she added. Lebeaux said people should be excited if they find a silhouette artist because they are rare. She encouraged people to learn more about this dying art.

Reservations recommended, Walk-ins welcome. Call the Museum at 978-468-2377 to reserve your 10-minute appointment or bring a photograph to create silhouettes the day of the event.

If you plan to bring a photograph or send one to Carol for her to create in her Shrewsbury studio keep these tips in mind:

• Take clear, close-up profile photos of the right side of the face (Right cheek, right ear to camera).
• Hold camera at the same level as the subjects head.
• Take several photos of each subject individually, showing head and shoulders.
• Please indicate name, age, and gender (if not obvious) of each child.
• For girls, hair pulled back in a braid, ponytail or bun shows the graceful line of the neck. If the hair is always worn down, the silhouette should reflect that style.
• Cowlicks on boys are part of their childhood charm and should be in the portrait unless otherwise requested.
• Big smiles don't translate well into a silhouette. We recommend a relaxed expression with the lips slightly parted.
• If eyeglasses are normally worn by the subject, please keep them on.

Catch children unaware while they are watching TV. Then they are relaxed, looking straight ahead. Background doesn't matter, as flash should provide sufficient light.

Here is a video demonstrating the best method to photograph your subject. This detailed video from Vana Chupp also demonstrates the process of silhouette art.