Blog: @silhouettist
A modern-day silhouettist tells his story. Charles Burns writes about his explorations into the art and history of silhouette. His mission is to bring this often-overlooked art to a wider, appreciative audience.
Prosopographus: the silhouette automaton
11.12.2019 by Charles Burns
As an artist interested in science I'm aways fascinated by weird pseudo-scientific ideas of the past, especially if they involve silhouettes. Once which caught my eye recently is the Prosopographus. In this post I'm going to take you back in time to see if it can be brought back to life. I’m looking for ideas to help me design a silhouette machine. A 200 year anniversary. I’m going to take you back exactly 200 years.
Fifty Shades and a Square Meal
03.09.2019 by Charles Burns
For the last few weeks I’ve been toying with an idea for a new book. I'm thinking about a picture book, a “guess the silhouette” collection of cuttings. It's the kind of book I hope somebody would love to receive in a Christmas stocking. (more…)
Opening my Creative Space
08.05.2019 by Charles Burns
May is here, so I’m opening Mays Barn (my own creative space) to exhibit a new series of silhouette paintings and prints. Do you think I should invite Theresa May? (more…)
En Grisaille Portrait Silhouettes
17.03.2019 by Charles Burns
I began playing with an en grisaille portrait many years ago. At the time, I was experimenting with traditional techniques for adding gold details (known as embellishing) and began scribbling pencil notes on my white copies. I began to find these white copies more interesting than the finished silhouettes! (more…)
Should an Artist Recycle their Art?
15.02.2019 by Charles Burns
Yesterday I spent the whole day recycling art…...or at least preparing to. There’s an awful lot of it! So I’m writing to ask for help. Can you give a painting a new home? Could you take delivery of a drawing or two?
Mays Barn 2019 Studio Catalogue now out
26.01.2019 by Charles Burns
I'm happy to announce that my studio catalogue for 2019 has now been launched. Click here to download your free copy! (more…)