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Silhouettes

 

What are they?

Simple yet elegant, silhouettes are beautifully cut and starkly contrasted depictions of a subject's profile. The silhouette is matted in a high quality, oval cut frame, perfecting its chic, polished presentation.

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Are they right for my event?

Silhouettes are especially popular at weddings, anniversary parties, cocktail hours, and any event in which you would like to present your guests with a sophisticated and tasteful memento of the day. As our artists cut about 15 silhouettes per hour, this is a great option for larger events.

 

Rate?

Silhouette artist: $200 an hour

Silhouette assistant: $100 an hour

Although not necessary, we recommend also hiring a silhouette assistant for larger groups. The assistant will mat the silhouettes as the artist cuts, doubling the production. All supply fees are included in the hourly rate.

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Silhouette Artists Marie Cheek and Audrey Cheek from Caricature Artists Group

Samples

Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Happy Clients Showcasing Their Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek
Happy Clients Showcasing Their Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Silhouette Artwork By Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Washington Post Article About Silhouette Artists Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group
Washington Post Article About Silhouette Artists Marie Cheek from Caricature Artists Group

SILHOUETTIST
MARIE HARTSHORN CHEEK

Article by Brendan Coffey 

Photos by Timothy Devine

MARIE HARTSHORN CHEEK PREFERS MEN WITH FACIAL HAIR -- but it's strictly for the professional challenge. Cheek is a practitioner of the largely lost art of silhouette cutting, and, in her opinion, the profile of a bearded man makes for the best results. "You can cut every mustache and beard hair to get all of this tiny detail," she says. "They look really neat!" Hers is an art form that was last in vogue when Pierre L'Enfant was still drawing up plans for Washington. The small profiles were cut freehand and treasured by recipients, becoming the closest thing to a photograph that most 18th-century Americans would ever possess. 

Trained in painting and printmaking, Annandale-based Cheek came to silhouettes after years of doing technical drawing for the likes of the Army and Navy. "You go where the money is. It's tough for people with arts backgrounds," she explains. She finally went into business for herself doing caricatures at parties and events; when a client asked if she could also do silhouettes, she learned the craft and added it to her repertoire. Today, corporate shindigs make up most of the market for her delicate shadow portraits. An increasing number of individuals, though, are hiring her to immortalize their children and pets -- subjects that have trouble sitting still even for the five minutes the artist requires. But silhouetting, cautions Cheek, may not always be the ego boost most clients are after. Her creations are unforgiving of wens, weak chins and other physical imperfections. "If it's there," Cheek says grimly, "you have to put it in."

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