by Catherine Calder
We all know someone who is difficult to
buy a present for. Someone who has everything they need and would not
appreciate `normal' gifts. Often this will be your parent or an older
relative or neighbor, and they can be a problem to buy something for.
Well, this is a simple way to make a unique gift that they will be happy to
accept. When you take the time to produce something that relates only to
them and their interests it will always be happily received.
The idea is to make a picture that includes something that they are especially
interested in. This could be a hobby or any other interest they have.
This is a quick and easy technique. You simply choose your theme (their
hobby or interest), paint a silhouette of it onto a colored background and frame
it.
You could paint a colored background onto a canvas panel or use already colored
paper. I noticed my local art store had colored card that had a range of
colors merging into each other, this would be ideal for this technique.
The theme of your silhouette is really the creative part. The easiest
thing would be to use their hobby as the theme.
Look through some copyright free clip art until you find an image that you could
use for the outline of the silhouette.
If they like fishing it could be a fisherman/fish/fishing fly. For a
golfer it could be a set of clubs/golf hole with flag. For someone who
likes to cook it could be related to cooking. If they are keen
church-goers a silhouette of their church may be appreciated.
A lot of people like to receive a silhouette of their home. For car
enthusiast a silhouette of their car is a good idea. In which case you
could use a digital camera and take a picture of their church, home or whatever
you have decided to include in the picture.
You really can use your imagination for this. When using clip art you have
a huge range of options (probably too many!) to choose from. You don't
have to be great at drawing!
Also, you can use a computer graphics package to blend together two or three
images for your final silhouette shape. Be sure to adjust the size of the
final image to make it the correct size for the painting surface you have
chosen, and print it out. As this is a gift you can make it whatever size
you choose.
Once you have painted or found a suitable background, then trace around the
outside edge of the image for your silhouette shape. Use carbon paper for
this.
The silhouette shape can be painted in using acrylic paints – don't make the
paint too thin though! Another alternative is to use a permanent marker,
not a normal marker as it will fade over time, and that would be disappointing
for the person receiving the gift.
Silhouettes look very effective and traditional in black. However you
could use a darker shade of one of the colors in the background for an
alternative look. For example if the background was a pale green the
silhouette could be in a dark green. This all adds to the uniqueness of
your gift.
If you are using a colored card it will be better to use a permanent marker as
the water in the paint may cause the card surface to buckle.
Fill in the silhouette shape and leave to dry. Then frame the silhouette
picture.
A distinctive gift for a special person.
This type of personalized gift is always appreciated and shows that you have put
some thought, time and effort into the present.
Another major benefit is that no one else will be giving exactly the same gift!
This is an excellent technique if you can't find a suitable card.
You can make your own special card. It is most effective if you choose a
very simple shape for the silhouette when using this method in card making.
Cards are generally a lot smaller and look best when you use less detailed
shapes.
Use this system and say goodbye to gift buying problems for that hard to please
someone.
Catherine Calder is the author of the Acrylic Painting Course. This
step-by-step course teaches you how to paint using acrylic paints. All
stages of each of the 12 painting are illustrated. Sign up for the free
report on `How to Paint Abstract Pictures for Pleasure and Profit'.
http://www.AcrylicPaintingCourse.info