Learn Together

Introducing children to a variety of artists and their work helps inspires them to explore, think independently, experiment, and try new ideas.

Materials

  • Paper (any size) or butcher paper
  • A smooth, flat wall
  • Tape
  • Flashlight
  • Small object(s)
  • A loved one, to act as a model
  • Black pen or marker
  • Colorful pencils, pens, markers, crayons, etc. 
  • Scissors

Make Together

Shadows are caused when a light source is blocked by an object. When the direction of the light source is blocked it creates a shadow behind the object. 

Artists like Kumi Yamashita have mastered manipulating objects to create shadows. Works like her FRAGMENTS  2009 use thin sheets of plastic resembling paper that she bent and wrinkled so that when light hits them they create shadows of people’s faces.   

The distance between the object and the light source also affects how large or small the shadow is. The closer the object is to the light source, the larger the shadow appears. The further away the object is from the light source, the smaller the shadow becomes. 

Casting shadows and copying the image inspired the art form of silhouettes. Artists today are inspired by this art form and have used it to create art installations like Kara Walker. Others like CMOM exhibiting artist Damien Davis use shapes and symbols inspired by simple forms developed similarly to silhouettes.  

Today we’ll draw inspiration from shadow puppets like this one created by artist Kara Walker.

  1. Take your piece of paper and tape it to the wall. 
  2. Turn off all of the lights in your room and turn on your flashlight. Hold it up and point it towards your paper on the wall. 
  3. Try putting your small object in front of the flashlight. What do you see on the wall? 
  4. Try putting the object closer and then further away from the flashlight. How is the image on the wall changing? Why do you think it changes? 
  5. Now, try it with your model! Have your model strike a pose, either with their hand (for smaller paper) or their whole body (for the butcher paper). 
  6. Use your black pen or marker and trace a thick outline of their shadow. 
  7. Turn on the lights and take down your paper gently from the wall. Color in the silhouettes! 
  8. Take your scissors and cut along the outline of your silhouettes. 

Try doing this project on a sunny day outside!