Southampton - The Southampton Historical Museum is pleased to include silhouette artist Deborah O'Connor as part of its annual Harvest Day Fair on September 24. The Rhode Island native began cutting silhouettes over 30 years ago. Deborah's silhouettes are cut entirely freehand from paper using scissors as the only tool.

A self-trained silhouette artist, O'Connor attended the Boston Museum School studying painting and drawing. After spending a year working at Disneyland's Silhouette Studio in Tokyo along with Maui and New York, O'Connor know lives in Rhode Island. "Drawing is an important pre-requisite for cutting silhouettes, which is basically drawing with a pair of scissors. The only difference is you can't make any mistakes, as there is no erasing!"

Started in the early 1700s in Europe the art of silhouette cutting reached its "golden age" in the 1800s. Many European silhouette artists immigrated and became very famous and rich, catering to the American politicians and very wealthy. Others traveled to county fairs and small towns capturing the profiles and the hearts of countless thousands of ordinary folk. Today only a handful of silhouette artist still practice their craft.

As a popular alternative to expensive commissioned oil portraits in the 1700s, the art of silhouette cutting pre-dates photography by about 100 years, and is considered a precursor to the modern-day portrait photograph. Silhouettes became a popular way of capturing an individuals' likeness, as well as a practical way of keeping family records. "These quality silhouettes will someday become cherished family heirlooms." Working with children, adults and even pets, silhouettes are mounted on white or ivory archival quality cardstock. Mattes, extra copies for gift giving and frames will also be available. Silhouettes can also be made from photographs.

For more information or to book an appointment call the museum at 631-283-2494.