Ask students to lightly paint a background on the paper. They should include a low-lying light source in their painting, such as a rising or setting sun, by using light or bright colored paint. Remind them that the background should be light to provide contrast with the silhouette. Watercolors are a good paint choice here because it is difficult to make them dark.
Instruct students to sketch the outline of an image on the paper after the paint has dried. The image should be centered over the light source they included but should not cover the outer edges of the light emanating from the source.
Cut pictures from the old magazines with students. Remind them that darker pictures will create a more realistic silhouette and provide higher contrast with the lightly colored background. Have them piece together the cut pictures to completely cover the surface of the image and glue them to the paper. Sketching the image before gluing the magazine pieces on it gives students the opportunity to explore multiple elements and principles of design, including line, form and texture.
Display silhouettes in the classroom.