Today we are creating gritty silhouettes that just ooze atmosphere!
It seems like an age ago that I created my Striking Silhouettes collection - mainly of superheroes. Today I thought I would revisit silhouettes and give them a little edge using different subjects and a more gritty design.
Here’s what I mean:
3 Silhouette Facts
The word "silhouette" comes from the name of Étienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister who was known for his penny-pinching ways. In the 18th century, his name became associated with inexpensive portraits that were created by tracing the outline of a person's shadow.
The practice of creating silhouettes as a form of portraiture became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in Europe and America. This was due in part to the fact that silhouettes were a less expensive alternative to traditional painted portraits.
Silhouettes were often used as a form of identification in the 19th century, particularly in criminal investigations. Law enforcement officials would create silhouettes of suspects and use them to help identify them later.
Midjourney Prompt
Here’s the base prompt I used:
The silhouette of a <subject>, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
As you can see, I went for a slightly more descriptive prompt for Midjourney 5.1.
For the example images, top-to-bottom:
The silhouette of a ballet dancer, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
The silhouette of a boxer, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
The silhouette of a guitarist, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
The silhouette of a lonely old woman, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
The silhouette of a singer, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
The silhouette of a soldier, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
The silhouette of a violinist, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
What Next?
Give it a try yourself, and try varying the subject and even the medium.
The silhouette of a wizard, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
Watercolor illustration of the silhouette of a jazz band, dim lighting, creating a mysterious atmosphere with striking shadows that add to the intensity. The visuals have a rough, sketch-like quality that convey a sense of distress and unease. The grainy texture of the imagery contributes to the overall gritty and raw aesthetic.
Love the last one. Combining silhouettes with colour is brilliant! ❤️