I am a Rhode Island native and began cutting silhouettes over thirty years ago. My original intention was to become a painter.
I spent my teenage years at Tonoff's Gallery where I learned the art of "seeing" in respect to drawing and painting, as taught by Gene Tonoff, a Bulgarian painter, very well know in Providence. Although silhouette cutting is something I trained myself to do, Tonoff's influence determined that I would become a fine artist.
In my twenties I found myself divorced with two young children
to support. I decided to specialize in silhouettes which are a
beautiful fine art but require less time to finish than a painting-and so I was able to divide my time between art and family needs. Most of my work has been done in New England - R.I., CT, MA. In 1999 I went to work at Tokyo Disneyland 's Silhouette Studio. This was quite an adventure and an artistic challange.The next two years were spent on Maui where I did some painting as well as silhouettes. For several years I have been in New York.and
enjoying time spent with my grandchildren on Staten Island.
The one pictured above is now three so I need to update the photo.She is already plying her scissors, so I am expecting she'll make her debut as a silhouettist by the time she is five years old. This summer I will be doing several events in Rhode Island, and
a few in Connecticut. The Mystic Art Festival , the Narragansett
Art Festival, The Old Lyme Art Festival, the Stonington village fair,Virtu in the park in Westerly, The South County Balloon Fest
to name a few. In the fall I am available for Silhouette fundraisers
which I conduct for schools and other groups who want to offer
my services to their members. Please email me with any questions
and please make sure to mention silhouettes in the subject line.
Sincerely,
Deborah
