Marcella Comerford Bio

Marcella Comerford is a second-generation silhouette artist,  classically trained under the tutelage of Jean.  She has been around the silhouette profession since she was nine years of age, either entertaining small, wide-eyed children while their silhouettes were cut for family heirlooms or helping her mother with her business, always watching and learning in preparation for the time when she would be cutting as well. 

Marcella loves the art of silhouettes, the way that an image of an almost unbelievable likeness to the subject appears mysteriously out of a thin piece of black paper, tiny Swiss scissors curving gently and swiftly through an ordinary square to reveal an intricate and delicate portrait as if from nowhere.

Marcella states “This art is not only functional as an end product, but is truly a captivating source of wonder and entertainment for those observing.  It is important to me to keep this “lost art” alive and thriving, it is such a beautiful expression of portraiture as well as an integral piece of our American heritage.”

Jean Comerford Bio  

It could only have been fate that brought Jean and the art of silhouette together.

Jean is a classically trained fine-artist.  17 years ago, she was asked to make silhouette portraits of the cast in a local play to make a historical playbill.

 It was at this point that Jean discovered she had a talent for capturing people in profile without using a shadow or tracing!  After lots of practice she was soon able to cut the portrait not only without a shadow or tracing, but also without even drawing first.

Jean says that the best part of her profession is that she is able to bring people great joy for a long time to come, as the silhouettes will be in a family for generations.