40 Silhouette Painting Ideas

Isn’t it fascinating to express your artistic talents using only an outline and a single black or white tone?

Silhouette paintings hold some magic to them as they don’t have many meticulous details like other paintings do, but they can still tell timeless stories.

If you want to practice this exciting painting technique, we’ll help you. We’ve made a list of many silhouette painting ideas that you can try in your free time. So, without further ado, let’s jump in!

40 Easy Silhouette Projects

Watercolors are easy to paint with and blend, so here are a few watercolor silhouette projects that you can begin with.

1. Silhouette Winter Art Project

In this project, you’ll blend flattering wintery colors to create a beautiful sky. Then, you’ll use the black color to paint the silhouettes.

The fun part about this project is that you’ll use salt to produce different textures and patterns. You can also let your kids join in on the fun since it’s a reasonably easy painting.

Get the tutorial for Silhouette Winter Art Project on projectswithkids.com.

2. Bunny Silhouettes and a Full Moon

You’ll get to challenge your painting skills in this project to create a stunning picture.

By drawing a bright, white full moon with a dark blue background, you’ll bring focus to your main subjects, which are two bunny silhouettes watching the sky.

You can add a final touch to your masterpiece and use light strokes along with white highlights to bring out the moon’s uneven surface.

Check the step-by-step guide to Bunny Silhouette’s and a Full Moon on watercolorpainting.com.

3. Birds and Sky Silhouette Painting

This idea doesn’t involve many colors and shades. You’ll be just fine with light blue and black paints. First, you’ll paint a blue sky with random blotches of different hues.

Then, you’ll add two or three bird silhouettes birching nicely on a branch.

Get the tutorial for Birds and Sky Silhouette Painting on doodlewash.com.

4. DIY Animal Silhouette

Instead of the black silhouettes that monopolize most art projects, you’ll paint white ones this time. But first, you’ll start with the background and prepare it nicely for the silhouette.

You can blend different colors to produce contrast and depth. Then, you can choose your favorite animal and place it in the middle of the painting.

Find out how to create a DIY Animal Silhouette on prettyprudent.com.

5. Surreal Sky Landscape

There’s nothing more fun than blending colors to create a swirly, magical sky. You can incorporate as many colors as you want, which gives you more space to improve your painting skills.

Also, you’ll paint black silhouettes sitting silently under the masterpiece you just painted. All in all, you’ll have a field day with this project.

Read more about Surreal Sky Landscape on watercolorpainting.com.

6. Dragon and Castle Silhouettes

Whether you’re a Game of Thrones fan or a dragons enthusiast, you’ll love this idea. First, you’ll get to draw a dragon flying in a magical sky with a full moon adorning it.

Then, you’ll add a castle silhouette on the ground. In addition to the magnificent results, you’ll also have tremendous fun painting this picture.

Find out more about Dragon and Castle Silhouettes on paint.linkiim.com.

7. Nativity Silhouette Painting

If you want a painting with a religious point of view, you can attempt this nativity silhouette painting. The background requires some creativity to manipulate the colors, but it’ll look spectacular in the end.

Get the tutorial for Nativity Silhouette Painting on stepbysteppainting.net.

8. Birds on a Branch Silhouette Painting

This painting is so elegant that you can hang it in your house after you’re done with it. First, you’ll paint the silhouettes of two birds standing on a branched tree.

Then, you’ll paint the background with the colors fading in the center to bring out your main subjects. This way, there will be a light, white hue behind the birds.

Get more information about Birds on a Branch Silhouette Painting on craftsbyamanda.com.

9. Christmas Silhouette Painted Rocks

As a creative take on the usual art projects, you’ll use rocks instead for this one. Then, you’ll decorate your rock with a magical, snowy sky and many Christmas silhouettes.

Of course, painting on rocks is a challenge, so you might not get it right on your first try. But when you do, you’ll have fantastic giveaways for this year’s merry season.

Check the tutorial for Christmas Silhouette Painted Rocks on adventure-in-a-box.com.

10. Silhouette Painted Pumpkin

This idea will look stunning on your dinner table for this year’s Halloween. You can either use a real pumpkin or a faux one to last with you a long time.

The main subject will be a family member’s side profile. This way, you can make personalized pumpkins for each member of your family.

Find out more about Silhouette Painted Pumpkin on cottagesandbungalowsmag.com.

11. Silhouette Halloween Kid Art Project

This project is ideal for a kids’ classroom activity because it has many characters to try out.

In addition, the kids will get to play around with different acrylic paints and mix them to produce vivid, artistic backgrounds.

As for the main subjects of the paintings, they can use any Halloween symbols.

Despite the mess that you’ll deal with afterward, the results will be worth hanging on the classroom’s wall.

Get the tutorial for Silhouette Halloween Kid Art Project on artycraftykids.com.

12. Air Balloons and Sunset Silhouette Painting

With a canvas and acrylic colors, you’ll create a beautiful masterpiece. First, you’ll paint the background with sunset colors.

Then, you’ll paint black silhouettes of many air balloons floating peacefully in the sky. You can also add a few trees and birds as a final touch to your drawing.

Find out more about Air Balloons and Sunset Silhouette Painting on stepbysteppainting.net.

13. Bird Silhouette Kid Art Project

If you want to improve your kids’ painting skills, you can give them this fun art project to play around with. First, they’ll paint a beautiful sunset sky using different red, orange, and yellow shades.

Then, by blending those colors, along with white highlights, they’ll create depth in the painting to bring the details out. Next, they can paint the bird silhouettes on top.

Check the step-by-step guide for Bird Silhouette Kid Art Project on artycraftykids.com.

14. Full Moon and Owl Silhouette Painting

Owls are beautiful birds that we all love. You can paint an owl silhouette birched peacefully on a tree branch for this project.

As for the background, you can blend many colors to create a captivating sky with a full moon in the middle.

Read more about Full Moon and Owl Silhouette Painting on stepbysteppainting.net.

15. Oil Pastel Bat Silhouette Art

This project will be perfect for this year’s Halloween because it gives off spooky vibes. In addition, you can work on it with your children since it’s pretty easy.

First, you’ll paint an eerie sky with a full moon gracing it. Then, you’ll add the bat silhouettes in the middle to contrast nicely with the background.

Read more about Oil Pastel Bat Silhouette Art on artycraftykids.com.

16. Spooky Silhouette Tree Kids Art Project

This idea is perfect for kids, so you can make it a family activity or a class activity if you’re a teacher. The kids will paint the background with a bright mix of colors.

As for the silhouette tree, they’ll cut a black card into its shape, then stick it to the painting. Regarding the painting material, you can use Crayola washable paint colors.

Read more about Spooky Silhouette Tree Kids Art Project on artycraftykids.com.

17. Soft Pastels Woman Silhouette Scene

Soft pastels produce bright colors with smudgy lines that add magic to any drawing. You can use them for painting this woman’s silhouette scene.

Since you’ll use your fingers to paint the background, it might get a bit too messy for your liking. However, the result will be beautiful.

Check the video tutorial for Soft Pastels Woman Silhouette Scene on mycrafts.com.

18. Chalk Pastels Friesian Horse Silhouette Drawing

Chalk pastels are fun to paint with, and in this project, you’ll use them to create a beautiful background with a Friesian horse adorning it.

Since the horse will be all black, you’ll need lighter colors to contrast nicely in the background. And for a sparkly effect, you can use white highlights for the sky.

Find out more about Chalk Pastels Friesian Horse Silhouette Drawing on hildurko.com.

19. Flamingo Sunset

On its own, a painting of a sunset can be a stunning work of art. However, when you throw in a couple of flamingo silhouettes, some Santa hats, and Christmas baubles into the mix, your canvas explodes with festive fun. If you’ve never celebrated Christmas in the tropics, this is probably what it’d look like.

Create a flamingo sunset with the tutorial at Step By Step Painting.

20. Beach Scene Family Silhouette

If you visited the beach with your family recently, you might enjoy immortalizing the memory of your excursion in a painting. You don’t have to worry about having good drawing skills: If you took some pictures at the beach, they’d do fine as a base to trace on.

Visit Craftulate for the beach scene family silhouette tutorial.

21. Nativity Silhouette Painting

The next time Christmas comes round, grab some acrylic paint and create a silhouette painting inspired by the nativity story! This easy acrylic painting features the silhouettes of Mary and Joseph bathed in the glow of the Christmas star with solemn mountains in the distance. It’s a fun art project that beginners can use to celebrate the festive season.

Try creating this nativity silhouette painting using the tutorial at Step By Step Painting.

22. Christmas Silhouette Painted Rocks

Here’s an interesting project revolving around rocks. You can download silhouette designs and transfer them to the rocks by taping carbon paper to the back of the cutouts. When looking at the painted-on winter scene, it’s difficult not to see the resemblance to a snow globe.

Make these Christmas silhouette painted rocks with the tutorial from Adventure in a Box.

23. Saguaro Cactus Sunset

This desert sunset scene featuring cacti silhouettes has a melancholic beauty to it. So, if you’re looking for a contemplative art project to work on, it doesn’t get more reflective than this one.

Learn how to create this Saguaro cactus sunset painting from Step By Step Painting.

24. Winter Tree

Try using watercolors and black resist to paint a winter tree scene. You can choose between black crayon, oil pastel, or glue when making the tree’s silhouette.

Paint the silhouette of a winter tree by following the step-by-step guide by Rhythms of Play. For more winter painting ideas, visit craftwhack.com.

25. Santa Sleigh in the Sky

Here’s another silhouette painting inspired by Christmas that uses acrylics to produce a gorgeous effect. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to draw: Simply download the free-for-personal-use image featuring Santa soaring through the sky. You’ll end up with a fun painting you can hang near the Christmas stockings.

Visit Step By Step Painting for the tutorial on how to paint a Santa sleigh in the sky.

26. DIY Painted Pumpkins

Try painting some silhouettes into pumpkins next Halloween for a fun project that involves paint. You can try painting in side profiles for the pumpkin’s eyes while painting the entire pumpkin white for a truly ghoulish project.

Check out Cottages and Bungalows Mag to learn how to create DIY painted pumpkins.

27. Cityscape Painting – Space Needle

The Seattle Space Needle provides the inspiration for this landscape silhouette. Transform your canvas into a cityscape using a blend of light and deep blues for the night sky. Then, enhance the scene with some painted fireworks.

Create this cityscape painting – Space Needle by following the tutorial at Step By Step Painting.

28. Underwater Silhouette Paintings

Science is yet to fully plumb the depths of our oceans, whose depths remain shrouded in mystery. Therefore, this underwater ocean scene in silhouette style is a perfect way to represent our oceans’ mysteries.

Get the tutorial for underwater silhouette paintings from Make and Takes.

29. Love Birds on a Branch

This love birds on a branch acrylic painting idea is an easy one for beginners. It features the outline of a pair of affectionate avians and the picture of Valentine’s day (if there ever was one). Apply a generous amount of pink to give it that Valentine’s vibe.

Get started on this love birds on a branch silhouette painting by visiting Step By Step Painting.

30. Tropical Moon Rise With a Ship

Paint the ghostly silhouette of a pirate ship at sea with a full moon backdrop using a free printable and a cool color scheme. You’ll be surprised by the spectacular art you produce once you let the paint dry completely. Moreover, this is one of those projects where you can involve the kids to let them explore their artistic side.

Follow the Step By Step Painting tutorial to paint this tropical moon rise with a ship scene.

31. Bear Mountain Painting

Paintings like this gorgeous one featuring the silhouette of a mama and baby bear make heart-warming images of parenthood. You can make this art project using deep purples and blues for the night sky while tracing photos or drawings of a mama and bear cub downloaded from the net. Moreover, this is a fun project to paint alone or with some help from the kids.

Visit Step By Step Painting for the bear mountain painting tutorial.

32. Bunny Silhouettes With a Full Moon

There’s something magical about this painting of bunnies under a full moon. Perhaps it’s the rough quality of the watercolors or the silhouette of the bunnies in mid-conversation. Either way, this painting of the silhouette of a duo of furry critters against moonlight is perfect for practicing your painting skills.

Visit Watercolor Painting for the bunny silhouettes with a full moon tutorial.

33. Spooky Tree

Celebrate Halloween with the kids by making art that incorporates black paint in the design. Paintings like this spooky tree are an excellent way to bring out the inner artist in children while gearing them up for fright night. Supervision is key when involving younger kids in projects like this, as things can get messy pretty quickly.

Check out the spooky tree tutorial at Step By Step Painting.

34. Leaf Silhouette Art

Try making the silhouette of a leaf out of washi tape, paint, glitter, or yarn. You can use a piece of paper for your canvas and autumn leaves to cut out the shape you’ll be gluing your materials to.

Create some leaf silhouette art with the tutorial from The Best Ideas for Kids.

35. Painting Trees with a Fan Brush

If you’re not in the mood to create art with elaborate patterns or colors, you can still put your paintbrushes to good use by making a monochrome painting. Who knew a painting of pine trees could look so classy when done with nothing more than black paint and white paper?

Get started painting trees with a fan brush using the tutorial from Step By Step Painting.

36. Dinosaur Silhouette

This silhouette painting of a dinosaur is the perfect art project for children. Paint in the sunset, mountains, and trees that make up the background before letting the kids fill in the traced dinosaur with black.

Visit Step By Step Painting for the video tutorial on how to create this dinosaur silhouette.

37. Desert Sunset

It’s hard to find a sunset silhouette painting that doesn’t look good, and this one featuring a desert at dusk is gorgeous! The soaring eagle and cacti that frame the winding path on either side add to the painting’s appeal, while the contrast between warm and cool hues puts the icing on the cake.

Paint a desert sunset scene with the tutorial by The Art Sherpa.

38. Cat and Moon

Full moons have a romantic quality to them, so it’s no surprise that this cat and moon silhouette painting features a version with a feline couple. Paint this beautiful scene by using free images for the tree branch and cat silhouettes. The final product will leave you feline fine with how purrfect it turned out.

Paint a cat and moon silhouette by visiting Step By Step Painting.

39. Easter Bunny Silhouette

Make some Easter acrylic art using the Easter bunny as inspiration. It’s up to you whether you draw the bunny from scratch or use an image from the internet. However, the idea remains the same: to paint a silhouette on your canvas. Also, if you’re a parent, you can get your kids involved and teach them one or two painting techniques while you’re at it.

Make a festive Easter bunny silhouette painting by heading over to Step By Step Painting.

40. Dragon and Castle

This painting of a dragon flying past a full moon is as fantastical as they come, and kids will love making it. Once again, art skills aren’t required to create this project because it uses free printables as the base artwork. So gather your acrylic painting materials, bust out the tracing paper, and have some fun!

Visit Step By Step Painting for more details about this dragon and castle art.

Silhouettes add an element of mysterious beauty to paintings and can elevate an art project from okay to amazing. So the next time you find yourself in front of a canvas or decide to do some painting with the kids, try incorporating a silhouette into the final design.

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